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Savages

from Blood of Kings by Raushan

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lyrics

Chorus

They labeled us “savages”
they said we were uncivilized so we needed our masters to
keep us productive and help us grow
reminds me of a case worker and a p.o.

Now we’re taught to be savage
150 years after slavery and still we’re in shackles
trapped in a lifestyle that keeps us in prison
enslaved in a poor man’s existence

V1

This is a country that’s always hated us, oppressed and degraded us
treated us like trash, held us back, while enslaving us
lynched us and forced us to the poorest parts of town
but now that we’ve got equal rights, they can’t force us down
so instead, they’ve convinced us to do it to ourselves
helping us promote a lifestyle that sends us all to Hell
suddenly, being “black” is no longer a race but a mentality
that encourages being loud, rude, selling drugs, and poverty
you have to dress, act, and speak a certain way as well
and you must be “hard”, never scared, never care
but being “hard” is simply being evil, “street life” is sinning
both of which reject religion, yet you still say you’re Christians
by that logic, Eminem’s more “black” that Dr. King
since King spoke of peace, went to church, and had 4 degrees
can’t you see how the Devil’s corrupted our communities?
with this self destructive lifestyle replacing unity
but you ain’t trying to hear me, you’ve replaced “we” with “me”
caring only for yourself, you’re possessed by your greed
selling poison to your people, “thug life” is how you’re living
‘til you slipped up and caught a case, now you’re stuck in prison

Chorus

They labeled us “savages”
they said we were uncivilized so we needed our masters to
keep us productive and help us grow
reminds me of a case worker and a p.o.

Now we’re taught to be savage
150 years after slavery and still we’re in shackles
trapped in a lifestyle that keeps us in prison
enslaved in a poor man’s existence

V2

Fresh out of prison and you’re bankrupt, stuck on probation
behind on your child support, angry at the nation
you’re staying at a shelter, no love from your lady
she won’t let you see your son, found a new man to raise him
your p.o.’s a sadist, doesn’t want you to make it
waiting for you to slip so your freedom, he can take it
nobody wants to hire you but you can’t miss a payment
as the days pass, your frustration turns to desperation
and that’s exactly how it was planned to be to strip you of your humanity
they need you mad and desperate, separated from family
they’ll use your felon status to discriminate against you
strip you of your rights legally cuz they resent you
you can’t vote, go to school, or get a decent job
you paid your fees and did your time, so who’s really getting robbed?
now you’re a 2nd class citizen but this was by design
meant to pressure you to unleash your primal side and choose a life of crime

Chorus

They labeled us “savages”
they said we were uncivilized so we needed our masters to
keep us productive and help us grow
reminds me of a case worker and a p.o.

Now we’re taught to be savage
150 years after slavery and still we’re in shackles
trapped in a lifestyle that keeps us in prison
enslaved in a poor man’s existence

V3

You spend the next 10 years going in and out of jail
seeing people killed, shady deals, swearing you’re in Hell
and your friends are in the same position, some dead and some in prison
robberies and petty crimes, that’s your daily way of living
a cutthroat mentality, overwhelmed by reality
taking it out on everyone, a danger to your community
never realizing how many people in society
profit from the life of crime plaguing those in poverty
organized crime has an alliance with the law
and needs disposable people to sell their drugs and take the fall
while law enforcement needs an excuse for new toys and funding
and politicians need a legal way to suppress our voting numbers
and corporate-run prisons need to stay at full capacity
since they get paid for every inmate they have, so obviously
the poor and young minorities are the perfect choice for them all
this crooked system’s made savages out of everyone involved

Chorus

They labeled us “savages”
they said we were uncivilized so we needed our masters to
keep us productive and help us grow
reminds me of a case worker and a p.o.

Now we’re taught to be savage
150 years after slavery and still we’re in shackles
trapped in a lifestyle that keeps us in prison
enslaved in a poor man’s existence

V4

Many years have passed by, now you’re in your mid 40s
living at your mom’s, long since gave up seeking glory
gave up on your dreams now you’re just trying to survive
depressed when you realize the world’s passed you by
reminiscing on the talents that you had when you were children
and the opportunities you threw away cuz you were tripping
your elders tried to warn you, wishing that you had listened
now you’re broke with no voice, living a powerless existence
but you’re still loved and through God, you’ve learned the meaning of life
so you decide to start over and make your girlfriend your wife
so you sneak off to the jewelry store to look at their rings
when in comes a young brother, age 17
he pulls out his gun and nervously yells demands
man, why now?! this was not part of the plan
you try to talk him down so he won’t make the same mistakes
he hesitates and as you reason with him, he relates
hearing sirens in the background, the cops are on their way
he reminds you of your son so you help him escape
he still has a chance at life, but as you start running away
whoops, you stepped on his shoes, he gets pissed and shoots you in the face… savages

Chorus

They labeled us “savages”
they said we were uncivilized so we needed our masters to
keep us productive and help us grow
reminds me of a case worker and a p.o.

Now we’re taught to be savage
150 years after slavery and still we’re in shackles
trapped in a lifestyle that keeps us in prison
enslaved in a poor man’s existence

credits

from Blood of Kings, released December 2, 2012

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Raushan Nashville, Tennessee

The progressive rapper Raushan is a true musical visionary, effortlessly mixing complex rhyme schemes with provocative topics and ever-changing beats. He aims to expose the side of reality that societies try to hide. But, the point is to teach & inspire, not to divide or anger. So even when speaking on controversial topics, it's simply meant to get others to understand the problem itself. ... more

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