Above the Law - Freedom of Speech

Yo, what's happenin', man?
Yo, man, I'm just lampin', man, you know
Yo, they tryin' to come down on the ATL when we speak
They say we on a negative tip
What's up?

Now I'ma kick a way-out style that's smoother than usual
It's from Above The Law, so see, it's crucial
Hype beats are kickin' and rippin', yo, with a funky touch
It's done the Ruthless way, some say it's too much
D-O-P-E, please don't misdefine it
That's the way that I live and that's the style of my rhyme
That's on time, just like your watch keeps tickin'
(KMG) on my side, so that my knowledge keeps stickin'
Now what's really known as a radio cut?
When you can's say (shit) and you can't say (fuck)
I really think you wanna hear it
But the radio stations, you see, they still gonna fear it
Yo, I thought this country was based upon freedom of speech
Freedom of press, freedom of your own religion
To make your own decision, now that's baloney
'Cause if I gotta play by your rules, I'm bein' phony
Yo, I got to cater to this person or that person
I got to rhyme for the white or the black person?
Why can't it all be equal?
Music is a universal language for all people
I better get off the rebellious tip
Before somebody out there say I'm startin' to slip
I ain't trippin', I'm steadily flowin' and throwin'
Givin' you a dope style
Keepin' me on top of the pile
'Cause ATL'll soon take over the nation
And if you don't wanna hear us, well, change the station
Boo, I sneak in your mind
Sink in your mind, creep from behind
So fast that you won't have time
To deny a brother that's from the streets
Tryin' to teach, hopin' to reach
Yo, 187's not one that's known to preach
But I wish for each to have freedom of speech

Congress shall make no law
Respecting an establishment of religion
Or prohibiting the free exercise thereof
Or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press

They'll milk you to make it understood
Then make it cold so that it tastes real good
To you, so see, you fall right in it
Your minds are small, they feed you like infants
Like children they'll bring you along
They say we're wrong for makin a rap song
But ATL'll hit you straight up jam after jam
Long as we say what we want, make our stamps, we don't give a damn
Those that wanna sell out need to get the fuck out the business
'Cause they ain't doin nothin' but bluffin'
Me, I get wild every rhyme I release
Whether I talk about violence or talk about peace
'Cause violence is somethin that happens in society
When people are livin' low and don't know where they can go
But peace, I think we all want peace
But it's too much to face, and it's too far to reach
Whether I say my rhymes fast, slow, sloppy or neat
See, I wish when I'm doin to have freedom of speech

Congress shall make no law
Respecting an establishment of religion
Or prohibiting the free exercise thereof
Or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press

Now if they ban me, I don't give a fuck
Chalk it up as experience (yeah, bad luck)
Because I'm ballin' with Laidlaw's clout
And if he say that it stays, the shit comes out
Cause in the early days when rap first began
Some fool jumped up and said it soon would end
But nowadays, I hear song after song
And it proved to me that the fool was wrong
So yo, cut the bullshit, all set aside
It's time for the people to realize
About the things that happen in the ghetto which those try to hide
When they know we just strive to survive
(The homie said he'd have a job if you'd give him a break)
But when he gets it (he goes by the other man's ways)
Now see, there's just one more thing I have to talk about
'Bout how they say rap music is turnin' kids out
You never give your child credit for what he can do
Plus the way that they're raised is really up to you
Rap music, a form of literature
Words and verbs and adjectives
Painted up like a picture
Yo, it's gonna hit ta, yo, it's gonna get ya
And when I'm all finished up, it's gonna fit ya
(Hittin' the nation) station to station (heavy rotation)
So strong that it's keepin' the pace and
We will speak out on any situation
But while we're doin'
Yo, we gotta have freedom of speech

Yeah, see, that's how we had to do that
Yo, I gotta give it up to all my homeboys
That got freedom of speech
Yo, Cold 187, Ice Cube, MC Ren
The deadly Dr. Dre
Eazy-E, the G-O M-A-C-K
Total Chaos House 'n thangs
Ruthless in the motherfuckin' house
Yo, to my homie D.O.C.
And Laylaw with the clout
And we out

Written by:
Shane Connery Brown, Paul Herbert Kastick, Leshorn Whitehead

Publisher:
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BROADWAY MUSIC CORPORATION, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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