Love Vs. Hate
Brand Nubian Lyrics

Now it's love, vs. hate
The two opposing forces at work in society are love and hate

Time for my people to eliminate
It's time for the community to remove the negative force holding them back

that hate, let's love
We must replace hate with love as the driving force in our lives

Because it's our people that we're thinking of
We have a responsibility to ourselves and our community to create a better future

Now they say we playa hatin cause we hate the black on black
Critics say we are being negative when we speak out against the self-destructive behavior in our own community

And the fact we can't stand when we act like that
We cannot accept the perpetuation of harmful actions among ourselves

Self-hate killin us more than the Po-Po or crack
Our internalized negative views of ourselves are doing more damage than the external factors of police brutality and drug addiction

I tell my peoples with the gats it ain't about all that
We must recognize that violence and weaponry are not the solution

We arrived on slave ships, tortured chained and whipped
Our history includes the brutal enslavement and mistreatment of our ancestors

Four hundred years of bein slaves in the land of the brave
The struggles of our ancestors have persisted for centuries in a country that claims to be noble and free

Have we forgotten? Our ancestors forced to pick cotton
We must remember and recognize the atrocities our ancestors endured

Women raped and tortured, murdered if they caught ya
Women faced horrific violence and danger in slavery

Niggaz swung from trees like a breeze do summer leaves
Lynching was a pervasive form of violence inflicted upon black people

Swayin back and forth, failed attempts to make it North
Escaping slavery was incredibly difficult, with many failed attempts

Millions of people died just so that we can survive
The sacrifices of our ancestors allowed us to exist and thrive today

So this knowledge I provide cause these facts can't be denied
Understanding our collective history is essential to moving forward

Nowadays it's new ways, sixties it was the smack
The struggle has evolved over time, with new issues presenting themselves in each era

Eighties it was the crack, nineties it be the gat
Each decade has had its own set of challenges that disproportionately affect black communities

Time to recognize how uncivilized we got
We must take a hard look at the negative behaviors present in our own community

Get wise and unify and not fall victim to the plot
We must come together and avoid being manipulated or divided against each other

Uh, when will we make our Exodus? When will the guns
When will we finally break free from the societal pressures that cause us to turn to violence?

bust the other way instead of at the brother next to us?
We must stop inflicting violence on each other and instead focus on the root problems causing our pain

That's all that they expect from us, police stand by
Society expects violence and aggression from us, while law enforcement allows it to happen

Don't believe the lie that they're the ones protectin us
The police are not always the protectors they claim to be

Robberies, we lust objects of high quality
We are often driven towards materialism and possessions, leading to criminal activity

or so we think we slowly sink into the quicksand
Our desire for more is slowly but surely pushing us towards our own destruction

With no support, like a bike that doesn't have a kickstand
Without a stable foundation, we cannot stay upright and will inevitably fall

It's time to come correct, it's time to come correct
We must make a positive change and do better

Sally, been gettin beat for years
Many women suffer from domestic abuse and violence

Husband come home high off of weed and beers
Drug abuse and addiction can exacerbate violent behavior

He frustrated cause his job is low rate
Financial struggles often lead to emotional turmoil and desperation

Low money, plus his wife brother act kinda funny
Tensions between family members can contribute to domestic conflicts

My nosey neighbor always makin it her labor
Some people actively try to create drama and chaos in the lives of those around them

to cause controversy, I seen them out in Jersey
Perhaps the neighbor is seeing something suspicious and trying to start trouble

The teacher say my son show aggression
Education professionals may identify troubling behavior in children

I tell her it's in our lesson, for him to know himself
Understanding oneself is crucial for self-improvement

To me the greatest wealth is the best of health
True wealth lies in our physical and mental wellbeing

When the music stops, I'll play the role like my pops
I will continue the legacy of my father and grandfather, striving to provide for my family and community

and his pops and so on I got a legacy to go on
I must continue the lineage of strong men striving for betterment

I'll watch out for my babies and I'll kill for em
I will protect my children at all costs, even if it means resorting to violence

And if they want to receive the knowledge
I will educate my children and pass on the lessons and wisdom of generations before us

then I'll build for em
I will work to create a better world for my children

Now if it's love vs. hate, then what's your fate?
We must choose whether we will be guided by love or hate

What we showin with the money we blown?
What are we investing our resources into, and is it helping or harming us?

Shit is still chaos, ain't a damn thing sewn
We still struggle with turmoil and disorder, and lack a coherent plan for improvement

Cause it's love, vs. hate
The ultimate battle is between love and hate

It's time for my people to eliminate
We must work towards eliminating the forces of hatred and division in our lives

that hate, let's love
We must replace the negative with the positive

Because it's my people that I'm thinking of
I am deeply invested in the betterment and progress of my community