Conspiracy
Gang Starr Lyrics

You can't tell me life was meant to be like this
Life is not supposed to be a constant struggle and full of suffering, but it is for many black people.

A black man in a world dominated by whiteness
The world is oppressive for black people due to white supremacy.

Ever since the declaration of independence
The oppression of black people in America existed since the birth of the country.

We've been easily brainwashed by just one sentence
The phrase "all men are created equal" has been used to perpetrate injustices and brainwash people.

It goes: all men are created equal
The phrase "all men are created equal" has been the basis of the country's values, but it has been used hypocritically.

That's why corrupt governments kill innocent people
Leaders who claim to uphold the ideas of liberty and justice for all have committed crimes against humanity.

With chemical warfare they created crack and aids
The government has played a role in creating and spreading deadly diseases and drugs in black communities.

Got the public thinking these were things that black folks made
Many people blame black people for drug and disease epidemics that were not their fault.

And every time there's violence shown in the media
The media often portrays violence and crime as a black issue.

Usually it's a black thing so where are they leading ya
The media perpetuates harmful stereotypes about black people and influences public perception.

To a world full of ignorance, hatred, and prejudice
The portrayal of black people in the media and society leads to a world of ignorance, hatred, and prejudice.

Tv and the news for years they have fed you this
The media has consistently portrayed negative images of black people for many years.

Foolish notion that blacks are all criminals
The stereotype that black people are naturally criminal is baseless and harmful.

Violent, low lifes, and then even animals
Black people are often portrayed as violent, low-class, and less than human in the media and society.

I'm telling the truth so some suckers are fearing me
The truth about the oppression of black people makes some people uncomfortable and fearful.

But I must do my part to combat the conspiracy
It is necessary to speak out against the conspiracy to harm and oppress black people.

The S.A.T. is not geared for the lower class
The standardized test system is designed to favor the rich and privilege certain races.

So why waste time even trying to pass
Many low-income and minority students do not see the point in trying to succeed in the rigged education system.

The educational system presumes you to fail
The education system is designed to maintain the status quo and not uplift black people.

The next place is the corner then after that jail
Due to systemic disadvantages, many black people end up impoverished and incarcerated.

You've got to understand that this has all been conspired
The oppressive systems in place are not accidental but rather part of a larger conspiracy.

To put a strain on our brains so that the strong grow tired
Oppression is designed to wear down the resilience of black people and make them feel powerless.

It even exists when you go to your church
Oppression and white supremacy are also present in religious spaces.

'Cause up on the wall a white jesus lurks
The portrayal of a White Jesus perpetuates the idea of white supremacy and exclusion.

They use your subconscious to control your will
Oppressive systems are designed to manipulate and control black people's choices even subconsciously.

They've done it for a while and developed the skill
Oppressive systems have been in place for a long time and are expertly curated to maintain black oppression.

To make you want to kill your own brother man
Oppressive systems often lead to division among black people and internalized racism.

Black against black you see it's part of their plan
Oppressive systems pit black people against each other to further weaken the community.

They want to send us to war and they want to ban rap
The powers that be want to send black soldiers to fight unjust wars and silence the voice of the people in hip-hop music.

What they really want to do is get rid of us blacks
The oppressive systems in place seek to eliminate or marginalize black people and their influence.

Genocide is for real and I hope that you're hearing me
Genocide and ethnic cleansing have been committed against black people, and it is important to be aware and vocal about it.

You must be aware to combat the conspiracy
To fight against oppression, it is necessary to be aware of the systems in place that seek to harm black people.

Even in this rap game all that glitters ain't gold
Not everything that shines in the hip-hop industry is genuine or good for the culture.

Now that rap is big business the snakes got bold
As the rap industry became more profitable, there are more and more disingenuous and exploitative people involved.

They give you wack contracts and try to make you go pop
Record labels will try to sign artists to unfavorable deals and encourage them to create more commercial, pop-friendly music.

'Cause they have no regard for real hip-hop
Record labels prioritize making money over promoting true hip-hop art and culture.

They'll compare you to others and say: "but yo, he sells"
Record labels will use other artists' popularity and commercial success to pressure new artists into making more money-driven music.

And you know in your heart that he's weak as hell
Artists are often pressured to create music that goes against their true values and talent in exchange for money and fame.

So you say: "I ain't doing that corny stuff"
Artists may resist record label pressure to create commercialized, meaningless music.

But they tell ya that your chart positions will go up
Record labels will use promises of chart success to manipulate artists, even if it goes against their values and artistry.

Sometimes they front big time and make you many promises
Record labels may falsely promote artists and make grand promises to lure them into unfair deals.

And when they break 'em then your mama says
Record labels may deceive artists and end up breaking the promises that they made previously, causing stress and discord among families.

"son you're making records but that guy seems shady"
Mothers may be particularly protective of their children in the music industry and may warn them about unscrupulous record labels.

It could be too late and your career could be played gee
Artists may end up trapped in unfavorable record deals and unable to build or sustain their music careers due to exploitation.

I hope you listen to the things that I'm sharing see
It is important to pay attention to the experiences of others and learn from their stories of industry exploitation.

We all have a job to combat the conspiracy
It is the responsibility of everyone to fight against the systems that seek to harm and oppress black people.