Murder Of A Teenage Life )
Mos Def Lyrics

Man, what was the young blood name? Funk Crush
Asking for the identity of the teenage victim who was killed

Young blood just hungry
The victim was just a hungry young teenager trying to make his way in life

It's no glamour, it's no glory
The life of the young victim was unremarkable and had no fanfare

It's no joke no game
The harsh reality of violence on the streets is not a laughing matter, nor is it a game

It's murder everyday, murder (Boogeyman)
Violence and murder are a constant threat lurking everywhere, like the Boogeyman

(They shot the boy!)
Confirming the young victim was indeed shot and killed

The murder of a teenage life
This song is about the tragic murder of a young teenager

Fire from the cold steel
The gunshots that killed the teenager came from a cold, hard steel weapon

The heat from the brights
The intense heat from the bright lights of the crime scene only added to the chaos and tragedy

The temperature of flesh and the shortness of breath
The feeling of a life leaving a body in the physical sensation of cold flesh and struggling for breath

The murder of a teenage threat
The senseless murder of a young person who posed no threat or danger to anyone

The aroma of sinsemillion dollar superstar
The sickening and intoxicating smell of drugs and drug culture that consumed the area

Skama like a new cocaine tobacco leaf
Comparing the destructive and addictive nature of drugs to a new form of cocaine

Ecstatic tabernists fire water and freaks
The chaos and destruction caused by drug addiction, including violence, addiction, and madness

The murder of a teenage chief
Another reference to the murder of a young leader or promising young person

My easy speaking is as easy as it seems to be
The rapper's easy flow and rhymes belie the complexity and depth of his message

Hungry belly jamma busts off easily
People in dire situations are more prone to violence and aggression

Balloon bang pop
The sound of gunshots ringing through the air

Hot as a bang spot in Bangkok
An intense and dangerous situation, like a war zone or crime-infested area

Colder than a pimp glock
An allusion to the cold and uncaring nature of those who perpetrate violence and crime

Aim shot, the frame drops
The moment when the gunman aimed and fired, and the victim fell to the ground

Pressure pushed him to the earth like a rain drop
The overwhelming pressure of life and the environment pushing the young victim down like a raindrop

Take not life in vein
A plea to value and respect human life, even in the face of violence and tragedy

And how the preacher was saying
A reference to a sermon or eulogy given for the young victim

Remember anyway they laid him in a stray box
The young victim was not given a proper burial or funeral, but was instead laid in a simple, unmarked box

Dark suit and gray socks
The attire of those attending the young victim's funeral, in contrast to the colorful and vibrant life he once led

The neighborhood is all distraught
The community is devastated by the loss of this young life

Candles lit the stoop at the park
A makeshift memorial set up in honor of the young victim, with candles placed on a park bench

Where the family and students are
The people most affected by this tragedy, the family and young students who knew the victim

Confused, in awe
The overwhelming emotions and confusion felt by those left behind after this senseless act of violence

They weep into each others arms it's murder!
The shared sorrow and mourning for the loss of this young life, cut short by violence

New absence in a mothers arms
A mother left with the painful and permanent absence of her child

Even the warmth from the mother's arms
The love and warmth of a mother could not protect her child from the violence of the streets

Could not keep her son from harm
Despite her best efforts, the mother was unable to keep her child safe from the dangers of the world

From standing where the gun was drawn
The young victim was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and was caught in the crossfire

Over come, done and done, he's gone
The life of this young person is over, and nothing can be done to change that fact

Shrill shell like a bell that rung
The sound of gunshots, ringing like a bell through the night

The blood bursts, body temperature fell and plunged
The physical impact of the gunshot on the victim's body

And in the time it took the medics to come
The brief moment before help arrived, which felt like an eternity for those on the scene

The breath eased out of his lungs
The final moments of the young victim's life, as he struggled to breathe

And his soul eased out of the slums
The death of the young victim marks the end of his struggle for survival in a harsh and unforgiving environment

And the voice eased out of the drums
The metaphorical sound of the young victim's life fading away, like the end of a song

The sirens through their ears, they sung
The sound of police sirens signaling the arrival of help, though tragically too late

Telephone wire, sneakers hung
The aftermath of the shooting, with sneakers and phone wires hanging in the street

For the black and young
A commentary on the disproportionate impact of violence on black youth

And the aves they from
The danger and violence infesting the streets where the young victim lived

I am from the block the president did not campaign on
A reference to the neglect of poor and disadvantaged communities by those in power

Where the dollar that the working poor slave for is made on
A critique of the capitalist system that exploits the labor of the working poor for the benefit of the wealthy few

Where hustlers stretch to yay long
The desperation and exploitation of those who turn to drug dealing and other illegal activities for survival

And hustle hard for an outpost to trade on
The constant struggle to make a living and find a place in a cutthroat and unforgiving environment

Flip it over and make more
The endless cycle of poverty and exploitation, with those at the bottom always struggling to make ends meet

Where the blocks are yellow taped off
The areas where crime and violence are most prevalent, marked off by yellow police tape

Young bloods is trained off for obese to gray zone
A reference to the way young people in these environments are often trained or molded by the circumstances around them, from a young age

Where the pressure just stay on
The constant pressure and danger of living in a violent and disadvantaged area

But the lights and the heat don't
The city lights and urban environment may never change, but the pressure and violence must be addressed

The place where you witness the true power of street folks
A reference to the strength and resilience of those who survive and thrive in these tough environments

And that's where I'm coming from people
An affirmation of the artist's origins and experiences in a disadvantaged community

High post, low key
A reference to the artist's success and fame, but also his humility and groundedness in his roots

Eighth, OZ, and kilo
Drug references, highlighting the prevalence of the drug trade in these areas

Law man, dope man, adversary, amigo
The different players in the game, from law enforcement to drug dealers to friends and enemies

Preacher man, pimp hand, both folding their c-notes
Even those who are supposed to offer help and guidance, like religious leaders and community activists, may be corrupted by the same desire for money and power as the criminals

A black fist clutching deliverance for the people
A symbol of hope and resistance in the face of oppression and violence

Young hand reach out, strong hand reach in
A call to work together, with young people reaching out for help and stronger allies reaching in to offer support

Chop the devil's hand to make the fucker stop reaching
A call to action, to take down the systems and institutions that enable violence and suffering

Ghetto people know when the voice of true speaking
The artist's hope that those living in ghetto communities can recognize truth and authenticity when they hear it

M-Def, and for real hold still nigga seein'
The artist's name and a declaration that what he is speaking about is real and true

I ain't got to say please, just believe it
The artist's confidence in his message, and his belief that the truth will speak for itself

The unerasable the black ink fact
The undeniable nature of the truth, which cannot be erased or changed

Y'all fuckers know exactly how to act get back
A warning or threat to those who perpetrate violence and crime to back off and change their ways

Forever black (forever black) never wack (never that)
A reference to the unchanging nature of blackness and the need to always stay true to oneself, without selling out

From the K (Killa K) that's that (that's that)
A reference to the artist's origins and his reputation as a killer MC

So you can kill all the yap, murder
A call to action, to put an end to all the talk and take real steps to stop the violence and murder in these communities

They shot the boy
One more affirmation of the senseless and tragic murder of a young teenager, a victim of the violence that plagues so many disadvantaged communities