Reagan
Killer Mike Lyrics

The ballot or the bullet, some freedom or some bullshit
We have two paths to choose here, voting or violence, with one promising freedom and the other being complete nonsense.

Will we ever do it big, or keep just settling for little shit
Are we going to aim for greatness or just accept mediocrity?

We brag on having bread, but none of us are bakers
We talk about being wealthy, but we don't actually create anything of value ourselves.

We all talk having greens, but none of us on acres
We all talk about making money, but none of us actually have the means to do so ourselves.

If none of us on acres, and none of us grow wheat
If none of us own land, and none of us produce food.

Then who will feed our people when our people need to eat
Who will feed our community when they are hungry?

So it seems our people starve from lack of understanding
We suffer from ignorance, and it's causing our community to suffer.

Cos all we seem to give them is some balling and some dancing
All we offer the youth is entertainment, rather than education or opportunities for success.

And some talking about our car and imaginary mansions
All we talk about is material wealth, such as cars and lavish homes that we don't really own.

We should be indicted for bullshit we inciting
We should be held responsible for promoting and encouraging destructive behavior.

Hella children deaf and pretending it's exciting
We are leading many children towards a destructive path, and we act as if it's something positive.

We are advertisements for agony and pain
We encourage and glamorize the hardships that come with living a life of crime and drugs.

We exploit the youth, we tell them to join a gang
We take advantage of the vulnerability of young people, convincing them to join gangs that will ultimately lead them towards a life of violence and crime.

We tell them dope stories, introduce them to the game
We encourage them to get involved in the drug trade, telling them stories about the profit and power that they can gain.

Just like Oliver North introduced us to cocaine
Oliver North was responsible for bringing cocaine into the United States, leading to the rise of the drug trade in the 80s.

In the 80's when the bricks came on military planes
When the drug trade was booming in the 80s, drugs were being transported into the country on military aircraft.

The end of the Reagan Era, I'm like number twelver
Reagan's reign has come to an end, and I'm like the twelfth person to speak out against the Reagan Administration.

Old enough to understand the shit'll change forever
Old enough to see that things will never be the same after Reagan, and the damage caused during his presidency will have lasting effects.

They declared the war on drugs like a war on terror
The government declared a war on drugs and portrayed it as a war against terrorism.

But what it really did was let the police terrorize whoever
In reality, the war on drugs gave law enforcement the power to terrorize the public, particularly young black men.

But mostly black boys, but they would call us "niggas"
The war on drugs disproportionately targeted black men, and police officers would use racial slurs and derogatory language to refer to them.

And lay us on our belly, while they fingers on they triggers
Police officers would force black men to lay on their stomachs, while they had their fingers on the trigger of their guns.

They boots was on our head, they dogs was on our crotches
Police officers would put their boots on the heads of black men, while their dogs were sniffing around their groins.

And they would beat us up if we had diamonds on our watches
Police officers would use violence against black men who appeared to be wealthy, assuming that they could only have attained their valuables through illegal means.

And they would take our drugs and money, as they pick our pockets
Police officers would confiscate the drugs and money of black men, as well as anything else that they could get their hands on.

I guess that that's the privilege of policing for some profit
I suppose that's the benefit of being a police officer, the ability to profit from confiscating the possessions of others.

But thanks to Reaganomics, prisons turned to profits
Due to Reagan's economic policies, the prison system became a business, focused on making a profit rather than addressing issues in the criminal justice system.

Cos free labor is the cornerstone of US economics
The US economy has been built on free labor, particularly the labor of those who are incarcerated.

Cos slavery was abolished, unless you are in prison
Slavery was officially abolished, except for those who are serving time in prison.

You think I am bullshitting, then read the 13th Amendment
If you doubt me, you can look at the 13th Amendment, which states that slavery is prohibited, except for those who are imprisoned.

Involuntary servitude and slavery it prohibits
Involuntary servitude and slavery is not allowed, except as a punishment for a crime.

That's why they giving drug offenders time in double digits
This is why drug offenders are given sentences of ten years or more.

Ronald Reagan was an actor, not at all a factor
Ronald Reagan was simply an actor who played a role in politics, not a true leader.

Just an employee of the country's real masters
He was merely a pawn controlled by the true people in power.

Just like the Bushes, Clinton and Obama
These presidents were all similar in that they were just puppets for the true people in power.

Just another talking head telling lies on teleprompters
These presidents were simply reading from a script given to them by those controlling them, and their words didn't hold much meaning.

If you don't believe the theory, then argue with this logic
If you don't believe the idea that these presidents were just figureheads, then try to argue with the following evidence.

Why did Reagan and Obama both go after Qaddafi
Both Reagan and Obama had targeted Qaddafi, suggesting that they are not as different as people might believe.

We invaded sovereign soil, going after oil
We've gone to war in countries that didn't attack us, in order to gain control over oil resources.

Taking countries is a hobby paid for by the oil lobby
Taking over countries has become a pastime for those who profit from the oil industry.

Same as in Iraq, and Afghanistan
The same can be said for our invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan.

And Ahmadinejad say they coming for Iran
Iran's leaders believe that the US is planning to invade their country next.

They only love the rich, and how they loathe the poor
Our leaders only truly care about wealthy individuals, and have a disdain for those who are struggling financially.

If I say any more they might be at my door
I'm scared to speak out any further, as I fear that I might be targeted by the government for doing so.

Who the fuck is that staring in my window
I'm paranoid and feel as though I'm constantly being surveilled.

Doing that surveillance on Mister Michael Render
Someone is keeping a close eye on me, Killer Mike, and my actions.

I'm dropping off the grid before they pump the lead
I'm going off the radar before they attempt to harm me.

I leave you with four words: I'm glad Reagan dead
I'm going to leave you with some parting words: I'm happy that Reagan is dead.