The Beast
Fugees Lyrics

Warn the town the beast is loose
The situation is getting out of control, criminals and corrupt officials are running rampant

Conflicts with night sticks
Police brutality is a common occurrence and peaceful protests often turn violent

Illegal sales districts
Drug dealers operate openly in certain areas of the city without fear of being caught

Hand-picked lunatics, keep poli-TRICK-cians rich
Corrupt politicians appoint their friends and allies to positions of power and use illegal means to enrich themselves

Heretics push narcotics amidst its risks and frisks
Drug dealers continue to sell illegal drugs despite the dangers and risks of getting caught

Cool cliques throw bricks but seldom hit targets
Violent groups and gangs often cause damage and destruction, but ultimately accomplish little

Private-DIC sell hits, like porno-flicks do chicks
Hitmen operate in secret, making money by committing murders for hire

The 666 cut W.I.C. like Newt Gingrich SUCKS DICK
Politicians, like Newt Gingrich, cut funding for important social programs (such as Women, Infants, and Children) without any regard for the people they harm

Meanwhile the government brings Star Wars from Glocks to glockers
The government is more concerned with military weapons and warfare than with the wellbeing of the people

C.O.P. has an APB out on Chewbacca
The police are wasting resources on trivial matters instead of addressing real crimes

Mista Mayor, can I say something in yo honor
The singer addresses the mayor asking for his attention

Yesterday in Central Park they got the Jogger
This line is a reference to the infamous Central Park jogger case where five teenagers were wrongfully convicted of a crime they did not commit due to racial bias and injustice in the criminal justice system

Okay, okay
The singer is getting the listener's attention before making an important point

Let's get the confusion straight in ghetto Gotham
It is time to clear up any misunderstandings and address the problems affecting the city

The man behind the mask you thought was Batman is Bill Clinton
The person who was perceived as a savior or protector (like Batman) is actually corrupt or ineffective

Who soon retire, the roof is on fire
The situation is getting worse and those in power are not doing enough to fix it

Connie Chung brung the bomb as it comes from Oklahoma
This line refers to the Oklahoma City bombing and the media's role in reporting on the tragedy

Things are getting serious, Kuumbaya
The situation is dire and there is little hope for resolution

On a mountain Satan offered me, Manhattan help me Jah Jah
The singer is facing a difficult challenge and is asking for divine help (Jah Jah), even if it seems to come from unlikely or evil sources (Satan)

You can't search me without probable cause
The artist understands their rights and is aware that the police need a valid reason to conduct a search

Or that proper ammunition they call reasonable suspicion
The police often use flimsy or vague reasoning (like reasonable suspicion) to justify their actions

Listen I bring friction to your whole jurisdiction
The artist is aware of the problems with the current system and is actively opposing it

You planted seeds in my seat when I wasn't lookin
The authorities have taken actions to implicate or incriminate the singer without their knowledge or consent

Now you ask me for my license registration
The police are using their power to harass and intimidate the artist

"WHERE THE FUCK" do I work
The police are asking irrelevant or intrusive questions

"WHAT THE FUCK" is my occupation
The police are attempting to establish a false narrative or accuse the singer of wrongdoing

Well I'm an MC, I'm down with the Fugees
The singer identifies as a hip hop artist and is part of the Fugees group

Mother Mary caught a flashback like Rodney now the cops got Lolly
The artist is referencing the police brutality that occurred against Rodney King and others who have been wrongfully accused and abused by the system

The subconscious psychology that you use against me
The authorities use tactics of manipulation to control and influence the artist's behavior without their knowledge or consent

If I lose control will send me to the penitentiary
The singer is aware of the consequences of their actions and the potential for imprisonment

Such as Alcatraz, or shot up like al Hajj Malik Shabazz
The singer is alluding to Malcolm X's assassination and other examples of violence and injustice in the criminal justice system

High class get bypassed while my ass gets harassed
The artist is commenting on the way in which social class affects one's treatment by the authorities

And the fuzz treat bruh's like they manhood never was
The police do not respect the dignity or humanity of black men and treat them with disrespect and violence

And if you too powerful, you get bugged like Peter Tosh and Marley was
Even successful and influential people (like Peter Tosh and Bob Marley) are not immune to harassment and abuse by the authorities

And my word does nothing against the feds
The singer feels powerless against the federal government and its agencies

So my eyes stay red as I chase crazy bald heads, word up!
The artist remains vigilant and aware of the injustices in the world, and continues to fight against them