Cops Shot the Kid

[Intro: Richard Pryor]

The cops used to come around in my neighborhood

"Alright, you kids, stop having so much fun, move along!"

Oh they'd arrest me, you know, especially at night

They had a curfew, niggas had to be home at 11, negros, 12

And you'd be trying to get home, doing your crew runs

And they'd always catch you out in front of a store or something

'Cause you'd be taking shortcuts, right

Cops, "Ree, put your hands up, black boy!"

[Chorus: Slick Rick]

The cops shot the kid

The cops shot the kid, the cops shot–

The cops shot the kid

The cops shot the kid, the cops shot–

The cops shot the kid

The cops shot the kid, the cops shot–

The cops shot the kid

The cops shot the kid, the cops shot–

The cops shot the kid

[Verse 1: Nas]

I don't wanna hurt nobody

We just came here to party

See a few dames, exchange some names

I'm a top shotta, kid, stay in your lane

The cop shot the kid, same old scene

Pour out a little liquor, champagne for pain

Slap-boxin' in the street

Crack the hydrant in the heat

Cop cars on the creep

Doin' they round-ups, we just watch for the sweep

Yeah, it's hotter than July

It's the summer when niggas die

It's the summer when niggas ride

Together we'll be strong, but forever we divide

So y'all are blowin' my high

Type of shit that's killin' my vibe

White kids are brought in alive

Black kids get hit with like five

Get scared, you panic, you're goin' down

The disadvantages of the brown

How in the hell the parents gon' bury their own kids

Not the other way around?

Reminds me of Emmett Till

Let's remind 'em why Kap kneels

[Chorus: Slick Rick]

The cops shot the kid

The cops shot the kid, the cops shot–

The cops shot the kid

The cops shot the kid, the cops shot–

The cops shot the kid

The cops shot the kid, the cops shot–

The cops shot the kid

The cops shot the kid, the cops shot–

The cops shot the kid

The cops shot the kid, the cops shot–

The cops shot the kid

The cops shot the kid, the cops shot–

The cops shot the kid

The cops shot the kid, the cops shot–

The cops shot the kid

I still hear him scream

[Verse 2: Kanye West]

Stay tuned up and down your timeline

This fake news, people is all lyin'

Money is bein' made when a mom cries

Won't be satisfied 'til we all die

Tell me, who do we call to report crime

If 9-1-1 doin' the driveby?

It's certain things I can't abide by

I ain't bein' extreme, this is my side

Talkin' big shit, ready to die

I know every story got two sides

Claimin' he paranoid by the black guy

Cop wanna make it home by nighttime

Just a good kid, he wasn't that guy

Had a little hit, he wasn't that high

Cop gon' claim that it was self-defense

Say he was ridin' dirty so the case rests

[Chorus: Slick Rick & Kanye West]

The cops shot the kid

The cops shot the kid, the cops shot– (Workin' nine-to-five)

The cops shot the kid

The cops shot the kid, the cops shot– (Tryna stay alive)

The cops shot the kid

The cops shot the kid, the cops shot– (Makin' ends meet)

The cops shot the kid

The cops shot the kid, the cops shot– (Shot him this week)

The cops shot the kid

The cops shot the kid, the cops shot–

The cops shot the kid

The cops shot the kid, the cops shot–

The cops shot the kid

The cops shot the kid, the cops shot–

The cops shot the kid

I still hear him scream