You know they got me trapped in this prison of seclusion Happiness, living on tha streets is a delusion Even a smooth criminal one day must get caught Shot up or shot down with tha bullet that he bought Nine millimeter kickin' thinking about what tha streets do to me Cause they never talk peace in tha black community All we know is violence, do tha job in silence Walk tha city streets like a rat pack of tyrants Too many brothers daily heading for tha big penn Niggas commin' out worse offthan when they went in Over tha years I done alot of growin' up Getten drunk thrown' up Cuffed up Then I said I had enough There must be another route, way out To money and fame, I changed my name And played a different game Tired of being trapped in this vicious cycle If one more cop harrasses me I just might go psycho And when I gettem I'll hittem with tha bum rush Only a lunatic would like to see his skull crushed Yo, if your smart you'll really let me go 'G' But keep me cooped up in this ghetto and catch tha uzi They got me trapped.... [Chorus] (Uh uh, they can't keep tha black man down) They got me trapped (Naw, they can't keep tha black man down) Trapped (Uh uh, they can't keep tha black man down) Trapped (Naw, they can't keep tha black man down) They got me trapped Can barely walk tha city streets Without a cop harrassing me, searching me Then asking my identity Hands up, throw me up against tha wall Didn't do a thing at all I'm tellen you one day these suckers gotta fall Cuffed up throw me on tha concrete Coppers try to kill me But they didn't know this was tha wrong street Bang bang, down another casualty But it's a cop who's shot there's brutality Who do you blame? It's a shame because tha mans slain He got caught in tha chains of his own game How can I feel guilty after all tha things they did to me Sweated me, hunted me Trapped in my own community One day i'm gonna bust Blow up on this society Why did ya lie to me ? I couldn't find a trace of equality Work me like a slave while they laid back Homie don't play that It's time I lett'em suffer tha payback I'm tryin to avoid physical contact I can't hold back, it's time to attack jack They got me trapped [Chorus] (Uh uh, they can't keep tha black man down) You know they got me trapped (Naw, they can't keep tha black man down) Trapped (uh uh, they can't keep tha black man down) You know they got me trapped (Naw, they can't keep tha black man down) Now i'm trapped and want to find a getaway All I need is a 'G' and somewhere safe to stay Can't use tha phone Cause i'm sure someone is tappin in Did it before Ain't scared to use my gat again I look back at hindsite the fight was irrelevant But now he's tha devils friend Too late to be tellin' him He shot first and i'll be damned if I run away Homie is done away I should of put my gun away I wasn't thinkin' all I heard was tha ridicule Girlies was laughin', Tup sayin "Damn homies is dissin you" I fired my weapon Started steppin' in tha hurricane I got shot so I dropped Feelin' a burst of pain Got to my feet Couldn't see nothin' but bloody blood Now i'm a fugitive to be hunted like a murderer Ran through an alley Still lookin' for my getaway Coppers said Freeze, or you'll be dead today Trapped in a corner Dark and I couldn't see tha light Thoughts in my mind was tha nine and a better life What do I do ? Live my life in a prison cell I'd rather die than be trapped in a living hell They got me trapped [Chorus] (Uh uh, they can't keep tha black man down) They got me trapped (Naw, they can't keep tha black man down) Trapped (uh uh, they can't keep tha black man down) You know they got me trapped (Naw, they can't keep tha black man down) Trapped