I Want to Be Free (That's the Truth)

[00:20.64] You think Oakland, California, is a city of punks
[00:23.76] It only takes a second to pop the trunk
[00:26.01] And just like that, you know it's real
[00:28.76] You're in the right damn town to get killed
[00:31.18] It's all about the game and nothin' else
[00:33.97] You come out here, you better watch yourself
[00:36.46] 'Cause you can wear what you want, even blue or red
[00:39.03] But cross the wrong brothers and end up dead
[00:41.64] You catch a body full of bullets and get blasted
[00:44.70] Tryin' to be a gangsta but you just ain't lastin'
[00:47.38] This little town is gettin' wild as hell
[00:49.64] Check the penetentiaries and all the jails
[00:52.29] If they could lock us all up, that would be just fine
[00:55.03] Got my partners from Oakland doin' serious time
[00:57.38] You can't argue with the truth, it's hard to be black
[00:59.91] But it's a mindgame and you gotta deal with that
[01:02.66] I wake up everyday and I just can't wait
[01:05.76] To make mo money 'cause back in the days
[01:08.06] When I rapped, I did the same damn thing I do now
[01:10.72] Grab the microphone and show you how
[01:13.15] But I was broke, the only thing I had was game
[01:16.24] I started makin' money and knew things would change
[01:18.52] Bought a Benz, thought it might earn respect
[01:21.05] But the OPD found it hard to accept
[01:23.60] I got jacked by the tax and jacked by the
[01:26.30] Face down on the ground, keep my hands in sight
[01:29.21] Put the handcuffs on backseat, I'm in it
[01:32.13] Illegal search for about thirty minutes
[01:34.63] Askin' me where's the dope
[01:37.19] Where's my gun but I don't know
[01:39.49] I said I'm rappin', they laugh like I told a joke
[01:42.37] And to this day they think I'm sellin' coke
[01:44.75] I want to be free, ohh yeah
[01:46.90] (And that's the truth)
[01:49.83] I want to be free, ohh yeah
[01:55.34] I be in Oakland, California every day of my life
[01:58.46] Bass so hard, you think I'm smokin' a pipe
[02:01.10] And if I don't smoke it, I gots to grind
[02:03.28] Searched all my stuff and all you find
[02:05.80] Is a pocket full of money, count seven G's
[02:08.89] Now you wanna think I'm sellin' keys
[02:11.06] 'Cause I'm a black man, but I run my own business
[02:13.74] So why the police wanna send me to prison
[02:16.59] They see a brother makin' major cash
[02:19.39] They knock a patch out his black ass
[02:21.43] And that's the truth, you can't argue you at all
[02:24.30] Tryin' to give you ten years for a phone call
[02:26.97] Ain't even trippin' on the dank smoke
[02:29.59] 'Cause all they wanna find is guns and coke
[02:32.77] In court all the time, tryin' to fight it
[02:35.19] We get rich, we get indicted
[02:38.04] So what's the problem officer, this time?
[02:40.20] Is havin' big money, bein' black a crime?
[02:42.71] Or did you take me to jail to teach me a lesson
[02:45.49] Charge me with somethin' or just ask questions
[02:48.31] About the brothers I hang around?
[02:50.42] What's really goin' on in the Oakland town?
[02:53.10] Tell me who went broke, and who got rich
[02:56.03] But Too $hort baby, just ain't no snitch
[02:59.25] You say you're just doin' your job
[03:01.10] But you're gettin on my nerves, just like Bob
[03:03.73] Every time I hit a corner, I see you
[03:06.52] Always tellin' brothers what to do
[03:09.25] You lock me up 'cause I don't know how to act
[03:11.72] But I'm down for mine, so I be talkin' back
[03:14.16] And when I do, you treat me bad as hell
[03:17.30] I'm sick of spendin' nights in jail
[03:19.49] I want to be free, ohh yeah
[03:21.75] (And that's the truth)
[03:24.38] I want to be free, ohh yeah
[03:27.59] Got out
[03:43.25] Walkin' down the street like a broke dopefiend
[03:45.64] Had a pocket full of money tryin' to play the role
[03:48.44] Benz got towed and I was hella cold
[03:51.04] But I ain't trippin', I'm gettin' used to it now
[03:53.84] Handcuffed, your boy took me straight downtown
[03:56.18] For three warrants, had to catch me sooner or later
[03:58.94] 'Cause the five-oh's always tryin' to jack a playa
[04:01.41] For no reason, wasn't doin nothin wrong
[04:04.37] You think I'm lyin', singin' that same ol song
[04:06.72] Well I'm a black man, ridin' in a Benz
[04:09.52] How in the hell did I make these ends?
[04:11.94] Here we go, I pull over to the right
[04:14.96] Stop the engine, keep my hands in sight
[04:17.87] I start cursin' 'cause it don't make sense
[04:20.10] Why would I run and try to jump a fence
[04:22.39] If I was plannin' a smooth getaway
[04:25.42] I never woulda stopped in the first place
[04:27.53] You'd be high speed chasin' me but this time you ain't
[04:30.48] 'Cause all I got on me is a big fat bank
[04:33.08] And I hope I don't get robbed by you know who
[04:35.60] Make me donate some G's to the boys in blue
[04:38.10] And if I sue, I won't get nothin' back
[04:40.76] But I ain't mad, I'm just black
[04:43.03] I want to be free, ohh yeah
[04:48.46] I want to be free, ohh yeah
[04:53.52] I want to be free, ohh yeah
[04:58.85] I want to be free, ohh yeah
[05:46.85]