They Don't Know
2 Pac Feat. Snoop Dogg Lyrics

Y'all ain't never just tripped and pictured
You all have never stopped and truly considered

And just looked at the whole situation
And examined the entirety of the circumstances

'Cause once you look at it
Because once you observe it

You know (Really do)
You understand (truly)

They don't give a fuck about us
They have no care or concern for us

If I choose to ride, thuggin' 'til the day I die
If I decide to continue living in a criminal lifestyle until my death

Nobody gives a fuck about us
No one cares about us

And when I start to rise
And when I begin to succeed or gain power

A hero in their children's eyes
A figure of admiration for their children

Now they give a fuck about us
Now they care about us

Some say niggas is hard headed 'cause we love to trick
Some people claim that we, African Americans, are stubborn because we enjoy deceiving others

Equipped with game so we bang with this thuggish shit
We possess knowledge and skills, so we engage in this criminal behavior

I see you tryin' to hide, hopin' that nobody don't notice
I see you attempting to conceal yourself, hoping that nobody will recognize you

You must always remember
You should forever keep in mind

You're still a member of the hopeless
You still belong to the group of people without hope

See, you're black like me, so you snap like me
You, being black like me, react angrily like I do

When these devils try to plot, trap our young black seeds
When these malicious beings try to plan or ensnare our young African American offspring

Look it, cops are just as crooked as the niggas they chasin'
Look, police officers are just as corrupt as the individuals they are pursuing

Lookin' for role models, our father figures is basers
Searching for positive influences, our male parental figures are drug users

Some say they expect Illuminati take my body to sleep
Some claim that they anticipate the secret society, Illuminati, to kill me

Niggas at the party with they shotties just as rowdy as me
African Americans at the gathering with their shotguns, just as aggressive as I am

Before I fear computer chips, I gotta deal with brothers flippin'
Before I become afraid of electronic chips, I must handle my own people turning against me

I don't see no devils bleedin', only black blood drippin'
I do not witness any demons bleeding, only the blood of black people flowing

We can change, what your mouth say?
We have the capability to transform, what do you say with your words?

I'm watchin' niggas work their lives out without pay
I'm observing individuals laboring their entire lives without compensation

Whatever it takes to switch places with the busters on top
Doing whatever is necessary to exchange positions with the successful individuals

I'm bustin' shots, make the world stop
I'm firing gunshots, causing the world to come to a halt

It's the morning after and now all the laughter is gone
It's the day after and now all the joy and amusement have disappeared

Time to reflect on what you did 'cause they saying you wrong
Time to contemplate on your actions as others are expressing their disapproval

I'm sure you had your reasons dawg, I don't doubt you
I'm certain you had your justifications, my friend, I have no disbelief

See the simple fact of the matter is they don't give a fuck about you
The plain truth is that they have no care or concern for you

Or them five mouths you forced to feed (Uh-huh)
Or the five mouths you are obligated to provide for

Not including yourself, all you want is wealth, they perceive it as greed
Excluding your own needs, all you desire is riches, which they interpret as greed

So as you loaded up that MAC and continue to bust
So as you loaded up that firearm and kept shooting

I was on paper, thinkin' they don't give a fuck about us
I was writing on paper, believing that they have no care or concern for us

I'm seein' it clearer, hatin' the picture in the mirror
I'm understanding it more clearly, loathing the image reflected in the mirror

They claim we inferior, so why the fuck these devils fear ya?
They assert that we are inferior, so why do these malicious beings fear you?

I'm watchin' my nation die, genocide the cause
I'm witnessing the destruction of my people, genocide as the reason

Expect a blood bath, the aftermath is y'alls
Anticipate a violent conflict, the consequences will be yours

I told you, last album, we need help 'cause we dyin'
I informed you on my previous album that we require assistance because we are dying

Give us a chance, help us advance, 'cause we tryin'
Offer us an opportunity, aid us in progressing, because we are making an effort

Ignore my whole plea, watchin' us in disgust
Disregard my entire appeal, observing us with revulsion

And then they beg when my guns bust
And then they plead when I start firing my guns

Now, all my homies got love for me
Now, all my friends show me affection

Down to catch a slug for me
Willing to take a bullet for me

Guaranteed to bleed deeply, now that's love
Certainty of experiencing severe bleeding, that's true love

Shit, nobody else could give a fuck
Nobody else cares at all

If I'm tore down, from the floor down, six-feet deep in the cut
If I am completely broken, physically and emotionally, buried six feet deep in the grave

What the fuck done went wrong?
What the hell went completely awry?

How long will I be mourned?
How much longer will people mourn for me?

When I'm gone, same song, ain't gave a fuck all along
When I am deceased, the same situation persists, no one cared from the beginning

And who am I to blame 'em?
And who am I to hold them responsible?

Just do or die through the rainin'
Simply survive or perish in the midst of hardship

Since they don't give a fuck, I don't, feel what I'm sayin'?
Because they have no care or concern, I also do not feel what I am conveying?

Now, thug niggas die but multiply in doubles
Now, gangster individuals perish but their numbers increase exponentially

Wrapped in plastic or closed casket for our troubles
Enveloped in plastic or buried in a sealed coffin due to our difficulties

Pressed in times, we busted, like bubbles
Pressed during challenging times, we burst and disappear like bubbles

With the police, this nation's peace sent here to run you
With the presence of the police, this country's idea of tranquility is meant to oppress and subdue you

Now look at what this crooked world has come to
Now observe the state to which this corrupt world has deteriorated

I grew up on the other side of perfect, a life of hurtin'
I was raised on the opposite side of perfection, a life filled with pain

Master a hustle, soon dyin' certain
Become skilled in a risky endeavor, which will likely lead to death

So I spent your time in poor and workin', I see no reason
So I dedicated your time in poverty and labor, I see no justification

So I stay ballin' season to season
So I continue to succeed financially throughout different periods

Why you stuck thinkin' that they give a fuck?
Why are you still believing that they care?

You tell me my world is in peace, but nigga, you're lyin'
You claim that my world is peaceful, but my friend, you are lying

'Cause half of my niggas long gone
Because half of my friends are deceased

Buried in the dirt just for tryin'
Interred in the ground simply for attempting

Sometimes I think my block is dyin' and that is awful
At times, I believe that my neighborhood is perishing, and that is dreadful

To wake up to another day, shit ain't changed that's all fool
To awaken to another day, realizing that nothing has changed, that's all, foolish person

I wake up sweatin', dreamin', coughin'
I awaken perspiring, dreaming, and coughing

Seein' me upside down backwards head twisted
Witnessing myself with my head turned upside down and twisted

While I'm layin' in the coffin
While I am lying in the coffin

The shit comes around so often, so tell me somethin'
This situation occurs frequently, so tell me something

Before I take it out on the world, and get to dumpin'
Before I vent my frustration on the world, and start shooting

Nigga, I be so in vain, go through the struggle
I, my friend, am so conceited, enduring the hardship

And I'm doin' the same thing you did at my age, and that's hustlin'
And I am doing the same thing that you did when you were my age, and that is engaging in illicit activities

On the edge of straight bustin'
On the verge of committing violent acts

Well, since you don't give a fuck, I be frontin'
Well, because you have no care or concern, I act as if I have everything under control

I'mma drink my Hennessy like it ain't nothin'
I will consume my Hennessy liquor as if it is insignificant

Now if I choose to ride, thuggin' 'til the day I die
Now if I decide to continue living in a criminal lifestyle until my death

They don't give a fuck about us
They have no care or concern for us

But while I'm kickin' rhymes
But while I am rapping my lyrics

Kick it to their children's minds
Influencing their children's minds through my words

Now they give a fuck about us
Now they care about us

They wanna see us die
They desire to witness our demise

They kick us every time we try
They hinder us every time we attempt

'Cause they don't give a fuck about us
Because they have no care or concern for us

So while I'm gettin' high
So while I am getting intoxicated

I'm watchin' as the world goes by
I am observing as the world continues its course

Rise, rise
Emerge, rise