Anti-Nigger Machine
Public Enemy Lyrics

When I'm talkin' rhyme time To blow your mind time some say It's nothing worse than a verse To hear some nigga curse
I'm a rapper and when I perform, some people are offended by the use of curse words. They claim I have a bad attitude when I speak my mind through my music.

They call me rude some dudes fiery attitude Claimin' I boast and smoke And sometimes sing the blues
Some people label me as rude and aggressive because of my fiery attitude. They say I brag about smoking and singing about hard times.

I twang metal and settle Try to never back pedal From the power some got To get a nigga shot
I keep it real and never compromise my message. I don't back down from those who have the power to harm me or other black men.

The null and void I avoid I test the paranoid I never had to be bad My mama raised me mad
I stay away from negative people and situations. I challenge those who are suspicious of me. I never had to be violent or aggressive. My mother taught me to be strong and assertive.

So what I got is hot I love my life a lot I'm never sad just glad That's why I thank my dad
I have a talent for rapping and I'm grateful for my life. I'm always happy, never down, and I credit my dad for my positive attitude.

This is what I mean a anti-nigga machine
I'm talking about the systemic oppression of black people, symbolized by the law enforcement and government institutions that treat us as less than human.

Instead of peace the police Just want to wreck and flex On the kid, what I did was try to be the best
The police don't want to keep the peace, they want to assert their authority and show off their power by targeting black people. I'm just a young person trying to succeed in life by pursuing my passion for music.

So they fingered the trigger Figured I was a bigger nigga And started to search An so I headed west
The police saw me as a threat, even though I was just a young African American trying to express myself through music. I had to leave my hometown because of their harassment.

Went to Cali to rally Was for a brothers death It was the fuzz who shot him An not da blood or 'cause
I went to California to join a protest against the police shooting of a black man. It wasn't the fault of any gang or violent group, it was the police who killed him.

I wondered why it was like So I just held my mic But in my mind I was blind So I just tried to find
I was confused about why the police would kill a black man for no reason. I continued to perform my music, but in my mind, I felt lost and uncertain.

A reason we was Just the way that we was So I just stayed in the crib Until I got a buzz
I questioned why black people were treated differently than anyone else. I stayed home until I felt inspired to create and share my music again.