Tupac Shakur 1994 Exclusive Interview With Ed Gordon

Summary

The transcript captures a powerful dialogue addressing the harsh realities of life in impoverished communities, where residents feel compelled to arm themselves for protection due to rampant crime and police presence. The speaker, a voice of his generation, echoes the forgotten struggle of the past and the need for unity. He candidly discusses the impact of growing up without a father figure and the role models he found in the streets. He also reflects on his own transformation, from a time when he didn't care about survival to a newfound desire to live and represent his community positively. The conversation delves into societal pressures, the portrayal of black men in media, and the responsibility he feels to be a role model, despite the challenges and misconceptions.

Takeaways

• 😔 The speaker feels they live in a war zone, with a constant need for protection due to the high crime rate in their community.
• 👮‍♂️ There's a comparison made between the equipment used by the police and the need for residents to arm themselves for protection.
• 🔫 The speaker discusses the prevalence of guns and violence, emphasizing that it's a shared fear among both black and white communities.
• 🗣️ The importance of speaking out about the reality of living conditions is highlighted as a way to bring attention to societal issues.
• 👥 The speaker expresses a desire to unite people and use their platform to communicate a message to a large audience.
• 🔮 A transformation is mentioned, where the speaker no longer wants to be seen as someone who doesn't care about their life or reputation.
• 🙏 The speaker feels they are doing 'God's work' by being a voice for those in the community who are often overlooked.
• 🏡 There's a discussion about the impact of growing up without a father and the role models that filled that void.
• 🎓 Education is brought up as a missed opportunity due to financial constraints, and the speaker reflects on how it might have changed their path.
• 🤬 The speaker is angry and frustrated with societal norms and the treatment of black people, which fuels their drive to represent their community.

Q & A

What is the main challenge faced by the community described in the transcript?

The community faces a high level of violence and crime, with people feeling the need to arm themselves for protection, similar to how the police are armed with rifles, riot gear, and other equipment.

Why does the speaker feel that they are doing God's work?

The speaker feels they are doing God's work because they are advocating for the often overlooked and underprivileged youth in the ghetto, whom they believe are also God's children, and trying to bring attention and change to their plight.

What does the speaker suggest is the reason behind the police's need for heavy weaponry and protective gear?

The speaker implies that the police require heavy weaponry and protective gear because they are fighting against the same crime elements that the community members are, suggesting a high level of crime and danger in the area.

How does the speaker describe the living conditions in the projects?

The speaker describes the living conditions in the projects as extremely crowded and dangerous, with many people living in a single building, and a constant need for self-protection due to the proximity to criminal elements.

What does the speaker believe is the role of their generation in the fight for equality and justice?

The speaker believes that their generation is picking up the fight for equality and justice where the Black Panthers left off, advocating for change and recognition of the struggles faced by their community.

Why does the speaker feel the need to carry a weapon?

The speaker feels the need to carry a weapon for self-defense, citing personal experiences of being threatened and attacked, and the general dangerous environment they live in.

What does the speaker think about the portrayal of black men arming themselves in the media?

The speaker thinks that the media portrays black men arming themselves as illegal or criminal, rather than for self-defense, which they believe is their right and necessity given the circumstances.

How does the speaker view the criticism that rappers are being 'pimped' by the record industry for their portrayal of thug life?

The speaker disagrees with the idea that they are being 'pimped' and argues that everyone, including those in the record industry, are being 'pimps' in some way. They suggest that the portrayal of thug life is a reflection of reality and that it's the rappers who are influencing the culture, not the other way around.

What is the speaker's response to those who accuse them of promoting violence through their music?

The speaker defends their music as a reflection of their reality and argues that they are not promoting violence but rather bringing attention to the violence that already exists in their community.

Why does the speaker feel that they have to be careful about their image and how they are perceived?

The speaker feels they have to be careful about their image because it can prevent confrontations and because they want to be seen as a representative of their generation, not just as a 'tough' persona but also as someone with logic, compassion, and understanding.

Outlines

00:00

🔫 Survival and Struggle in War Zone

The speaker describes living in a war zone-like environment where carrying weapons is necessary for survival. They emphasize the shared fear of crime between black and white communities and the need for protection against the same criminal elements. The speaker also discusses the responsibility they feel to represent their generation, drawing parallels to the Black Panthers, and the importance of speaking out about the harsh realities of life in their community. They express a desire to live and be seen as more than just a criminal, reflecting on their past and the changes they've undergone, including a newfound sense of responsibility and a commitment to 'doing God's work' by advocating for those in similar situations.

05:01

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family, Role Models, and Education

The speaker reflects on the absence of a father figure in their life and the impact it had on their upbringing, using their mother's experiences and advice as a guiding force. They discuss the influence of their environment on their values and choices, including the decision not to go to college due to financial constraints. The speaker also talks about their role as a provider for their family and the pressures and responsibilities that come with it. They express a desire to use their influence and experiences to create change, both in their community and beyond, highlighting the importance of authenticity and the complexity of their public image.

10:02

🤬 Anger and the Thug Life Persona

The speaker delves into the anger and frustration they feel towards societal structures that have marginalized them and their community. They discuss the concept of the 'thug life' as a survival mechanism rather than a choice, and how it is perceived by the media and the public. The speaker argues that their anger is a response to systemic oppression and the lack of opportunities, and they challenge the idea that they are being 'pimped' by the music industry. They assert their independence and the authenticity of their experiences, emphasizing the importance of representing the realities of their community.

15:03

🔍 Media Portrayal and Self-Defense

The speaker addresses the media's portrayal of black men arming themselves as criminal, arguing that it is a necessary form of self-defense in their community. They highlight the disparity in how black and white communities are policed and the different levels of security provided. The speaker also discusses the responsibility they feel to speak out about violence in their community, using their platform to raise awareness and to encourage non-violence. They express the desire for their community to be seen and treated with the same respect and value as others, and they reflect on the potential consequences of their actions and words.

20:05

🛡️ Community Protection and the Fight for Respect

The speaker reiterates the need for protection in their community, drawing parallels between the tools used by the police and those used by residents for self-defense. They discuss the importance of unity and the responsibility they feel to represent their community, emphasizing the shared fear of crime. The speaker also reflects on their role as a spokesperson for their generation, expressing a desire to live and to be seen as more than just a criminal. They discuss their commitment to 'doing God's work' by advocating for those in similar situations and the importance of being a positive influence, despite the challenges and dangers they face.

Keywords

💡War Zone

A 'war zone' typically refers to an area where active combat or warfare is taking place. In the context of the video script, it metaphorically describes the harsh and dangerous living conditions in certain communities, suggesting that residents must be as vigilant and protective as in a combat situation. The speaker uses this term to emphasize the severity of street crime and violence they face daily.

💡Self-Defense

'Self-Defense' generally means protecting oneself from harm. The script mentions residents arming themselves as a form of self-defense due to the perceived lack of safety. It underscores the community's need to protect itself in the absence of adequate protection from external sources, such as law enforcement.

💡Ghetto

The term 'ghetto' historically refers to a part of a city, often segregated, where members of a minority group live, typically in poor conditions. In the script, it is used to describe the impoverished and crime-ridden neighborhoods the speaker is from, highlighting systemic issues of poverty and racial segregation.

💡Pacifism

Pacifism is the belief that disputes can be resolved without violence. The speaker contrasts the community's need for self-defense with the broader societal call for pacifism, suggesting a complex relationship with the concept. They argue that advocating for non-violence in their situation is unrealistic without addressing the root causes of violence.

💡Thug Life

The phrase 'thug life' is used to describe a lifestyle associated with crime and violence. The speaker acknowledges the 'thug' persona but also discusses the economic and social conditions that lead individuals to adopt such a lifestyle. It is portrayed not as a choice but as a survival mechanism in challenging environments.

💡Role Model

A 'role model' is someone who serves as an example, whose behavior is emulated by others. The script discusses the expectations placed on the speaker as a public figure and the pressure to be a positive role model despite the adversities they've faced. It raises questions about who qualifies as a role model in communities where conventional role models are scarce.

💡Black Panthers

The 'Black Panthers' refers to the Black Panther Party, a political organization in the 1960s and 1970s that advocated for the rights of African Americans. The speaker draws a parallel between the Panthers' activism and the current generation's struggle, suggesting a continuation of the fight against racial injustice.

💡Systemic Racism

Systemic racism refers to the ingrained racial discrimination within societal systems. The script implies systemic racism by discussing how the lack of resources and high crime rates in certain communities are not just individual issues but are part of a larger pattern of discrimination and neglect.

💡Poverty

Poverty is the state of being extremely poor. The script mentions poverty as a central issue affecting the community, linking it to crime, lack of education, and limited opportunities. It is portrayed as a cycle that is hard to break and deeply entrenched in the community's struggles.

💡Community

In the script, 'community' refers to the local population or neighborhood, emphasizing the collective experience of living in impoverished and crime-ridden areas. The speaker discusses the need for unity and mutual support within the community, suggesting that collective action is necessary to overcome shared challenges.

💡Survival

'Survival' in this context refers to the struggle to live through difficult conditions. The speaker talks about the daily struggle to stay safe and the measures taken to ensure survival, such as carrying weapons for protection. It highlights the harsh realities and the fight for basic safety and existence.

Highlights

Living in a war zone and the necessity to carry protection due to the high crime rate in the community.

The police carrying heavy weaponry and riot gear, indicating the severity of the situation.

The realization that the same crime elements feared by white people are also feared by black people.

The responsibility to represent one's generation and continue the fight for equality.

The importance of uniting and using the platform to communicate with a large audience.

The desire to live and not be remembered as a criminal or rapist.

The transformative journey from not caring about life to wanting to make a positive impact.

The belief in doing God's work by advocating for those in the ghetto.

The lack of positive role models and the influence of negative figures in the community.

The impact of growing up without a father figure and its effects on personal development.

The struggle of financial limitations preventing educational opportunities.

The sense of responsibility to provide for one's family and the sacrifices made.

The potential to influence and inspire youth across different backgrounds.

The challenge of maintaining one's authentic self while being portrayed by the media.

The anger and frustration towards societal structures that perpetuate inequality.

The critique of the music industry and the exploitation of black artists for profit.

The defense of the right to bear arms for self-defense in high-crime areas.

The plea for understanding and support from the community and its leaders.

Transcripts

you know I'm saying it's that it's that

situation when you got we are living in

a war zone it's not as easy as these

people are making a stink that if you

just got some criminal ass black kids

with guns it is not like that we live in

hell we live in the gutter we got a

stacked up 80 deep in one building you

know by the time you get out your house

you strap it to protect yourself cuz you

living in the same community if the

police is carrying rifles and riot gear

saying they need them right right excuse

my language I'm so sorry the same

reasons they need the right hat the

right jacket the flak jacket the double

vest the nine-millimeter Glocks with

extra bullets the teargas the mace all

who do you think the police is using

that against dogs so we fighting the

same villains that they fight in the

street but instead of them seeing us

Martin bill is in the street we all

billets is your generation the one that

is picking up for where the Panthers

left off saying all right enough is

enough

the generation before us forgot about

the fight we're picking it back up

not only forgot about the fight forgot

about us yes and we're picking it back

up but at this level all we're trying to

do is unite and right now as a year we

got a million people that's listening

now we can tell them something

now we could try to get them that way

and we might lose them we might gain

something but we would never even had

that audience had we not said what was

real you know I'm saying and the main

thing for us to remember is that the

same crime element that white people are

scared of black people are scared of the

same crime element that white people

fear we fear so we defend ourselves from

the same crime element that they scared

of you know I'm saying why they wait for

the legislation in the past and

everything we next door to the killer

we next door to him you know cuz me up

into projects with 80 in the building

all them killers that they letting out

they right there in that building but

it's better this cuz we black we get

along with the killers or something we

get along with the rapist cuz we black

and we from the same what is that we

need protection to finally I want to ask

you about something that someone else

asked you in the interview and I thought

the answer was interesting because I

think it speaks to you and your

generation a lot someone said where do

you see Tupac ten years from

you said hey I just want to be alive

that's real for you that's so real I

can't I made a metamorphosis I'm a new

person today because I used to strongly

and honestly honestly I feel like I

could represent my generation so much

because I honestly did not care whether

I lived or died but now I cannot die

with people thinking I'm a rapist or

criminal

I can't leave straight you know I'm not

suicidal I'm not I can't go

let's see y'all really know what time it

is and then after that boom it's all

over and we could see you know before

but that's how it is and reason being is

because if I can't live free if I can't

live with the same respect as the next

man I don't want to be here because God

has cursed me to see what life should be

like if God wanted me to be this person

and be happy here he wouldn't let me

feel so oppressed he wouldn't let me

feel so trampled on you know I'm saying

he wouldn't let me think the things I

think so I feel like I'm doing God's

work you know I'm saying just because I

don't have nothing to pass around for

people to put money in the bucket don't

mean I ain't doing God's work I feel

like I'm doing God's work you know I'm

saying because these ghetto kids ain't

God's children and I don't see no

missionaries coming through there you

know I'm saying so I'm doing God's work

while Reverend Jackson do hit up in the

middle class and he go to the right

house and have dinner and pray over the

president I'm up in the hood you know

I'm saying doing my work with my folks

and just cuz I don't live dead I mean I

don't go there I got to go there cuz I

can't hang nowhere else

what would a Vietnam vet be like without

a sergeant without any backup without

any other soldiers nobody but a Vietnam

vet in Vietnam when he came on how would

he be and that's me I had to go through

all that Street war everything the same

drugs that everybody else get turned out

on you know where I would've been

stopped short it I made it pass and

here's where I am but because I made a

pass I missed some lessons you know I'm

saying and you can see the lessons that

I miss when you talk to me you can see

where where I haven't had a father when

you talk to me you know I'm saying you

can see where I spent a lot of my time

in the streets when you talk to me

because the words I said I know words

that come from a mother's mouth or a

father's mouth is words that comes from

a pimps mouth or a prostitute or a

hustler or a drug dealer you know I'm

saying but to me these were my role

models how much of that though in terms

of growing up without a father sometimes

not being with your mother do you do you

lament on and look back and say damn I

missed something big everything um I

know for a fact that had I had a father

how to have somebody and I hate saying

this cuz why people love hearing black

people talk about this but had I had a

father had I had some of these

opportunities I'd have been able to help

my mother more she wouldn't have went

the road she went I could have been a

better son you know I'm saying she

wouldn't went that road it was the

absence of my father you know I'm saying

I'm dealing with him being daddy not

being there my mother's dealing with him

getting my man not being there you know

so many problems in our community that

that affect everything so by me not

having that I never want to hear nothing

about no kind of relationships between a

black man and a black woman I knew they

didn't work because as far as I knew my

daddy was the coolest dude out there and

my mama was a panther so dating work it

don't work that's how I felt you know

I'm saying and going out there

you don't saying it's like watching my

mother just go through changes and

everything it's like my mother is my

partner she is soldier you know she a

soldier like I'm a soldier you know I've

watched the repeat the game that she

went through if I would have went to

saying when my mother went had not she

did her route and showed me which way it

went wrong with her

my mother always told me don't you ever

ever just volunteer yourself to our

people because they'll use you that's

what they do

you know I'm saying she never she also

told me follow my heart

and for me to be the leader but it's

interesting to see just the change in

your face your reaction your thought

process that's all I ever wanted did you

ask my mama I wanted to go to college I

went to school all the way and was ready

to go to college the only thing that

stopped me was money the time we packed

all my all the kids in my school was

writing applications to go to college I

didn't have no life so knowing that you

and I need my mama's fault you know I'm

saying so when I think back to that I'm

not talking for me I'm talking for my

family I pay all the bills you know I'm

saying I feed my whole family wrong all

right

I do and I can't stop you know I'm

saying if tugging is gonna make me a

million bucks cuz it just got me

pregnant that's what I got to do

constantly and if it makes me feel

because right now I feel satisfied I

don't feel like I've ever embarrassed

myself or my people you know and nothing

I've done and ya know I got the whole

world theory you know I'm saying

at 23 weighing 160 pounds you know

saying and I ain't even started

I haven't even wrote my plan out yet and

they scared I got the vice-president

Know Who I am the president every cop in

every city you know I'm saying and I

haven't even started working on a plan I

have something to offer the business

that hasn't been shown before you know I

have a whole energy that represents not

just black youth but white youth Mexican

youth you you know I'm saying that that

um that change right before you go from

being 18 and unresponsible so when you

go to being like 21 22 and the whole

worlds on your shoulders I believe

strongly that um my audience empathize

with me because I showed that side I

showed that emotion raw uncut good and

bad and so I think I can bring that more

fun more directed into the screenplays

more albums producing managing you know

I'm saying if I can figure out just how

to control it

I can I can use it on a lot of different

levels

I tripped off because it happens out of

nothing it just goes you know everybody

just be screaming to that you know I

just I get uncomfortable and I it's like

it's like I'm similar to a deer being

caught in the headlights I just freeze

you know I don't know what to do I don't

know if I should um be what they want me

to be or if I should make them hate me

so they can stop you know like say

something mean so they can just stop but

I'm also I'm just like caught in the

middle of it because you can't I mean no

one could do that police can't do that

they can't stand in front of all those

people we're controlling with a gun and

mace and all that so me with just words

it's like a battle to find the right

words to say at the right time I'm

curious when you when you think about

the idea that you do have that kind of

control over so many people and in one

sense the whole idea of being a role

model comes up in the imagery and a lot

of people who know you and I talked to

them beforehand suggested that hey you

know when you meet him he's gonna be

something entirely different than you

imagine and what the media is portraying

them what about that idea that that you

have been portrayed and sometimes I mean

to be honest you like the portrayal of

you just hard

that's uh that's right don't step on me

that's right you're in trouble

that's right yet there's another side to

you too what about that idea that you've

got to be able to figure out where

you're going to me it's like um

it is my sensitive side that um that

likes to blow up the hard side because

if my if I can if my image or my

reputation can stop a confrontation

before it happens I'm fine you know I'm

saying I know how it is day-to-day it's

a constant man ego check going on

industry in this world so part of that

is just like you know that's my that's

my resume but as far as the media they

look at it something different they

don't care about my resume they don't

care about me knocking in trouble it's

just another story you know and it's a

real story they don't have to pay for it

and they're gonna milk it for all it's

worth as far as people they want me when

they first see me to humble myself they

want me to be like this and do it in

just because they're scared of me but I

don't feel like that's my job to humble

myself to show you that I'm not

right I'm not a threat unless you're a

threat to me you know I'm saying so when

people say when you meet pop she's

different than the years because when

somebody one-on-one anybody one-on-one

I believe honestly that I can talk I

believe that I have the ability to

reason I have logic I have compassion I

have understanding if we talk there's no

problems you know it's there but that's

not what happens people use what they

heard in the media and that's how they

come at me and then you know we got a

clash one of the things that you read in

the media is that you're angry that you

personify your generation that you just

got some angry folks out there and

you're one of them I'll put it to you

are you angry are you angry with what

you see Society is about yeah I'm I'm

extremely angry confused you know a lot

of the times I set up in court I

couldn't defend myself you know I'm

saying and it was it wasn't like the

things they were saying about me were

beyond my comprehension or the things

that I could say weren't gonna help my

case but because I mean I was just like

being exiled you know from from society

and that's how I feel and this whole um

anger comes from

I'm tired of waiting for my past to get

into society all everyone's do was make

me and everybody around me feel more

comfortable about where we were you know

I'm saying about the places that we stay

we we this is our home base let's build

it up let's be happy about where we come

from you know I'm saying instead of

trying to assimilate and get a passkey

to it yet you know I'm saying not to say

that everything needs to be separate but

we gotta find pride in ourselves you

know I'm saying and and once you get to

pride like family at two seconds after

the prior comes anger from being held

like that for so long and to be made to

go through those changes you get mad you

know I'm saying as soon as I believe

soon as any black man receives his first

three checks he starts getting mad

because it's not about the necessity of

having to have a job and having to pay

and having to do that you don't care no

more about the smiles and you know yes

massa

because you didn't got paid you know I'm

saying and now it's like you want to

save money you want to help other people

you see how how far it is how far you

have to go to help anybody in your

neighborhood it's set up for me when I

get paid for me to exit together you

know I'm saying the only reason I've had

these problems because I haven't left

yet and these problems don't come from a

white man

it comes from just society the problems

that we have let me put this to you a

lot of people tell me to pocket is for

the most part a nice guy

there's so third thing hyper good for

record sales helps them identify with

the young people who are out there and

angry who would maybe label him a

sellout like they did hammer if he

didn't have that heart about first of

all nobody could call me a sellout I'm

not I'm not going for that I'm not even

in that I'm not I'm not looking for

approval from the black community

because we don't give approval you know

we don't really do nothing but exists so

it's not like I'm black people could

tell me you a sellout or you true-blue

you know saying it's not that I'm not

even caught up in that but I can see

that you know I'm saying the one thing

we do have in common as black people is

we share that poverty so the thug side

is more closer to the poverty than me

being rich you know how can I come to

any community center you know I'm saying

spoiling a Rolex presidential all these

diamonds and be like look we gotta gotta

yeah but now when I say we they know

what I mean I'm not saying like I live

in this neighborhood none but I'm a thug

and they thought they can relate to I

mean about to say that you know I'm

saying when I come I'd like to say I'm

real they already know hey you know I'm

saying from for me for me being me

from not pushing the darkness but I know

from the business that everybody in this

business is always whisper in your ear

about what you can't say well you can't

do what you can't we're in this world

and then this works two words

why were the black world all I did was

stand in the middle you know I'm saying

it say I'm living in these but I'm

living in both worlds I can go to the

streets and survive and I can go out

here and do my business out here

I'm play devil's advocate again critics

say yeah but you being pimped you being

pimped by the record record executives

who will allow you to do your thug life

because it betrays a certain black I

mean you've heard it yeah that if you

were just a singer you wouldn't have the

same record contracts you have but

because you portrayed the thug life the

gangster rap they've allowed you to make

that money they've allowed you to push

and make

platon I beg to differ yes said I'm

getting pinched that's true but just

like how about our woman would be you

know I'm saying anybody to be pimps you

know it's like it's not that you get

pimps it's how long you get pants you

know saying because if you really look

at this situation it is not I who's

being pimps when you look at the white

kids we write a sad song it's the white

folks getting pimps you know I'm saying

cuz I'm making their future I'm writing

down their curriculum right now what I

write in my I'll be too gay when it

comes out in two months that's what

white kids is doing so who really is

getting pimps I'll be I'll be out when

I'm writing my raps is what the white

kids is gonna be saying today mommies

and daddies when they come home

he is getting pimps you know I'm saying

I'm a high school dropout you know I'm

saying far as my teacher told me when I

was in high school I had to be you know

I'm saying

I just gotta move it's going down the

other said is going down you know

everybody's getting pimped whether you

working on the five or whether you work

for yourself you getting pimped by

somebody that's not that that's not the

clock the crime is how long you allow

yourself to get ten you have to come up

everything has to come up everything is

a struggle you start from the bottom

working to the top

the press in the media makes you think

that a black man arming himself is

illegal o criminal or that he wants to

arm itself to rob a liquor store some

you know I'm saying that is for me to

defend myself and it should always be

it's just about surviving you know and

we have to be honest about the tools

that we use to survive and why is a

black life any any more recoupable in a

white life you know I'm saying we know

that they don't put the same security

and then get over that they do and

whites and and the white neighborhoods

so therefore for me to be out here

saying don't you know put your guns down

and no violence I said we're critical

and if I didn't talk about the violence

everybody would act like the violence

wasn't there

we as rappers brought that violence we

bought the violence that we've seen on

the street we put in our records put in

our records for years and after three

four years people finally starting to

see it because all the statistics that's

going on in the streets if we stop

talking about it then they wouldn't take

statistics and when they stop taking

statistics then we'd be killing each

other in the stream these white people

wouldn't care no more only people they

only reason they cares cuz you know

that's been some strays and we just

slipped over in the white neighborhoods

and it's kids in Iowa they want to be

like us you know I'm saying it's kids

and in Indiana that's trying to be like

us cuz they can relate to you know I'm

saying you even admitted I don't live in

that neighborhood anymore there's no

real reason for you to carry a nine

millimeter don't believe that why and in

two years I've had a gun pulled on me by

my limo driver by police by everybody

you know I'm saying and I better be

I better be you know I'm saying I've

been attacked you ain't read the papers

about these skinheads trying to blow up

black churches Wow

they see me as the enemy just like y'all

do you know I'm saying they can come to

my house and sit outside my house just

like anybody else can ask in it and once

my life was gone is gone can't nobody

give it back to me not the judge not the

president not the governor not Calvin

but not Jesse Jackson they came to

number come to my funeral and talk

pretty about how black people suffer you

understand and as far as Jesse Jackson

my first acting job was at the Apollo

Theater when Jesse Jackson was running

for president in 1984

it hurts me for him to say anything

negative about any rapper because we

supported him

should support us you know I'm saying as

far as his image you know I'm saying

what was he what was he doing you know

he should be the last person talking

about gun violence when he sat right

there while Martin Luther King caught

one in the neck you know I'm saying

things they really changed that much I

swear to God nothing I ever say he's

meant to be something where innocent

people get hurt nothing I ever say it's

meant to be like a endure let's go do it

right now

nothing everything I ever say and if any

this is a we could set it clear anything

I ever say as it pertains to my peers

and and and being strapped it's only in

self-defense you know I'm saying because

my right now where I'm at the world is

harsh and I just don't got no beautiful

stories you know say I'm gonna just be

getting them ready cuz that's why I

think I messed up if somebody would have

grabbed me pulled me to the side and

been like look surprised as soon as you

step out here they're gonna be actually

assume I would explained it to me I

wouldn't it took the same mistakes but I

made those mistakes and now it's my job

to stop somebody else from making those

same mistakes to lay it out to lay out

the real map on the world and how would

it everything I'm saying is a warning is

a plea for hell if everybody was so I

didn't worried about me why ain't nobody

can't help me you know I'm saying I

never wanted to be no star to say my job

care for everybody don't cheer for me

you know I'm saying if you're not

cheering for me for what I'm doing

though cheer for me don't cheer cuz you

think I'm cute you know I'm saying screw

that cheered for me for what I'm doing

for what I stand for and when I go to

jail you should cheer louder you know

I'm saying cuz I'm standing up for what

I do I'm not robbing nobody not stealing

from nobody I never took nothing

everything I do I do to represent my

people I do because I think this is what

they want me to do

we killing each other because we killing

ourselves we're not when a man when

another man I know I've been in the

position it don't it's out of our

control

it's not like he wants to kill he just

doesn't want to die you know I'm saying

it's that it's that situation you got we

are living in the war zone it's not as

easy as these people are making a stink

that he just got some criminal ass black

kids with guns it is not like that we

live in hell we live in the gutter

we got a stacked up 80 deep in one

building you know by the time you get

out your house you strapped but to

protect yourself because you're living

in the same community that the police is

carrying rifles and riot gear saying

they need them right right excuse my

language I'm so sorry the same reasons

they need the right hat the right jacket

the flak jacket the double vests the

nine-millimeter Glocks with extra

bullets the teargas the mace all who do

you think the police is using that

against dogs so we fighting the same

villains that they fight in the street

but instead of them seeing us Martin

bill is in the street we all billets is

your generation the one that is picking

up for where the Panthers left off

saying all right enough is enough the

generation before us forgot about the

fight we're picking it back up

not only forgot about the fight forgot

about us yes and we're picking it back

up but at this level all we're trying to

do is unite and right now as a year we

got a million people that's listening

now we can tell them something

now we could try to get them that where

we might lose them we might gain

something but we would never even add

that audience had we not said what was

real you know I'm saying and the main

thing for us to remember is that the

same crime element that white people are

scared of black people are scared of the

same crime element that white people

fear we fear so we defend ourselves from

the same crime element that they scared

of you know I'm saying why they waiting

for the legislation in the past and

everything we next door to the killer

we next door to him you know cuz we up

in the projects with 80 in the building

all them killers that they letting out

they right there in that building but

it's better good cuz we black we get

along with the killers or something we

get along with the rapists cuz we black

and we from the same what is that we

need protection to finally I want to ask

you about something that someone else

asked you in the interview and I

the answer was interesting because I

think it speaks to you and your

generation a lot someone said what do

you see to pop ten years from now you

said hey I just want to be alive that's

real for you that's so real I can't I

made a metamorphosis I'm a new person

today because I used to strongly and

honestly honestly I feel like I could

represent my generation so much because

I honestly did not care whether I lived

or died but now I cannot die or people

thinking I'm a rapist or criminal

I can't leave straight you know I'm not

suicidal

I'm not can't go let's see y'all really

know what time it is and then after that

boom it's all over and we could see her

you know fall but that's how it is and

reason being is because if I can't live

free if I can't live with the same

respect as the next man I don't want to

be here because God has cursed me to see

what life should be like if God wanted

me to be this person and be happy here

he wouldn't let me feel so oppressed he

wouldn't let me feel so trampled on you

know I'm saying he wouldn't let me think

the things I think so I feel like I'm

doing God's work you know I'm saying

just because I don't have nothing to

pass around for people to put money in

the bucket don't mean I ain't doing

God's work I feel like I'm doing God's

work you know I'm saying because these

ghetto kids ain't God's children and I

don't see no missionaries coming through

there you know I'm saying so I'm doing

God's work well Reverend Jackson do hit

up in the middle class and he go to the

White House and have dinner and pray

over the president I'm up in the hood

you know I'm saying doing my work with

my folks and just cuz I don't live there

I mean I don't go here I got to go there

cuz I can't