Murder to Excellence
Jay-Z - Kanye West Lyrics

Uh, bloody murder, murder, murder
Intense and violent murder is happening repeatedly.

Bloody murder, murder, murder, murder
The intensity of the murder is reiterated in the following lines.

The paper read "Murder, black-on-black murder"
Newspaper headlines report black-on-black homicide.

Paper read "Murder, black-on-black murder" again
The same headline is repeated, indicating the prevalence of the violence.

This is to the memory of Danroy Henry
The song is dedicated to the memory of Danroy Henry, who was killed in a case of police brutality.

Too much enemy fire to catch a friendly
The violence is so intense that even innocent people become victims.

Strays from the same shade nigga, we on the same team
Although people have different skin colors, they need to work together to end the violence.

Giving you respect, I expect the same thing
Mutual respect is necessary to end the violence.

All-black everything, nigga you know my fresh code
The rapper is committed to his cultural identity.

I'm out here fighting for you, don't increase my stress load
The rapper is trying to make a positive change but does not want to be exposed to more stress.

Niggas watching the throne, very happy to be you
People are jealous of the rappers' success and want to be in their position.

Power to the people, when you see me, see you
The rapper uses his position to represent and support his community.

And I'm from the murder capital where they murder for capital
The rapper is from a place where people are killed for money.

Heard about at least three killings this afternoon
The violence is constant and happening in real-time.

Looking at the news like, "Damn I was just with him after school"
The violence is personal and the rapper knows the victims.

No shop class but half the school got a tool
Guns are easier to access than education.

And a "I could die any day"-type attitude
People in this community feel like they could die at any moment.

Plus his little brother got shot reppin' his avenue
Even innocent people, such as children, become victims of gang violence.

It's time for us to stop and redefine black power
The community needs to come together and work towards a new definition of power.

Forty one souls murdered in fifty hours
The violence is so prevalent that it is happening at an alarming rate.

Is it genocide?
The violence against the black community is so bad that it could be considered a form of genocide.

'Cause I can still hear his mama cries
The pain and trauma resulting from the violence lingers.

Know the family traumatized
The violence not only affects the victim but their loved ones as well.

Shots left holes in his face 'bout piranha-sized
The violence is so gruesome and brutal that it leaves the victims disfigured.

The old pastor closed the cold casket
The aftermath of the violence is a somber and painful experience.

And said the church ain't got enough room for all the tombs
The community is running out of space to bury their dead.

It's a war going on outside we ain't safe from
The rapper compares the ongoing violence to a warzone.

I feel the pain in my city wherever I go
The rapper is deeply affected by the violence in his community.

Three hundred fourteen soldiers died in Iraq
The number of deaths in his community is equivalent to a significant warzone death toll.

Five hundred and nine died in Chicago
The violence in Chicago is so bad that it has a significant death toll.

I arrived on the day Fred Hampton died
The rapper alludes to the murder of activist Fred Hampton.

Uh, real niggas just multiply
Despite the violence, the community continues to grow and prosper.

And they say by twenty-one I was supposed to die
People in this community often don't live past their early twenties due to the violence.

So I'm out here celebrating my post-demise
The rapper is proud to have made it beyond the age where he was supposed to die.

If you put crabs in a barrel to insure your survival
The violence is perpetuated by people in the community who try to escape it.

You're gon' end up pulling down niggas that look just like you
The cycle of violence leads to people attacking those who are similar to them.

What up, Blood? What up, cuz? It's all black, I love us
The rapper's message is to love and support the black community.

It's a celebration of black excellence, black tie, black Maybachs
The song concludes with a message of hope and pride for the black community.

Black excellence, opulence, decadence
The rapper celebrates the wealth and success of the black community.

Tuxes next to the president, I'm present
The rapper is proud to be in the presence of a black president.

I dress in Dries and other boutique stores in Paris
The rapper is now able to access and afford high-end fashion.

In sheepskin coats, I silence the lambs
The rapper's success allows him to silence those who tried to bring him down.

Do you know who I am, Clarice?
The rapper alludes to a well-known character who asserts his power and dominance.

No cheap cologne whenever I "shh-shh"
The rapper uses expensive cologne and enjoys the finer things in life.

Success never smelled so sweet
The rapper is grateful for his success and the positive change he can make with it.

I stink of success, the new black elite
The rapper is proud to have made it to the top and considers himself part of a new elite class.

They say my Black Card bears the mark of the beast
White people try to discredit and delegitimize his success because of the color of his skin.

I repeat, my religion is the beat
The rapper is committed to using his music to spread his message of hope and positivity.

My verse is like church, my Jesus piece
The rapper sees himself as a preacher, spreading a message of hope and salvation.

Now please, domino, domino
The rapper repeats a phrase from a famous speech by activist Marcus Garvey, calling for unity.

Only spot a few blacks the higher I go
The higher he rises, the fewer black people he sees in positions of power.

What's up to Will? Shout out to O
The rapper gives shoutouts to his friends in the industry.

That ain't enough, we gonna need a million more
The rapper wants to see more people of color succeed and gain power.

"Kick in the door" Biggie flow
The rapper alludes to a famous line by rapper Notorious B.I.G., paying homage to his influence.

I'm all dressed up with nowhere to go
Despite his success, the rapper feels like he still has a lot of work to do in the community.