Broadus for Congress

We know a place where Ja's people can run FREE. 
A new kind of love, and we call it Agape.

Don't take too long to find true love transcends all time.
That non-reacting, everlasting love...

Don't try to CHANGE or tear your brother down.
Let him make his mistakes and he will come around.

Hasten just to pray and Ja's true word obey
In non-reacting, everlasting love.

--Unconditional Love

...Stan was a scam, but Vinnie's legit:
Mercedes coupe hometroop with no kit,
A businessman with a beeper for a reason,
Not like Tim because it's in this season...

Yes, I'm blessed, and I know who I am
I express myself on every jam
I'm not a man, but I'm in command
Hot d***, I got an all-girl band.
And I wear the gear, yeah, I wanna wear, too.
I don't care, dear, go ahead and stare (ooh!)
Afraid to be you, livin' in fear (boo!)
Expression is rare, I dare you!

Express yourself, you gotta be you and only you, babe.
Express yourself; let me be me.

Express yourself, DON'T TELL ME WHAT I CANNOT DO, baby.

--Expression

[Malcolm X] --Speech to the Grass Roots
We all agree tonight, all of the speakers have agreed, that America has a very serious problem. Not only does America have a very serious problem, but our people have a very serious problem. America’s problem is us.

[KRS-One]
Well, today's topic: Self Destruction.
It really ain't the rap audience that's buggin'.
It's one or two suckas, ignorant brothers,
Trying to rob and steal from one another.
You get caught in the mid,
So to crush the stereotype here's what we did:
We got ourselves together
So that you could unite and fight for what's right:
Not negative 'cause the way we live is positive--
We don't kill our relatives.

[MC Delight] (Stetsasonic)
Pop-pop-pop, One is shot! Who's to blame? 
Headlines, front page, and rap's the name.
MC Delight, here to state the bottom line,
That Black-on-Black crime was way before our time.

[Kool Moe Dee]
Took a brother's life with a knife as his wife cried,
'Cause he died a trifling death.
When he left his very last breath
Was, "I slept so watch your step!"
Back in the sixties our brothers and sisters were hanged--
How could you gang-bang?
I never ever ran from the Ku Klux Klan,
And I shouldn't have to run from a Black man,
cause that's Self-Destruction...

[Wise & Daddy-O] (Stetsasonic)
Straight from the mouth of Wise and Daddy-o:
Do a crime end up in jail--it gotta go.
'Cause you could do crime and get paid today,
And tomorrow you're behind bars in the worst way:
Far from your family 'cause you're locked away. 
Now tell me, do you really think crime pays?
Scheming on taking what your brother has? 
You little sucker...you talkin' all that jazz.

[D-Nice]
It's time to stand together in a unity 'cause if not then yo, we're soon to be
Self-destroyed--unemployed.  The rap race will be lost without a trace
Or a clue but what to do is stop the violence and kick the science
Down the road that we call eternity
where knowledge is formed and you learn to be
SELF-SUFFICIENT; INDEPENDENT.  To teach to each is what rap intended
But society wants to invade, so do not walk this path they laid.
It's Self-Destruction.

[Young MC]

Brothers killin' other brothers?  I thought the idea was to love one another.
Open up the paper to one more death. 
If y'all keep this up then there'll be no one left.
I try my best to set an example, sayin' hype lyrics over hip-hop samples
Not just a bragger to boast but to inform,
'Cause we're livin in the calm before the storm.
You see, I believe that the children are the future. 
But what's it all about if in the future they shoot ya?
We're all human beings, if we're cut we'll bleed,
And I want to see all young people succeed!
Do 9 to 5, not 5 to 10.  Just go to work and not the state pen.
Cause you live better when you're out there FREE.
And that's comin straight to ya from the Young MC

[Digital Underground]

I'm in a rage. (Oh yeah? Yo, why is that G?)
Other races, they say we act like rats in a cage.
I tried to argue, but check it, every night in the news,
We prove them suckers right, and I got the blues.
America...(Get busy, Humpty)
The Red, the White, the Blue and
The blue and the red for Clips and Bloods;
The white for who's got you doin' time: bustin' caps on one another.
The Underground's down for peace among brothers.
Kill a black man?  (What?)  Yo, what are you retarded?
(Tell em, Hump)  Yo, do you work for the Klan?
Do what you like! Unless you like gangbangin'. 
Let's see how many brothers leave us hangin.

Now, this'll be the first time in history 
A rap song is dedicated to G-O-D...
 
Now through strains and struggles, I made a vow.
I put my hand on the Bible and I said, "Thou
Shalt always rock thee microphone"
With partners, friends, and if so, alone
And preach, and preach, and through music I'll teach
Any mood, company, posse, or each;
A person, personnel, and personally,
Messages from God that's sent through me.

'Cause I'm just like Moses.  No one knows this.
The way I dress and my lifestyle shows this.

To be true, God made things in two--
With Chill Will and Barry B are the Get Fresh Crew.

-- All the way to Heaven


Abortion, Mind Distortion
The world morals is out of proportion.
And I want it played in every Walkman
Abortion! Abortion!

Girl, you must be crazy to kill a newborn baby.
Sittin' on your a** all day, so lazy.
Say to yourself, "Look what this man done gave me."
Yellin' for help, but sayin' "Preacher, preacher, save me."
All of us were born into a life of sin.
That's something in the genes buried deep within.
But to give or take life, you must pay the price.
So that Brothers and sisters, it's not that nice.

You were born into sin, so don't sin twice.
Dougie Fresh would never give the wrong advice
About...

(Excuse me Doug E, why you sound so different?)
You know what?
My voice sounds different 'cause it makes me mad
To see a mother not a mother and a dad not a dad.
And one more thing that I would like to add,
For the kids being killed, it's so, so sad.

I'm talkin about Abortion!

The prettiest thing besides your wife
Is having the privilege to make new life.
How can you kill your only daughter or son?
If God wanted you to lose it, it would've been done.

Now, I don't weigh it; just say it and convey it.
Put it on record with no delayin' it.
And playin' hits to hearts of all,
Before the whole population starts to fall.
There's not too many things that I'm sure of,
But one thing I know that the Devil loves
is Abortion.

--Abortion


Cause I'm the type of brother that can't be stopped,
And no matter what I'm gonna keep risin' to the top.
While my mind says,
"Give it all you got, give it all you got, give it all you got!"
(Ain't no half steppin'.)

--Keep Risin' to the Top

I talk sense condensed into the form of a poem;
Full of knowledge from my toes to the top of my dome.
I’m kinda young, but my tongue speaks maturity.
I’m not a child; I don’t need nothin' for security.
I get paid when my record is played--to put it short,
I got it made...

I’m talented, yes I’m gifted: never boosted, never shoplifted.
I got the cash, but money ain’t nothin'
Make a million dollars every record that I cut, and
My name is Special Ed, and I’m a super-duper star.
Every other month I get a brand new car.
Got twenty, that’s plenty and I still want more;
Kinda fond of Honda scooters: got seventy-four.
I've got the riches--to fulfill my needs;
Got land in the sand of the West Indies;
Even got a little island of my very own.
I've gotta frog, a dog with a solid gold bone.
An accountant to account the amount I spent;
Gotta treaty with Tahiti 'cause I own a percent;
Got gear I wear for every day;
Boutiques from France to the U.S.A.
And I make all the money from the rhymes I invent,
So it really doesn’t matter how much I spent.
Because yo, I make fresh rhymes daily:
You burn me...really?
Think: Just blink, and I made a million rhymes.
Just imagine if you blinked a million times.*
D*** I’d be paid--I got it made...

I’m wise because I rise to the top of my grade
Wanted peace on earth, so to God I prayed

--I Got It Made


* A million times a million is a trillion.

From century to century you'll remember me,
In history - not a mystery or a memory:
God by nature; mind raised in Asia
Since you was tricked, I have to raise ya
From the cradle to the grave,
But remember: you're not a slave.
Cause we was put here to be much more than that,
But we couldn't see it because our mind was trapped.
But I'm here to break away the chains;
take away the pains
Remake the brains; reveal my name.

--Follow the Leader

I get a craving like I fiend for nicotine
But I don’t need a cigarette, know what I mean?

...By any means neccesary, this is what has to be done.
Make way ’cause here I come;
My DJ cuts material; Grand imperial.
It’s a must that I bust any mic you hand to me,
It’s inherited--it’s runs in the family

--Microphone Fiend

I used to roll up: "This is a hold-up!"
Ain't nothin' funny--stop smilin'.
'Cause still don't nothin' move but the money.
But now I learned to earn 'cause I’m righteous.
I feel great! So maybe I might just search for a 9 to 5. 
If I thrive, then maybe I’ll stay alive.
So I walk up the street, whistlin' this.
Feelin' out of place, 'cause man, do I miss
A pen and a paper, a stereo, a tape of me and Eric B.
And a nice big plate of fish, which is my favorite dish,
But without no money, it’s still a wish.
'Cause I don’t like to dream about gettin' paid,
So I dig into the books of the rhymes that I made.
Soon, as a test to see if I got PUL,*
Hit the studio, 'cause I’m paid in full.

 --Paid in Full

* PUL is the Arabic word for "money."

I said, "Mom, what are you doing, you're ruining my rep!"
She said, "You're only sixteen, you don't have a rep yet."
I said, "Mom, let's put these clothes back, please!"
She said, "No, you go to school to learn not for a fashion show."

...She wasn't moved - everything stayed the same.
Inevitably the first day of school came.
I thought I could get over; I tried to play sick.
But my mom said, "No, no way, unh-unh, forget it."

...I got home and told my Mom how my day went
She said, "If they were laughing you don't need them,
'Cause they're not good friends."

...I was arrested.  The car was impounded
There was no way for me to avoid being grounded.
My parents had to come off from vacation to get me.
I'd rather be in jail than to have my father hit me.
My parents walked in. I got my grip.
I said, "Ah, Mom, Dad, how was your trip?"
They didn't speak.
I said, "I want to plead my case"
But my father just shoved me in the car by my face.
That was a hard ride home. I don't know how I survived.
They took turns -
One would beat me while the other one was driving.
I can't believe it, I just made a mistake.
Well, parents are the same no matter time nor place.
So to you other kids all across the land,
Take it from me...

--Parents Just Don't Understand


...So we sip a litle something, leave the rest to spill.
Me and Charlie at the bar running up a high bill.
Nothin' less than ill when we dress to kill,
And every time the ladies pass they be like "Hi Will!"

Can y'all feel me? All ages and races,
Real sweet faces--every different nation:
Spanish, Haitian, Indian, Jamaican,
Black, White, Cuban or Asian.

...Everytime I come to town they be spottin' me,
In the drop Bentley, ain't no stoppin' me.
So cash in your dough and flow to this fashion show.
Pound for pound; anywhere you go.
Yo, aint no city in the world like this,
And if you ask how I know, I got's to plead the 5th!

...For real--y'all don't understand!
I never seen so many Dominican women with cinnamon tans.
Mira, this is plan: take a walk on the beach;
Draw a heart in the sand--give me your hand.
D***, you look sexy!  Let's go to my yacht in the West Keys;
Ride my jet skis; lounge under the plam trees."
'Cause you gotta have cheese
For the summer house piece on South Beach.
Water so clear you can see to the bottom. 
Hundred-thousdand-dollar cars, everybody got 'em!

--Miami

From the first time the doctor placed you in my arms,
I knew I'd meet death before I'd let you meet harm.
Although questions arose in my mind: "Would I be man enough?"
"Against wrong, choose right and be standin' up?"
From the hospital that first night
Took an hour just to get the car-seat in right
People drivin all fast, got me kinda upset
Got you home safe, placed you in your bassinette.
That night, I don't think one wink I slept.
As I slipped out my bed, to your crib I crept.
Touched your head gently; felt my heart melt
'Cause I know I loved you more than life itself.
Then to my knees, and I begged the Lord,
"Please let me be a good daddy--all he needs:
Love, knowledge, discipline too."
I pledge my life to you.

Five years old: bringin comedy.
Everytime I look at you I think, "Man, a little me!"
Just like me: wait and see, gonna be tall.
Makes me laugh 'cause you got your dad's ears and all.
Sometimes I wonder, "What you gonna be?"
A General, a Doctor, maybe an MC!
Haha, I wanna kiss you all the time,
But I will touch that butt when you cut outta line. True dat.
Unh-unh-unh, why'd you do that?
I try to be a tough dad, but you be makin' me laugh.
Crazy joy when I see the eyes of my baby boy.
I pledge to you: "I will always do everything I can;
Show you how to be a man:  Dignity, integrity, honor."
And I don't mind if you lose, long as you came with it;
And you can cry--ain't no shame in it.
It didn't work out with me and your mom,
But yo, push comes to shove,
You was conceived in love.
So if the world attacks and you slide off track,
Remember one fact: I got your back.

It's a full-time job to be a good dad;
You got so much more stuff than I had.
I gotta study just to keep with the changing times:
101 Dalmations on your CD-ROM.
See me--I'm trying to pretend I know
On my PC where that CD goes.
But yo, ain't nothing promised: one day I'll be gone.
Feel the strife, but trust life does go on.
But just in case, it's my place to impart:
One day some girl's gonna break your heart.
And ooh, ain't no pain like from the opposite sex.
Gonna hurt bad, but don't take it out on the next, son.
Throughout life people will make you mad,
Disrespect you and treat you bad.
Let God deal with the things they do,
'Cause hate in your heart will consume you, too.
Always tell the truth; Say your prayers;
Hold doors; pull out chairs; easy on the swears.
You're living proof that dreams do come true.
I love you and I'm here for you.

--Just the Two of Us