The Levees Broke (Katrina) ["Dear Katrina, Who Broke The Levees?"]

[Intro: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory]

"There's no earthly way of knowing (Heh, heh... he's singing...)

Which direction we are going

There's no knowing where we're rowing

Or which way the river's flowing

Is it raining?

Is it snowing?

Is a hurricane a-blowing?

Not a speck of light is showing, so the danger must be growing

Are the fires of Hell a-glowing?

Is the grisly reaper mowing?

Yes! The danger must be growing!

'Cause the rowers keep on rowing!

And they're certainly not showing!

Any signs that they are slowing!!!

(Oh, make him stop, Daddy!)"

[Verse 1: Jay Electronica]

I was on the corner with Reem by Tipitina's

He said, "Peace – what up, my nig? I ain't seen ya since Katrina

Lil' Mikey doin' time for flashin' nines in Pasadena

I tried to tell them 'chill and wait 'til niggas get they cream up'

I ain't gon' lie, bra – niggas took that petty cash from FEMA

And copped a couple choppers – why? 'Cause coppers on the clean up

You ain't know? They hittin' niggas left and right with bids

On the news I seen a family of a grandma and some kids

They tore down where she lived for sixty years and told her, 'Here goes

A voucher for some powdered milk and Kleenex for your tears'

You seen them tents outside of City Hall? That's where they live

A trailer in the park, or cardboard box under the bridge

They closed down all the projects

And all these wicked contractors can see is makin' profit

Insurance companies fucked us up the ass, nobody stopped it

That's why I'm yellin' 'fuck the world' every time I let my Glock spit

My nigga, we ain't got shit

I spent the night in jail three times, just 'cause I lost my ID

I went to pastor Raphael who said 'Son, thou shall not kill'

And I said 'Why me?'

He told me God gon' try me

And when I left the church I heard the flashin' lights and sirens

They say 'Let me see some ID'

I say 'Yeah, sure, I'll oblige thee –

Here, sir, that's my passport'

They threw me on the gate, I said 'Man, why you go do that for?'

They say ''Cause you the son of slaves, your daddy was a bastard'

I couldn't take no more, Jay

Click-clack, sprrrrat, blast, blast – that's what they asked for"

Laughed, he said "Yeah, bra

You feel where niggas come from

It's good to see your face again

Tell me what Elijah said 'bout how we came from space again?"

[Outro: The Honorable Elijah Muhammad]