Sho Baraka - Myhood, U.S.A., 1937 lyrics

[Intro] Yo, um Just yeah just run it back to the top 'cause I'm probably just Imma do something different [Verse: Sho Baraka] I-I got a story, it's not, well it-it's a story, it's a love story It's not your typical type of love story though But just listen Once upon a time but not long ago Before the Civil Rights Movement and the new Jim Crow Sit back, I'll introduce you to a wonderful place In every state called 'Myhood USA' Life wasn't perfect, but they did what they could And people took pride in their neighborhood They had doctors, and lawyers Artists, barbers, and teachers Entrepreneurs, politicians, and preachers Stable universities, sports leagues and banks You invest and trade here 'cause in other places you can't Black owned, from the cradle to the coffin Before the NBA we had a history of ballin' Durham, Greenwood, Atlanta, sweet Auburn, Quakertown And third ward Houston, but here's a caution Why they wanted their turn, and just earn and make a living Some just wanted them to burn, baby burn It was vicious If the city wasn't consumed by unexplained flames It would eventually change due to imminent domain How can you own a home if you can't get a loan And the powers that be just red line your zone? The government wants your value to drop So then the private investors come through and buy up your spot You can't win fighting the government and KKK Plus intergration hit my hood in a curious way Blacks move to the 'burbs tryna escape the system But they took stability and wealth right along with 'em Their ownership and financial stimulation It makes it much easier for gentrification We ain't building jobs to build schools to build wisdom But instead we build debt so they build more prisons A few taxpayers, they make money off policing Fines and tickets, I'm getting searched for no reason Police are underpaid but they are making a k**ing Compound that with the crack epidemic But now we got dope fiends, shoot and dope Who don't know the meaning of Harvard nor hope Howard or Praire View even at Tuskegee Morehouse next to the poor house Baby we leaving for the American dream It's in the 'burbs now Opportunities in my hood get turned down Community service groups, they turn into gangs They hammer us with bad aim, they banging on everything So now my friend on the next street becomes my enemy No job to distract us, 'cause we ain't got an industry All we got is liquor stores next to a Burger King Next to a pawn shop, next to a Dairy Queen Next to the China shop, next to the gas station Next to the five churches, next to the building that's vacant Most of the businesses owned by the Asians So the money never stays in the same location This is the truth, this ain't hating If the church can't change it then who should we place faith in? Some blame welfare, some blame the music Some blame the dealer, some blame the user Turn on the news, let's figure out who we blaming Many benefit off my hood from not changing Exploiting my culture, they aiding and abetting and it's the black stock exchange They buying, and they selling These generations of self hate and psychosis In my hood it's almost innate to feel hopeless Predatory lending and banking in my hood We ain't creating wealth, we just importing goods But a change gon' come is what I tell the youngsters This is a love song, I like to call it justice [Chorus: Vanessa Hill] I wish words could really tell you how I feel But words are only really noise until They come to life [?] I know you try This is not another love song [Hook: Sho Baraka] One time, hey young world Love is yours, hey young world Cause love is yours young world Young world Or my hey young world This love is yours, hey young world This love is yours young world This love is yours young world Share the love [Chorus: Vanessa Hill] I wish words could really tell you how I feel But words are only really noise until They come to life [?] I know you try This is not another love song