- Hey, Junior, where's everybody going?
- Man, we's free! We finna get our freedom.
- What? But Master Thomas been good to us. Why we leaving? Why we leaving now?
(Video version only)
(Man 1: Mr. Tom Dinkinson, you have a responsibility to do something about the racial tension in this city! It's bad for business.
(Man 2: Yes, our community is equally terrorized by these youths roaming around the streets in wolf packs!
(Man 3: My wife can't run around Central Park anymore! The police department does nothing about it! These Black wilding youths, rapists—they're running wild!
(Mayor: I-I-I-I listened to all of your concerns, and, you know something? You're absolutely right—you're absolutely right. I'll call the p-p-p-p-police and an extra guard first thing in the morning.
(Man 3: That's not soon enough!
(Mayor: *Groan*)
The time for scared, lip-trembling, word-changing
Self-denying, compromising
Knee-shakin' Black people is over
If you have something to say,
Speak up with authority and conviction
If not, sit down and shut up!
We have to have the power to tell the truth!
To say whatever is necessary!
To do what needs to be done!
Whatever it is, no matter who it may hurt!
Tell 'em who I am! Tell 'em!
Tell 'em who I am! Tell 'em!!
Souljah was not born to make white people feel comfortable!
I am African first! I am Black first!
I want what's good for me and my people first!
And if my survival means your total destruction,
Then so be it!
You built this wicked system!
They say two wrongs don't make it right,
But it damn sure makes it even!
(I am an African woman! That means that within my body is the power for me to do three hundred and sixty degrees worth of anything!)
Yeah, you been speakin' all of that,
But can you rhyme, Sister?
Souljah's creating the statements I'm stating (I am the essence...)
Meant to be real, never accommodating (of all things!)
I give it to you straight, I don't water it down (I'm African!)
No need to debate, I don't change it around (I can do anything!)
Well if the truth hurts, well then you'll be in pain,
And if the truth drives you crazy, you'll die insane
And you can tell Ted Koppel and even Dan Rather—
Cameras and light won't affect the matter!
Yeah, I know your nerves are wrecked to hear a woman
That's a rebel
Well, you heard the ba**, but Souljah's the treble
Experts,scientists, PhDs—
Souljah pays no homage to a paper degree
My mind is mine, my thoughts are a friend to me
Damn your color and white world supremacy
Got ya drippin' and sweatin', you can't believe what I said
Wait for me to change my mind—hold your breath
You'll be dead...!