I Want to Be Free
Too $hort Lyrics

You think Oakland, California, is a city of punks
You underestimate the toughness and danger of Oakland, California

It only takes a second to pop the trunk
Violence can occur with little warning

And just like that, you know it's real
The reality of the danger becomes apparent instantly

You're in the right damn town to get killed
Oakland is a city where the likelihood of being killed is high

It's all about the game and nothin' else
Survival in Oakland is centered around street life and survival

You come out here, you better watch yourself
If you go to Oakland, you need to be cautious

Cause you can wear what you want, even blue or red
You may wear any color in Oakland, including gang-affiliated colors

But cross the wrong brothers and end up dead
However, if you provoke the wrong individuals, it could lead to your death

You catch a body full of bullets and get blasted
If you end up being shot, it could be fatal

Tryin' to be a gangsta but you just ain't lastin'
Attempting to be tough or involved in gang culture doesn't guarantee your survival

This little town is gettin' wild as hell
Oakland has become increasingly dangerous

Check the penitentiaries and all the jails
The high numbers of incarcerated individuals illustrate the severity of the situation

If they could lock us all up, that would be just fine
Law enforcement would be content to imprison everyone

Got my partners from Oakland doin' serious time
Many individuals from Oakland are serving lengthy prison sentences

You can't argue with the truth, it's hard to be black
Being black in Oakland comes with its own challenges and hardships

But it's a mind game and you gotta deal with that
Surviving in Oakland requires mental resilience and navigating the complexities of street life

I wake up everyday and I just can't wait
Every day, I am eager to make more money

To make mo money 'cause back in the days
Making money is a priority, similar to how it was in the past

When I rapped, I did the same damn thing I do now
My approach to making money through rapping hasn't changed

Grab the microphone and show you how
I express my talent and skill through performing on the microphone

But I was broke, the only thing I had was game
I used my wit and charm despite being financially destitute

I started makin' money and knew things would change
Once I began accumulating wealth, I anticipated a shift in circumstances

Bought a Benz, thought it might earn respect
Purchasing a luxury car was an attempt to gain recognition and admiration

But the OPD found it hard to accept
The Oakland Police Department had difficulty acknowledging my success

I got jacked by the [unverified]
Unknown individuals robbed me

Face down on the ground, keep my hands in sight
For my safety, I was forced to lie face down with my hands visible

Put the handcuffs on backseat, I'm in it
I was placed in the backseat of a police vehicle with handcuffs

Illegal search for about thirty minutes
Law enforcement conducted an unlawful search for an extended period of time

Askin' me where's the dope
They interrogated me about the presence of drugs

Where's my gun but I don't know
I was unaware of the location of any firearms

I said I'm rappin', they laugh like I told a joke
When I mentioned my occupation as a rapper, they ridiculed me

And to this day they think I'm sellin' coke
Law enforcement still harbors suspicion that I am involved in drug dealing

I be in Oakland, California every day of my life
I spend every day of my life in Oakland, California

Bass so hard, you think I'm smokin' a pipe
The sound of the bass in my music is so intense, it may resemble smoking a pipe

And if I don't smoke it, I gots to grind
If I don't engage in illicit activities, I have to work hard and hustle

Searched all my stuff and all you find
Despite a thorough search, authorities only discover

Is a pocket full of money, count seven G's
I carry a significant amount of cash, totaling seven thousand dollars

Now you wanna think I'm sellin' keys
Authorities assume I am involved in the illegal sale of drugs

Cause I'm a black man, but I run my own business
Despite being black, I am a self-employed business owner

So why the police wanna send me to prison
Law enforcement unfairly targets me for imprisonment

They see a brother makin' major cash
Authorities become suspicious when they observe a black man earning substantial income

They knock a patch out his black ass
They attempt to derail his success and prosperity

And that's the truth, you can't argue you at all
This is the undeniable reality, there is no room for debate

Tryin' to give you ten years for a phone call
Law enforcement wants to imprison me for an extended period of time for a minor offense

Ain't even trippin' on the dank smoke
I am unconcerned about the presence of marijuana

Cause all they wanna find is guns and coke
They are solely interested in discovering firearms and cocaine

In court all the time, tryin' to fight it
I constantly find myself in court, attempting to challenge the charges

We get rich, we get [unverified]
Once we accumulate wealth, we become targets for law enforcement

So what's the problem officer, this time?
What is the issue with law enforcement now?

Is havin' big money, bein' black a crime?
Is it considered a crime to possess significant wealth while being black?

Or did you take me to jail to teach me a lesson
Is the purpose of arresting me to impart a lesson or punishment?

Charge me with somethin' or just ask questions
Are they charging me with a crime or interrogating me without cause?

About the brothers I hang around?
Are they questioning me about my associates?

What's really goin' on in the Oakland town?
What is the true state of affairs in Oakland?

Tell me who went broke, and who got rich
Reveal the contrasting financial situations of individuals

But Too $hort baby, just ain't no snitch
I, Too $hort, refuse to provide information or cooperate with authorities

You say you're just doin' your job
Law enforcement claims they are only fulfilling their professional duties

But you're gettin on my nerves, just like Bob
However, their actions are becoming irritating, similar to a bothersome individual named Bob

Every time I hit a corner, I see you
I constantly encounter law enforcement at every street corner

Always tellin' brothers what to do
Law enforcement consistently attempts to exert control and authority over individuals

You lock me up 'cause I don't know how to act
Authorities imprison me due to their perception of my behavior

But I'm down for mine, so I be talkin' back
Despite my defiance, I remain true to myself

And when I do, you treat me bad as hell
Law enforcement responds with extreme mistreatment

I'm sick of spendin' nights in jail
I am tired of enduring nights incarcerated

Got out of jail about [?]
Recently released from jail

Walkin' down the street like a broke dope fiend
Moving down the street with the appearance of a destitute drug addict

Had a pocket full of money tryin' to play the role
Carrying a substantial amount of cash while attempting to maintain a certain image

Benz got towed and I was hella cold
My luxury car was impounded, leaving me cold and disadvantaged

But I ain't trippin', I'm gettin' used to it now
I am adapting and becoming accustomed to these circumstances

Handcuffed, your boy took me straight downtown
Placed in handcuffs and transported to the police station

For three warrants, had to catch me sooner or later
I was apprehended for three outstanding warrants

Cause the five-oh's always tryin' to jack a playa
Law enforcement is consistently attempting to apprehend and arrest me

For no reason, wasn't doin nothin' wrong
I was targeted and arrested without justification

You think I'm lyin', singin' that same ol' song
You may be skeptical of my account, dismissing it as a repetitive claim

Well I'm a black man, ridin' in a Benz
I, a black man, am driving a luxury car

How in the hell did I make these ends?
How have I managed to accumulate this level of wealth?

Here we go, I pull over to the right
As soon as I stop my car to comply with law enforcement

Stop the engine, keep my hands in sight
I turn off the car and ensure my hands remain visible

I start cursin' 'cause it don't make sense
I become frustrated and express my anger because the situation is unreasonable

Why would I run and try to jump a fence
Why would I engage in a futile attempt to escape by jumping over a fence?

If I was plannin' a smooth getaway
If I truly intended to flee successfully

I never woulda stopped in the first place
I would have never pulled over in the first instance

You'd be high speed chasin' me but this time you ain't
Typically, law enforcement would pursue me in a high-speed chase, but this occasion is an exception

Cause all I got on me is a big fat bank
The only possession of significant value that I have is a large sum of money

And I hope I don't get robbed by you know who
I am concerned about the possibility of being robbed by a particular person

Make me donate some G's to the boys in blue
I may end up involuntarily contributing a portion of my wealth to the police

And if I sue, I won't get nothin' back
Even if I pursue legal action, I won't receive any compensation

But I ain't mad, I'm just black
I am not angered by these circumstances; I simply acknowledge that I am black

I want to be free, ohh yeah
I desire freedom from oppression and injustice

(And that's the truth)
(And that is an undeniable fact)

I want to be free, ohh yeah
I yearn for liberation

I want to be free, ohh yeah
I aspire to experience freedom

I want to be free, ohh yeah
I intensely desire personal freedom