[Intro: Malcolm X]
We all agree, tonight—all of the speakers have agreed that America has a very serious problem. Not only does America have a very serious problem, but our people have a very serious problem. America's problem is
[Refrain]
Self-destruction, you're headed for self-destruction
Self-destruction, you're headed for self-destruction
Self-destruction, you're headed for self-destruction
Self-destruction, you're headed for self-destruction
[Verse 1: KRS-One]
Well, today's topic, self-destruction
It really ain't the rap audience that's buggin'
It's one or two suckers, ignorant brothers
Trying to rob and steal from one another
You get caught in the mid
So to crush that stereotype, here's what we did
We got ourselves together
So that you could unite and fight for what's right
Not negative 'cause the way we live is positive
We don't kill our relatives
[Verse 2: MC Delite]
Pop, pop, pop, when it's shot, who's to blame?
Headlines, front page, and rap's the name
MC Delite here to state the bottom line
The black-on-black crime was way before our time
[Verse 3: Kool Moe Dee]
Took a brother's life with a knife as his wife
Cried 'cause he died a trifling death
When he left, his very last breath
Was, "I slept, so watch your step"
Back in the '60s, our brothers and sisters were hanged
How could you gang-bang?
I never ever ran from the Ku Klux Klan
And I shouldn't have to run from a black man
'Cause that's
[Refrain]
Self-destruction, you're headed for self-destruction
Self-destruction, you're headed for self-destruction
Self-destruction, you're headed for self-destruction
Self-destruction, you're—
[Interlude]
Uno, dos, tres, cuatro
[Verse 4: MC Lyte]
Funky fresh, dressed to impress, ready to party
Money in your pocket, dyin' to move your body
To get inside, you paid a whole ten dollars
Scotch taped with a razor blade taped to your collar
Leave the guns and the crack and the knives alone
MC Lyte's on the microphone
Bum rushing and pushing, snatching and taxing
I cram to understand why brothers don't be maxing
There's only one disco, they'll close one more
You ain't guarding the door, so what you got a gun for?
Do you rob the rich and give to the poor?
Yo, Daddy-O, school them some more
[Verse 5: Daddy-O, Wise, Daddy-O & Wise, & D-Nice]
Spittin'-spittin'-spittin' straight from the mouth of Wise and Daddy-O
Do a crime, end up in jail and gotta go
'Cause you could do crime and get paid today
And tomorrow you're behind bars in the worst way
Far from your family 'cause you're locked away
Now tell me, do you really think crime pays?
Schemin' on taking what your brother has?
You little sucker, you're talkin' all that jazz
[Verse 6: D-Nice]
It's time to stand together in a unity
'Cause if not, then, yo, we're soon to be
Self-destroyed, unemployed
The rap race will be lost without a trace
Or a clue, but what to do
Is stop the violence and kick the science
Down a road that we call eternity
Where knowledge is formed and you learn to be
Self-sufficient, independent
To teach to each is what rap intended
But society wants to invade
So do not walk this path that they laid, it's
[Refrain]
Self-destruction, you're headed for self-destruction
Self-destruction (D-Nice, break it down like this)
[Bridge]
Children grow and women produce
And men go work and some do stealing
[Refrain]
Self-destruction, you're headed for self-destruction
Self-destruction, you're—
[Verse 7: Ms. Melodie]
I'm Ms. Melodie, and I'm a born-again rebel
The violence in rap must cease and seckle
If we wanna develop and grow to another level
We can't be guinea pigs for the devil
The enemy knows, they're no fools
Because everyone knows that hip-hop rules
So we gotta get a grip and grab what's wrong
The opposition is weak and rap is strong
[Verse 8: Doug E. Fresh]
This is all about, no doubt, to stop violence
But first, let's have a moment of silence
Swing, things been stated, re-educated, evaluated
Thoughts of the past have faded
The only thing left is the memories of our related
And I hate it when someone dies and get all hurt up
For a silly gold chain while they choke (Word up)
It doesn't make you a big man (And)
To wanna go and diss your brother, man (And)
You don't know that's part of the plan (Why?)
'Cause rap music is in full demand, understand?
[Refrain]
Self-destruction, you're headed for self-destruction
[Verse 9: Just-Ice]
My name is Just-Ice, a man, not a prankster
I was known as the gangster
But, believe me, that is no fun
The time is now to unite everyone
You don't have to be soft to be for peace
Robbing and killing and murdering is the least
You don't have to be chained by the beast
But party people, it's time I release
[Verse 10: Heavy D]
Ayo, here's the situation, idiocy
Nonsense, violence, not a good policy
Therefore, we must ignore fighting 'n' fussing
Heavy's at the door, so there'll be no bum rushing
Let's get together because we're falling apart
I heard a brother shot another, it broke my heart
I don't understand the difficulty, people
Love your brother, treat him as an equal
They called us animals, mm-mm, I don't agree with them
I'll prove 'em wrong, but right is what you're provin' 'em
Take heed before I lead through what I'm sayin'
Or we'll all be on our knees, praying
[Verse 11: Frukwan]
Yo, Heavy D, deep in the heart of the matter
Their self-destruction is served on a platter
Makin' a day, not failing to anticipate
They got greedy so they fell for the bait
That makes them a victim, picked and plucked
New jack in jail, but to the vets, they're a duck
There's no one to rob 'cause, in jail, you're a number
They never took the time to wonder about
[Refrain]
Self-destruction, you're headed for self-destruction
Self-destruction, you're headed for self-destruction
[Verse 12: Chuck D, Flavor Flav, & Chuck D & Flavor Flav]
Yes, we urge to merge, we live for the love of our people
To hope they get along (Yeah, so we did a song)
Gettin' the point to our brothers and sisters
Who don't know the time (Boy! So we wrote a rhyme)
Instead in your head, you know our job
To build and collect ourselves with intellect (Come on)
To revolve, to evolve to self-respect
'Cause we got to keep ourselves in check
Or else, it's
[Refrain]
Self-destruction, you're headed for self-destruction
Self-destruction, you're headed for self-destruction
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