Kill Me First
Blueprint Lyrics

Yeah, I'm often haunted by thoughts of crooked cops
I have a constant fear of being wronged by corrupt law enforcement

Glocks raised, blockin' my sun rays and optimism
The presence of guns and oppressive law enforcement hinder my sense of hope and positivity

It only takes one shot to take what we got
Our lives are precious and can be taken away in an instant

The gift of life and make your body start to stiffen
Death is the ultimate end to life, and it leaves a lasting impact on those left behind

It's a shame that we each gotta lose
It's unfortunate that people have to experience loss before realizing the value of life

Loved ones before we see tomorrow's not given
We must cherish our loved ones while we have them, as life is unpredictable and can be taken away at any moment

As sure as the sun shines, I'll go for mine
I am determined to live my life to the fullest and make the most of my time

So when I die, at least I'll know that I died livin'
I want to live boldly and make an impact, even if it means risking my life

Tim Thomas ran from two cops out to get him
Tim Thomas was chased by two officers who were intent on harming him

Into a dark alley, then two shots hit him
Tim Thomas was shot and killed in a dark alleyway by the officers chasing him

Another inner city killing nobody witnessed
Many killings in urban areas go unnoticed or ignored by those in power

Swept under the rug as official police business
Police misconduct is often covered up or dismissed without consequence

I seen his moms on television, pleadin' and cryin'
Tim Thomas's mother made a public plea for justice and accountability

Tellin' cops to stop killing
The mother of Tim Thomas urged law enforcement to stop committing acts of violence against the community

And calm down the youth that choose not to listen
The mother of Tim Thomas called for cooperation and understanding between law enforcement and the community

One life, one love, but all we got is vengeance
The cycle of violence perpetuates itself in a never-ending pursuit of retribution

Now they're on a burn down the Sin City mission
There is a call to action for justice and retribution against those responsible for violence and corruption

Lookin' for the pigs that licked shots and got missin'
There is a desire to hold accountable the law enforcement officers who have committed acts of violence and then vanished without consequence

You know it's chaos even if you don't hear it
The violence and turmoil in urban areas is pervasive and affects everyone, even if it may not be immediately apparent

'Cause the air smells like gun smoke and teen spirit
The scent of violence and rebellion permeates the air in urban areas

Whatever is goin down I want to be near it
There is a desire to be in the center of the action when it comes to standing up against injustice

When a thousand stand as one, you start to feel fearless
There is strength and power in numbers when it comes to fighting against oppression

Enough to walk across hot coal no matter how hot
With the support of a unified community, any challenge becomes surmountable

Break another window, maybe throw another rock
The act of rebellion and resistance against oppression takes many forms, and sometimes involves destructive action

Maybe so, maybe not (maybe so, maybe not)
The future is uncertain and anything can happen

Maybe I'll be the next black man to get shot (get shot)
There is a fear and uncertainty about the future, and the possibility of becoming another victim of police brutality

But, but, you'll have to kill me first
I refuse to give up my agency and submit to oppression without a fight

Before I get inside the paddywagon
I will resist being taken in by law enforcement by any means necessary

You took too many of my people
Police brutality has had a severe and lasting impact on communities of color

Nobody knows what happened
The truth about police brutality and systemic oppression is often ignored or obscured

It's kind of fucked up cause as a child I do remember Officer Friendly
As a child, I was taught to trust and rely on law enforcement, but have since experienced a harsh reality

Homey that hit the crib later to peep the Chi sweeps
Even law enforcement officers who present themselves as friendly may be working against the best interests of the community

Have you ever had your spot raided for dope, couches ripped
Police raids can be violent and invasive, often causing significant damage and trauma in their wake

Glass tables flipped, brass bent, dogs sniffin in the cereal
The chaos and destruction caused by police raids can be extensive and far-reaching

NyQuil and aspirin tossed out the medicine cabinets
Police raids can be indiscriminate and lead to the confiscation of harmless items

Just to find these stupid motherfuckers had the wrong apartment
Police raids can often occur based on incomplete or incorrect information, resulting in incorrect targets

No apologies or nothin, left my mother in tears
Law enforcement rarely takes responsibility or shows remorse for their actions during raids, leaving victims without closure or accountability

After scramblin' to get it destroyed, a life scarring
The impact of traumatic police raids can be long-lasting and have a significant impact on individuals and families

Was bad enough my coat was wore and hell I even smiled
Police oppression and trauma has become so normalized that it is almost expected

when a cop (?) sloppy in crossfire
There is a clear disdain and hostility towards law enforcement due to their role in perpetuating oppression and violence

Hopin that she died in hallway piss
The anger and resentment towards law enforcement is so intense that there are violent and dehumanizing wishes towards them

Retribution for my feelings of bein cuffed to a fence
The desire for retribution stems from a feeling of powerlessness and victimization at the hands of law enforcement

Harassed in front of (?) droppin my (?) white she asked about some fuckin colors
Even basic interactions with law enforcement can be aggressive and targeted towards people of color

But ain't no Crips from where I reside
Police stereotypes and flat out incorrect assumptions can be harmful and discriminatory

On one occasion walkin to Osco threatened by a dick
Acts of aggression and violence from law enforcement can occur even outside of direct interactions or confrontations

Talkin 'bout we walkin down the wrong blocks
Even something as simple as walking in certain areas can be misinterpreted and lead to harassment from law enforcement

Now that I think about it was the first time that I saw a glock
The normalization of police weaponry and militarization contributes to the sense of fear and helplessness experienced by communities of color

Upper loaded black barrel at eyelevel, these muh'fuckin heathens
The presence of guns and weapons in law enforcement contributes to the sense of danger and violence felt by communities of color

And I seen it in the bitch's racist face that she wanted to pull
The racist attitudes and motivations behind many acts of police brutality and violence are clear and unmistakable

Her image burned inside my mind forever
The traumatic experiences of police brutality and violence leave a lasting impact on individuals and communities

Until I have yet to tell my seeds, Kaneisha still believes
The impact of police brutality on future generations and their perceptions of law enforcement is concerning and important to address

And I'm prayin it's an occupation she don't wanna ever see
The hope is to break the cycle of oppression and violence so that future generations do not have to experience the same injustices

A living that my cousin wasn't blue enough to be
The arbitrary and discriminatory nature of law enforcement leads to a sense of injustice and frustration within communities of color

And ever since a child they made a lifelong enemy of me, shit
The experiences of police brutality and oppression often lead to a sense of resentment and hostility towards law enforcement from a young age