MANIFESTO
Tyler The Creator Lyrics

Lil white bitch gon' say
A white person is telling me to speak up about Black issues

"You need to say something about that"
They specifically want me to address Black issues

"You need to say some 'bout Black"
They want me to address Black issues

Bitch, suck my
I don't care what they think, they can suck my...

That ain't your religion, you just followin' your mammy
You're not following your own beliefs, just mindlessly copying your ancestors

She followed your granny, she obeyed master
Your family has a history of being subservient to authority figures

Did y'all even ask her?
Have you ever questioned your family's beliefs and choices?

Questions, it's holes in them stories
There are inconsistencies in your family's stories and beliefs

Is it holes in your blessings?
Are there inconsistencies or flaws in the things you believe to be blessings?

Yeah, I'm bold with the message
I'm not afraid to speak my mind and share my beliefs

I know I ain't got the answer, but I ain't gon' cheerlead with y'all
I don't claim to have all the answers, but I won't blindly support what you believe

Just to be a dancer
I won't just go along with the crowd and blindly follow popular beliefs

I'ma groove to my own drums, sunlight in my shadow, baby
I'll follow my own path and find positivity in the negative aspects of life

Move 'til my soul comes, let them serpents rattle, baby
I'll keep moving forward until I find inner peace, despite any obstacles or negativity around me

Crackin' light, broke porcelain, bitch
I'm breaking through to a new level, like cracking light or shattered porcelain

We ocean deep if you just pour us in a portion of shit
There's more to us than what people see at first glance

Them people try to twist my view, on some contortionist shit
Others try to change my perspective and beliefs, even if it means twisting them in unnatural ways

I had to reevaluate what was important and shit
I had to reflect on my own beliefs and what was truly important to me

Finder's keeper's when you creep inside, my mind is madness
The things you find when you dig deeper into my thoughts are mine to keep

If I see peace, I'm like a fiend, uh, gotta have it
I crave peace and positivity in my life and will actively seek it out

Lord, cover me I'm goin' in, walls closin' in
I need protection and guidance as I go through difficult times

How I'm supposed to be protected when the laws want us in?
The laws are unjust and don't protect people like me, making life even harder

Y'all want us dead, just 'cause our skin is the Black type
There are people who want us dead just because of the color of our skin

Teach me everything and be amazed I don't act right
Teach me what you will, but I'll always be my own person and won't conform to what you think I should be

I'm tappin' the matrix, I'm back and they hated
I'm speaking out against the system and those in power, and they don't like it

I'm Black and make 'em pay me capital statements, you dig?
I'm proud to be Black and will make a statement and demand the respect and recognition we deserve

Word on my back, I'm tryna fashion a statement
I'm using my words and actions to create a powerful message

I ain't no bastard, we the master of the path that we blazin', you dig?
I'm not a nobody and we are in control of the path we're creating, understand?

On God now
I swear, this is how I truly feel

I came a long way from my past, nigga, it's obvious
I've come a long way from my old ways and people can see it

V12 engine, I'm fishtailing on some sloppy shit
I'm living a lavish lifestyle and having fun

Internet ringin', no lyrics up, like I hide this shit
People on the internet are speculating about my songs, but I'm not hiding anything

What's your address? I could probably send you a copy, bitch
If you want to hear my music, I'll send you a copy, but don't call me names

I was cancelled before cancelled was with Twitter fingers
People tried to end my career before it was even called 'cancel culture'

Protestin' outside my shows, I gave them the middle finger
People were protesting me, but I didn't let it affect me

I was a teener, tweetin' Selena crazy shit, didn't want to offend her
I was young and said some crazy things about Selena, but didn't mean to offend her

Apologize when I seen her, back when I was tryna fuck Bieber, just in
I apologized when I saw Selena and used to be trying to hook up with Justin Bieber

I say with my chest out, you say with your chest in, nigga (say it with your chest, nigga)
I say what I mean and stand by my words, unlike those who speak timidly

Black bodies hanging from trees, I cannot make sense of this
I can't understand why Black people were lynched and hung from trees

Hit some protests and retweeted positive messages
I've shown support for the Black community by protesting and sharing positive messages online

Donated some funds, then I went and copped me a necklace
I've donated money to help the Black community, but also bought myself something nice

I'm probably a coon, your standards based on this evidence
People might think of me as a 'sellout' for certain actions, but it's based on their own biased standards

Am I doing enough or not doing enough?
I question if my actions are making a real difference

I'm tryna run with the baton, but see, my shoe's in the mud
I'm trying to make a difference, but feel held back by obstacles

I feel like, anything I say, dog, I'm screwin' shit up (Sorry)
I feel like I can't speak or act without making things worse

So I just tell these Black babies, they should do what they want
I encourage Black youth to follow their own dreams and be their own person

Freedom, need 'em
Freedom is necessary for us to thrive

My niggas, seen 'em
My people have seen oppression and hardship

Free 'em
We need to be freed from this oppression

Don't fuck with the law, like damn, Gina
We have to be careful and avoid getting into trouble with the law

So calm the fuck down before we duck rounds
Everyone needs to relax before a violent conflict breaks out

And fire balls that make your family have to duck the fuck down
The violence will have serious consequences and harm innocent people

We frontline, we got the mazel tov that we can chuck now
We're on the frontlines and have weapons to defend ourselves

'Cause anytime we movin' up, it's like a "what the fuck?" now
Whenever we make progress, people are surprised and taken aback

They playin' games, we strappin' up, we cock and aim
People are trying to play with us, but we're getting ready and preparing to fight back

We aim to shoot, we shoot to claim what we need
We're not just shooting to cause chaos, but to protect ourselves and fight for what we believe in

We done with pain and the grieving
We're tired of feeling pain and grief

Niggas is done with the peace
We're done with just accepting the status quo and want real change

Whether it's personal or for the whole of niggas, indeed
Whether it's on a personal level or for the entire Black community, change is necessary

I might not have dreadlocks, I might have these gold teeth
I may not fit into the typical mold of what a Black person looks like, but I'm part of this community

But I'm a nigga like you, and you's a nigga like me
We may come from different backgrounds, but we're all Black and share that identity

So let's be niggas together, and let's be niggas with plans
Let's come together as a community and make plans for change

But put this plastic on first, 'cause shit is hittin' the fan, Scott
But be prepared for the worst, because things are getting bad out there