[Originally performed by Public Enemey] I got a letter from the government The other day I opened and read it It said they were s**ers They wanted me for their army or whatever Picture me given' a damn I said never Here is a land that never gave a damn About a brother like me and myself Because they never did I wasn't wit' it but just that very minute... It occurred to me The s**ers had authority Cold sweatin' as I dwell in my cell How long has it been? They got me sittin' in the state pen I gotta get out - but that thought was thought before I contemplated a plan on the cell floor I'm not a fugitive on the run But a brother like me begun - to be another one Public enemy servin' time - they drew the line y'all To criticize me some crime - never the less They could not understand that I'm a Black man And I could never be a veteran On the strength, the situation's unreal I got a raw deal, so I'm goin' for the steel They got me rottin' in the time that I'm servin' Tellin' you what happened the same time they're throwin' 4 of us packed in a cell like slaves - oh well The same motherf**er got us livin' is his hell You have to realize - what its a form of slavery Organized under a swarm of devils Straight up - word'em up on the level The reasons are several, most of them federal Here is my plan anyway and I say I got gusto, but only some I can trust - yo Some do a bid from 1 to 10 And I never did, and plus I never been I'm on a tier where no tears should ever fall Cell block and locked - I never clock it y'all 'Cause time and time again time They got me servin' to those and to them I'm not a citizen But ever when I catch a C-O Sleepin' on the job - my plan is on go-ahead On the strength, I'm tell you the deal I got nothin' to lose 'Cause I'm goin' for the steel You know I caught a C-O Fallin' asleep on d**h row I grabbed his gun - then he did what I said so And everyman's got served Along with the time they served Decency was deserved To understand my demands I gave a warnin' - I wanted the governor, y'all And plus the warden to know That I was innocent - Because I'm militant Posing a threat, you bet it's f**in' up the government My plan said I had to get out and break north Just like with Oliver's neck I had to get off - my boys had the feds in check They couldn't do nuthin' We had a force to instigate a prison riot This is what it takes for peace So I just took the piece Black for Black inside time to cut the leash Freedom to get out - to the ghetto - no sell out 6 C-Os we got we ought to put their head out But I'll give 'em a chance, cause I'm civilized As for the rest of the world, they can't realize A cell is hell - I'm a rebel so I rebel Between bars, got me thinkin' like an animal Got a woman C-O to call me a copter She tried to get away, and I popped her Twice, right Now who wanna get nice? I had 6 C-Os, now it's 5 to go And I'm serious - call me delirious But I'm still a captive I gotta rap this Time to break as time grows intense I got the steel in my right hand Now I'm lookin' for the fence I ventured into the courtyard Followed by 52 brothers Bruised, battered, and scarred but hard Goin' out with a bang Ready to bang out But power from the sky And from the tower shots rang out A high number of dose - yes And some came close Figure I trigger my steel Stand and hold my post This is what I mean - an anti-n******g machine If I come out alive and then they won't - come clean And then I threw up my steel bullets - flew up Blew up, who shot... What, who, the bazooka was who And to my rescue, it was the S1Ws Secured my getaway, so I just gotaway The joint broke, from the black smoke Then they saw it was rougher than the average bluffer 'Cause the steel was black, the attitude exact Now the chase is on tellin' you to c'mon 53 brothers on the run, and we are gone