It's Time To Change
Anthony B Lyrics

No justice, no peace
If there is no justice, there will be no peace

And if there ain't gon' be no justice, there ain't gon' be no peace
If there is no justice, there will be no peace

Young people are enraged, and there's an easy way to stop it
Young people are angry, and the solution is simple

Arrest the cops
The police officers involved should be arrested

Charge the cops, charge all the cops
All police officers should be charged

Not just some of them
Not just a few, but all of them

Charge them in every city across America where our people are being murdered
Charge them in all cities where our people are being killed

Charge them everywhere, that's the bottom line
Charge them in every location, that's the most important part

Charge the cops, do your job
Charge the police officers, perform your duties

(Hol' up)
(Wait a minute)

The way we runnin' out of time, it ain't no point of a clock
We are running out of time, so clocks are irrelevant

You might get killed for being black, no longer state of a shock
It's no longer surprising if you get killed for being black

Too many lames to keep account, like when the hell it's gon' stop?
There are too many idiots to count, and we wonder when it will end

Crooked cops treat us like opps to leave us dead in a box
Corrupt police officers treat us like enemies, leaving us dead in coffins

Nobody love us but the hopeless, so we misunderstood
Only those who are hopeless love us, so we are misunderstood

They feel like black lives don't matter, we just hopin' it could
They believe that black lives don't matter, but we hope they would

They say racism don't exist, if not, why the fuck we pissed?
They claim racism doesn't exist, but why are we angry then?

They hate me 'cause my skin, I'm proudly ripping behind this fence
They hate me because of my skin color, and I'm proudly representing it while being confined

No more killing our own, that's why we gotta to stick together
We must stop killing each other and unite

I be damned if we don't fight, we've got to try this shit together
I refuse to give up the fight, we have to attempt this together

Dear Mr. President, you're fucking us over
Dear Mr. President, you're mistreating and betraying us

Like we a terroristic threat, the ghetto covered in soldiers
Treating us like terrorists, the ghetto is filled with soldiers

Fear my only chance to live is with my hand on the trigger
I feel that the only way to survive is by carrying a weapon

Way they did the homie Floyd, I feel they hunting for niggas
The way they treated George Floyd makes me feel like they are hunting us

They don't love me, mama, everyday we under attack
They don't love me, mother, we are under attack every day

Knowing I try to turn away, I might get shot in the back, fact
Even if I try to walk away, I might still get shot from behind, that's the reality

I can't even sleep right, starin' at the gun
I can't sleep peacefully, constantly looking at the gun

Should be staring at the peace pipe, hard to see what peace like
Instead, I should be focusing on finding peace, but it's difficult

Forty-five, still get scared from the police lights
At the age of 45, I still get scared when I see police lights

And I came up real rough, right under the street lights (real rough)
I grew up in a tough environment, right under the street lights

Democrats, Republicans, Mr. President
Referring to politicians across different parties, including the President

Mr. Bill Gates, everybody's tired of the suffering (everybody's tired)
Even Bill Gates, everyone is exhausted from the pain and hardship

First it was the quarantine and Black Lives Matter (pay attention)
First, there was the quarantine, then the Black Lives Matter movement (pay attention)

Now back to the quarantine and black lives shatter (pay no attention)
Now back to the quarantine, and black lives continue to be destroyed (pay no attention)

Police wearing riot gear, black child scatters (he scared)
Police officers wearing riot gear cause fear in black children

Imagine all the pain and the hate that he takes with 'em
Imagine the pain and hatred that black children experience

Wanna make a vaccine and make it for racism (make that)
We need to develop a solution to eradicate racism, like a vaccine

Still praying to the Father and keeping my face in 'em (Ghost)
I continue to pray to God and trust in Him

Say, look at the news and tell me, what do you see?
Observing the news, what do you see?

The cops just killed another black man that look just like me
The police just killed another black man who resembles me

And nah, this ain't the first time, and it won't be the last
No, this isn't the first occurrence, and sadly, it won't be the last

Unless you stand up against it, so get up off your ass
Unless you take action against it, so stop being inactive

Because this is the place, and right now is the time
This is the location, and current times demand action

To let 'em know where I stand and how I get down for mine
To make my stance clear and demonstrate my dedication

They keep killing my brothers and sisters, getting away with it
They continue to kill my fellow black people and face no consequences

So I'm on the frontlines, and I ain't finna play with it
That's why I'm on the frontlines, and I'm not playing around with it

Black people in America have been oppressed
Black individuals in America have faced oppression

So we demandin' racial equality, nothing less
This is why we demand racial equality, without settling for anything less

For what they did in the past and still do
For the historical and ongoing injustices committed against us

Wouldn't you want somebody to ride if they killed you?
Wouldn't you want someone to take action if you were killed?

Nah, the revolution won't be televised
The revolution will not be broadcasted on television

But they keep choking, beating, shooting us and telling lies
Instead, they keep suffocating, assaulting, and shooting us while spreading false information

We better sever ties with this government (facts)
We should cut our connections with this government

You silent 'bout your pain, they gon' swear that you lovin' it
If you remain silent about your pain, they will assume you're accepting or enjoying it

Crime don't fit the punishment (nope), no niggas doin' forever (ever)
The punishment doesn't match the crime, and black individuals are sentenced for life

Nah, freedom ain't free, we got to do it together
No, freedom comes with a cost, and we must achieve it collectively

That means (what?), by whatever means necessary
That means using any means necessary to achieve it

I'm doing God's work, so that means I'm too blessed to worry
I am doing the work of God, so I am too blessed to worry

Believe I'm just next to carry the cross for my people
I believe I am next in line to bear the burden of my people's suffering

Fuck cause, we've got to stay the course 'til we equal (uh-huh)
Forget the reason, we must continue until we achieve equality

When we lost George Floyd, the conscious starting shifting (uh-huh)
When we lost George Floyd, it triggered a change in the collective awareness

I feel like Pac (when?) fresh up out of prison
I feel like 2Pac when he was released from prison

I guess I'm just different, my heart pure
I suppose I am unique, and my heart is genuine

Field nigga, fuck I'm gon' stay in the house for? (Why?)
As a disadvantaged individual, why should I stay confined inside my home? (Why?)

If it ain't real, what you open your mouth for?
If it isn't genuine, why would you speak about it?

Yeah, I'm a team player, but I'll do it without y'all
Yes, I am a team player, but I will do it without your support

I'm fighting them southpaws (that's right)
I am fighting against those who oppose progress (that's right)

'Cause I know what's at stake (uh-huh)
Because I understand what is at risk (uh-huh)

We lose then we doomed, there's no room for mistakes (none)
If we lose, we are in serious trouble; there is no margin for error

I'm doin' what it takes, on God, we've got to beat 'em (gotta)
I am doing whatever it takes; I swear to God, we must overcome them

No justice, no peace, I'm fighting until freedom
Without justice, there can be no peace; I will fight until we achieve freedom

No, we don't know what the future holds
No, we are uncertain about what the future will bring

But I know, it got to change
But I know that change must happen

And I pray, I pray that someday we will
And I pray, I hope that someday we will

But you should know you're not alone
But you should know that you are not alone

But still we gon' fight
But we will keep fighting

Yeah, yeah
Yes, yes

I remember 2Pac said it first, realest shit I heard ever before
I recall that 2Pac said it first, the most genuine thing I have ever heard

You got money for war, but never the hungry and poor
You have the funds for war, but never for the hungry and impoverished

But that why they burning your store
That's why they are burning down your store

Here's a message to all, if the only way you could be tall
Here's a message to everyone, if the only way you can feel powerful

Is for everyone to be stuck on they knee
Is for everyone else to be subservient

Then fuck it, you small, you wack or you weak
Then forget it, you are insignificant, untalented, or feeble

It ain't no explanation why assassination of black men and women continue repeat
There is no justification for the repeated killings of black men and women

But this generation don't care 'bout no racist
But this generation doesn't care about racists

They ready to die, eye for an eye
They are ready to die, seeking revenge

Two losses for one, take it however it come
Two losses for one, accepting it however it happens

You black, better get you a gun
If you are black, you should arm yourself

I ain't dying for nothing, but anyone shooting my son
I refuse to die for no reason, but I will protect my son from anyone trying to harm him

I'm coming to shoot at the son
I will retaliate against those who intend to harm my son

And fuck white supremacy and all of the business
And I despise white supremacy and all the enterprises that support it

That been supportive of it since it begun
That have been supportive of it since its inception

Gotta cancel our orders, do that for our daughters
We must cancel our subscriptions to support our daughters

And all of our sisters, we owe it to them
And to all our sisters, we owe it to them

No hesitation, gon' go up for them
No hesitation, we will fight for them

The (?) of my future, I blew it for them
The potential of my future, I sacrificed it for them

Attack 'em like maybe they won't know it was me
Assault them in a way that they won't discover it was me

Especially now that the Lord with me
Especially now that the Lord is with me

Heavenly Father, I can't hold back these tears
Heavenly Father, I can't stop these tears

Niggas been sufferin' for years (sufferin' for years)
Black individuals have been suffering for years

Can't get a break down here (can't seem to get a break down here)
We can't catch a break here

Cover my children, we shouldn't be livin' in fear
Protect my children, we shouldn't have to live in fear

People just tryin' to live (tryin' to live)
People are simply trying to survive

Can't get a break down here (can't seem to get a break down here)
We can't catch a break here

Another black man killed by police again
Yet another black man killed by the police

Another child with a father they'll never see again
Another child loses their father, and they will never see him again

That's all I see when I turn my TV to CNN (that's all I see)
That's all I see when I watch CNN

Wonder when it's gon' stop, when we gon' see an end (when it's gon' stop?)
Asking when this will end, when we will witness a resolution

Yeah, free all the homies that's still in the cage (free the homies)
Yes, release all our friends who are still incarcerated

Over-sentenced by crooked judges and racist D.A.'s
Sentenced excessively by corrupt judges and racist district attorneys

Racism in the system is harder
Racism within the system is more challenging to overcome

Sentenced a little harsher 'cause my skin a little darker, look (talk to 'em)
Received harsher sentences because my skin is a little darker, understand this

We deal with all kinds of injustice
We face various forms of injustice

My uncle died in police custody and not a cop was arrested (cap)
My uncle died while in police custody, and no police officer was held accountable (lie)

Sometimes I wish that Obama could've got reelected (uh-huh)
Sometimes, I wish Obama could have been reelected (uh-huh)

The black vote is our power and we got to protect it (yeah)
The black vote is our strength, and we must safeguard it

The people want change, so don't think it's strange when you see
The people desire change, so don't be surprised when you see it

The people enraged from being enslaved so do-do we
The people are angry from being oppressed, just like we are

Would eventually get up and swing back, fight back
Eventually, we will rise and fight back

Even against the police, the people is ready to strike back, like that
Even against the police, the people are prepared to retaliate, just like that

Leavin' us dead in the streets, the people are heated, strike match, like that
Leaving us dead on the streets fuels the anger of the people, igniting a fire, just like that

Televised so you can see it, the people, they need it, the scene is white-black
Broadcasted for everyone to witness, the people need it, the situation is a racial divide

Too bad that we had to die, how many more men do they gonna kill?
Unfortunately, we had to die; how many more men will they kill?

No need to pretend 'cause this shit is real
There's no need to pretend because this is real

Don't be blinded by the red and blue lights
Don't let the red and blue lights blind you

It's time to ride, it's time to rise up
It's time to stand up and take action

Pay attention and open your eyes up, a little wider
Be attentive and open your eyes wider

Maybe we need to think a little wiser, reach higher (higher, higher)
Perhaps we need to think more wisely and aim higher (higher, higher)

Can be the incredible, the success is inevitable
We can achieve greatness; success is certain

Innovators, creators, and motivators, for some reason they act like they scared of us though
We are innovators, creators, and inspirers, but for some reason, they fear us

So they wanted us grown, they wanted us raised
They wanted us to grow up, they wanted us to be mature

They step on our flow, so we gotta beef
But they hinder our progress, so we must confront them

We lettin' 'em know we ain't finna be takin' this shit no more
We are informing them that we won't tolerate this anymore

No justice no peace, this means war
Without justice, there can be no peace; this calls for war

What do ya think they screamin' for?
What do you think they are shouting about?

Figured it's time that we even the score
Realized it's time to balance the scales

So I got a question for 'em, a message for 'em, what about us?
So I have a question for them, a message for them: what about us?

I heard somebody say that all lives matter, but not in this matter (not in this matter)
I heard someone say that all lives matter, but not in this particular situation

Black lives matter right now, that's all that matters (that's all that matters)
Black lives matter at this moment, that's the only thing that matters

Y'all president messy and immature (immature)
Your President is messy and immature

Full of shit, cow manure (cow manure)
He is full of lies and deception

I might not know politics, but I know prejudice
I may not be well-versed in politics, but I understand prejudice

And Santa Claus ain't got nothin' to do with Jesus (with Jesus)
Santa Claus has nothing to do with Jesus

His hair was like wool, and it was nappy (it was nappy)
His hair was curly and coarse

I put that on God, his pappy (his pappy)
I swear on God, his father

Dear sister, look I'm sorry for the things I did
Dear sister, I apologize for my actions

When they kill ya in the darkness, we ran and hid
When they killed you in secret, we ran away and hid

We were ripped from our families, didn't raise our kids
We were torn apart from our families and couldn't raise our children

But shit, who raised us?
But why, then, were we raised?

We got used to the pain, it didn't faze us
We adapted to the pain, it didn't bother us

I don't want change, I wanna take aim at our oppressor
I don't just want change, I want to target our oppressors

'Til my pistol's in his fuckin' mouth, yours is on the dresser at the crib
Until I have my gun in his mouth, yours is waiting on the dresser at home

And if we march, then let's mob to where he lives
And if we march, let's gather at his residence

Bandanas on our fuckin' faces, peace to Freddie Gibbs (yeah)
With bandanas covering our faces, shoutout to Freddie Gibbs (yeah)

Get capped on your song, bitch, I don't kneel (woo)
Get shot in your own song, I won't back down (woo)

I'm from the home of Medgar Evers and where Emmett Till got killed
I come from the place where Medgar Evers was murdered and where Emmett Till was killed

Fuck the NFL and basketball and weak-ass deals
I don't care about the NFL, basketball, or any weak contracts

Black kids out here dyin', fuck how white folks feel
Black children are dying, and I don't care about the feelings of white people

Young bitch
Young individual

Repeat after me
Say it after me

People power (people power)
The power of the people

Political power (political power)
The power of politics

Economic power (economic power)
The power of economics

Say his name (George Floyd)
Say his name (George Floyd)

Say his name (George Floyd)
Say his name (George Floyd)

Say his name (George Floyd)
Say his name (George Floyd)