| Song | Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos |
| Artist | Public Enemy |
| Album | It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back |
| [00:28.660] | I got a letter from the government the other day |
| [00:31.620] | I opened and read it |
| [00:32.940] | It said they were suckers |
| [00:34.620] | They wanted me for their army or whatever |
| [00:36.860] | Picture me given’ a damn I said never |
| [00:39.740] | Here is a land that never gave a damn |
| [00:41.860] | About a brother like me and myself |
| [00:43.720] | Because they never did |
| [00:45.100] | I wasn’t wit’ it but just that very minute… |
| [00:47.620] | It occured to me |
| [00:48.840] | The suckers had authority |
| [00:50.620] | Cold sweatin’ as I dwell in my cell |
| [00:52.680] | How long has it been? |
| [00:53.72] | They got me sittin’ in the state pen |
| [00:55.720] | I gotta get out – but that thought was thought before |
| [00:58.380] | I contemplated a plan on the cell floor |
| [01:00.940] | I’m not a fugitive on the run |
| [01:02.920] | But a brother like me begun – to be another one |
| [01:06.380] | Public enemy servin’ time – they drew the line y’allPublic enemy |
| [01:09.600] | To criticize me some crime – never the less |
| [01:12.220] | They could not understand that I’m a Black man |
| [01:14.840] | And I could never be a veteran |
| [01:16.720] | On the strength, the situation’s unreal |
| [01:18.860] | I got a raw deal, so I’m goin’ for the steel |
| [01:31.620] | They got me rottin’ in the time that I’m servin’ |
| [01:34.500] | Tellin’ you what happened the same time they’re throwin’ |
| [01:37.180] | 4 of us packed in a cell like slaves – oh well |
| [01:40.420] | The same motherfucker got us livin’ in his hell |
| [01:43.320] | You have to realize – what is a form of slavery |
| [01:46.280] | Organized under a swarm of devils |
| [01:48.840] | Straight up – word’em up on the level |
| [01:50.940] | The reasons are several, most of them federal |
| [01:53.740] | Here is my plan anyway and I say |
| [01:55.820] | I got gusto, but only some I can trust – yo |
| [01:59.000] | Some do a bid from 1 to 10 |
| [02:02.660] | And I never did, and plus I never been |
| [02:03.800] | I’m on a tier where no tears should ever fall |
| [02:06.620] | Cell block and locked – I never clock it y’all |
| [02:09.240] | ‘Cause time and time again time |
| [02:10.880] | They got me servin’ to those and to them |
| [02:13.640] | I’m not a citizen |
| [02:15.040] | But ever when I catch a C-O |
| [02:17.340] | Sleepin’ on the job – my plan is on go-ahead |
| [02:20.020] | On the strength, I’ma tell you the deal |
| [02:22.180] | I got nothin’ to lose |
| [02:24.400] | ‘Cause I’m goin’ for the steel |
| [02:55.800] | Dont you know I caught a C-O |
| [02:57.820] | Fallin’ asleep on death row |
| [02:59.880] | I grabbed his gun – then he did what I said so |
| [03:02.600] | And everyman’s got served |
| [03:04.900] | Along with the time they served |
| [03:06.400] | Decency was deserved |
| [03:07.860] | To understand my demands |
| [03:09.160] | I gave a warnin’ – I wanted the governor, y’all |
| [03:11.760] | And plus the warden to know |
| [03:13.200] | That I was innocent |
| [03:14.360] | Because I’m militant |
| [03:15.400] | Posing a threat, you bet it’s fuckin’ up the government |
| [03:18.400] | My plan said I had to get out and break north |
| [03:21.040] | Just like with Oliver’s neck |
| [03:22.280] | I had to get off – my boys had the feds in check |
| [03:25.020] | They couldn’t do nuthin’ |
| [03:26.440] | We had a force to instigate a prison riot |
| [03:28.620] | This is what it takes for peace |
| [03:30.300] | So I just took the piece |
| [03:31.960] | Black for Black inside time to cut the leash |
| [03:33.980] | Freedom to get out – to the ghetto – no sell out |
| [03:36.720] | 6 C-Os we got we ought to put their head out6 |
| [03:39.520] | But I’ll give ’em a chance, cause I’m civilized |
| [03:42.120] | As for the rest of the world, they can’t realize |
| [03:44.480] | A cell is hell – I’m a rebel so I rebel |
| [03:47.480] | Between bars, got me thinkin’ like an animal |
| [03:50.060] | Got a woman C-O to call me a copter |
| [03:52.720] | She tried to get away, and I popped her |
| [03:55.180] | Twice, right |
| [03:56.220] | Now who wanna get nice? |
| [03:57.340] | I had 6 C-Os, now it’s 5 to go |
| [04:00.000] | And I’m serious – call me delirious |
| [04:02.56] | But I’m still a captive |
| [04:04.60] | I gotta rap this |
| [04:05.720] | Time to break as time grows intense |
| [04:07.860] | I got the steel in my right hand |
| [04:09.960] | Now I’m lookin’ for the fence |
| [04:21.280] | I ventured into the courtyard |
| [04:23.600] | Followed by 52 brothers |
| [04:25.240] | Bruised, battered, and scarred but hard |
| [04:27.180] | Goin’ out with a bang |
| [04:28.400] | Ready to bang out |
| [04:29.340] | But power from the sky |
| [04:30.480] | And from the tower shots rang out |
| [04:32.340] | A high number of dose – yes |
| [04:33.920] | And some came close |
| [04:34.820] | Figure I trigger my steel |
| [04:36.020] | Stand and hold my post |
| [04:37.420] | This is what I mean – an anti-nigger machine |
| [04:39.780] | If I come out alive and then they won’t – come clean |
| [04:42.400] | And then I threw up my steel bullets – flew up |
| [04:46.660] | Blew up, who shot… |
| [04:47.940] | What, who, the bazooka was who |
| [04:50.180] | And to my rescue, it was the S1W |
| [04:53.580] | Secured my getaway, so I just got away |
| [04:55.880] | The joint broke, from the black smoke |
| [04:58.200] | Then they saw it was rougher than the average bluffer |
| [05:00.880] | Cause the steel was black, the attitude exact |
| [05:03.580] | Now the chase is on tellin’ you to c’mon |
| [05:06.100] | 53 brothers on the run, and we are gone? |
| [00:28.660] | I got a letter from the government the other day |
| [00:31.620] | I opened and read it |
| [00:32.940] | It said they were suckers |
| [00:34.620] | They wanted me for their army or whatever |
| [00:36.860] | Picture me given' a damn I said never |
| [00:39.740] | Here is a land that never gave a damn |
| [00:41.860] | About a brother like me and myself |
| [00:43.720] | Because they never did |
| [00:45.100] | I wasn' t wit' it but just that very minute |
| [00:47.620] | It occured to me |
| [00:48.840] | The suckers had authority |
| [00:50.620] | Cold sweatin' as I dwell in my cell |
| [00:52.680] | How long has it been? |
| [00:53.72] | They got me sittin' in the state pen |
| [00:55.720] | I gotta get out but that thought was thought before |
| [00:58.380] | I contemplated a plan on the cell floor |
| [01:00.940] | I' m not a fugitive on the run |
| [01:02.920] | But a brother like me begun to be another one |
| [01:06.380] | Public enemy servin' time they drew the line y' allPublic enemy |
| [01:09.600] | To criticize me some crime never the less |
| [01:12.220] | They could not understand that I' m a Black man |
| [01:14.840] | And I could never be a veteran |
| [01:16.720] | On the strength, the situation' s unreal |
| [01:18.860] | I got a raw deal, so I' m goin' for the steel |
| [01:31.620] | They got me rottin' in the time that I' m servin' |
| [01:34.500] | Tellin' you what happened the same time they' re throwin' |
| [01:37.180] | 4 of us packed in a cell like slaves oh well |
| [01:40.420] | The same motherfucker got us livin' in his hell |
| [01:43.320] | You have to realize what is a form of slavery |
| [01:46.280] | Organized under a swarm of devils |
| [01:48.840] | Straight up word' em up on the level |
| [01:50.940] | The reasons are several, most of them federal |
| [01:53.740] | Here is my plan anyway and I say |
| [01:55.820] | I got gusto, but only some I can trust yo |
| [01:59.000] | Some do a bid from 1 to 10 |
| [02:02.660] | And I never did, and plus I never been |
| [02:03.800] | I' m on a tier where no tears should ever fall |
| [02:06.620] | Cell block and locked I never clock it y' all |
| [02:09.240] | ' Cause time and time again time |
| [02:10.880] | They got me servin' to those and to them |
| [02:13.640] | I' m not a citizen |
| [02:15.040] | But ever when I catch a CO |
| [02:17.340] | Sleepin' on the job my plan is on goahead |
| [02:20.020] | On the strength, I' ma tell you the deal |
| [02:22.180] | I got nothin' to lose |
| [02:24.400] | ' Cause I' m goin' for the steel |
| [02:55.800] | Dont you know I caught a CO |
| [02:57.820] | Fallin' asleep on death row |
| [02:59.880] | I grabbed his gun then he did what I said so |
| [03:02.600] | And everyman' s got served |
| [03:04.900] | Along with the time they served |
| [03:06.400] | Decency was deserved |
| [03:07.860] | To understand my demands |
| [03:09.160] | I gave a warnin' I wanted the governor, y' all |
| [03:11.760] | And plus the warden to know |
| [03:13.200] | That I was innocent |
| [03:14.360] | Because I' m militant |
| [03:15.400] | Posing a threat, you bet it' s fuckin' up the government |
| [03:18.400] | My plan said I had to get out and break north |
| [03:21.040] | Just like with Oliver' s neck |
| [03:22.280] | I had to get off my boys had the feds in check |
| [03:25.020] | They couldn' t do nuthin' |
| [03:26.440] | We had a force to instigate a prison riot |
| [03:28.620] | This is what it takes for peace |
| [03:30.300] | So I just took the piece |
| [03:31.960] | Black for Black inside time to cut the leash |
| [03:33.980] | Freedom to get out to the ghetto no sell out |
| [03:36.720] | 6 COs we got we ought to put their head out6 |
| [03:39.520] | But I' ll give ' em a chance, cause I' m civilized |
| [03:42.120] | As for the rest of the world, they can' t realize |
| [03:44.480] | A cell is hell I' m a rebel so I rebel |
| [03:47.480] | Between bars, got me thinkin' like an animal |
| [03:50.060] | Got a woman CO to call me a copter |
| [03:52.720] | She tried to get away, and I popped her |
| [03:55.180] | Twice, right |
| [03:56.220] | Now who wanna get nice? |
| [03:57.340] | I had 6 COs, now it' s 5 to go |
| [04:00.000] | And I' m serious call me delirious |
| [04:02.56] | But I' m still a captive |
| [04:04.60] | I gotta rap this |
| [04:05.720] | Time to break as time grows intense |
| [04:07.860] | I got the steel in my right hand |
| [04:09.960] | Now I' m lookin' for the fence |
| [04:21.280] | I ventured into the courtyard |
| [04:23.600] | Followed by 52 brothers |
| [04:25.240] | Bruised, battered, and scarred but hard |
| [04:27.180] | Goin' out with a bang |
| [04:28.400] | Ready to bang out |
| [04:29.340] | But power from the sky |
| [04:30.480] | And from the tower shots rang out |
| [04:32.340] | A high number of dose yes |
| [04:33.920] | And some came close |
| [04:34.820] | Figure I trigger my steel |
| [04:36.020] | Stand and hold my post |
| [04:37.420] | This is what I mean an antinigger machine |
| [04:39.780] | If I come out alive and then they won' t come clean |
| [04:42.400] | And then I threw up my steel bullets flew up |
| [04:46.660] | Blew up, who shot |
| [04:47.940] | What, who, the bazooka was who |
| [04:50.180] | And to my rescue, it was the S1W |
| [04:53.580] | Secured my getaway, so I just got away |
| [04:55.880] | The joint broke, from the black smoke |
| [04:58.200] | Then they saw it was rougher than the average bluffer |
| [05:00.880] | Cause the steel was black, the attitude exact |
| [05:03.580] | Now the chase is on tellin' you to c' mon |
| [05:06.100] | 53 brothers on the run, and we are gone? |