You know they got me trapped in this prison of seclusion

Happiness, living on tha streets is a delusion

Even a smooth criminal one day must get caught

Shot up or shot down with tha bullet that he bought

Nine millimeter kickin' thinking about what tha streets do to me

Cause they never talk peace in tha black community

All we know is violence, do tha job in silence

Walk tha city streets like a rat pack of tyrants

Too many brothers daily heading for tha big penn

Niggas commin' out worse offthan when they went in

Over tha years I done alot of growin' up

Getten drunk thrown' up

Cuffed up

Then I said I had enough

There must be another route, way out

To money and fame, I changed my name

And played a different game

Tired of being trapped in this vicious cycle

If one more cop harrasses me I just might go psycho

And when I gettem

I'll hittem with tha bum rush

Only a lunatic would like to see his skull crushed

Yo, if your smart you'll really let me go 'G'

But keep me cooped up in this ghetto and catch tha uzi

They got me trapped....



Chorus

[Uh uh, they can't keep tha black man down]

They got me trapped

[Naw, they can't keep tha black man down]

Trapped

[Uh uh, they can't keep tha black man down]

Trapped

[Naw, they can't keep tha black man down]



They got me trapped

Can barely walk tha city streets

Without a cop harrassing me, searching me

Then asking my identity

Hands up, throw me up against tha wall

Didn't do a thing at all

I'm tellen you one day these suckers gotta fall

Cuffed up throw me on tha concrete

Coppers try to kill me

But they didn't know this was tha wrong street

Bang bang, down another casualty

But it's a cop who's shot there's brutality

Who do you blame?

It's a shame because tha mans slain

He got caught in tha chains of his own game

How can I feel guilty after all tha things they did to me

Sweated me, hunted me

Trapped in my own community

One day i'm gonna bust

Blow up on this society

Why did ya lie to me ?

I couldn't find a trace of equality

Work me like a slave while they laid back

Homie don't play that

It's time I lett'em suffer tha payback

I'm tryin to avoid physical contact

I can't hold back, it's time to attack jack

They got me trapped



Chorus

[Uh uh, they can't keep tha black man down]

You know they got me trapped

[Naw, they can't keep tha black man down]

Trapped

[uh uh, they can't keep tha black man down]

You know they got me trapped

[Naw, they can't keep tha black man down]



Now i'm trapped and want to find a getaway

All I need is a 'G' and somewhere safe to stay

Can't use tha phone

Cause i'm sure someone is tappin in

Did it before

Ain't scared to use my gat again

I look back at hindsite the fight was irrelevant

But now he's tha devils friend

Too late to be tellin' him

He shot first and i'll be damned if I run away

Homie is done away I should of put my gun away

I wasn't thinkin' all I heard was tha ridicule

Girlies was laughin', Tup sayin "Damn homies is dissin you"

I fired my weapon

Started steppin' in tha hurricane

I got shot so I dropped

Feelin' a burst of pain

Got to my feet

Couldn't see nothin' but bloody blood

Now i'm a fugitive to be hunted like a murderer

Ran through an alley

Still lookin' for my getaway

Coppers said Freeze, or you'll be dead today

Trapped in a corner

Dark and I couldn't see tha light

Thoughts in my mind was tha nine and a better life

What do I do ?

Live my life in a prison cell

I'd rather die than be trapped in a living hell

They got me trapped



Chorus

[Uh uh, they can't keep tha black man down]

They got me trapped

[Naw, they can't keep tha black man down]

Trapped

[uh uh, they can't keep tha black man down]

You know they got me trapped

[Naw, they can't keep tha black man down]

Trapped