16 Shots
Vic Mensa Lyrics

Ready for the war we got our boots strapped
We're prepared for conflict and have our gear on

100 deep on State Street
We have 100 people with us on State Street

Where the troops at?
We're asking where the opposing forces are

The mayor lying saying he didn't see the video footage
The mayor is lying about not having seen the video footage of the shooting

And everybody want to know where the truth at
Everyone wants to know the truth about what happened

On the South side where it's no trauma centers, but the most trauma
The South side has no trauma centers and the most trauma

A lot of cannons but you don't want no drama
There are a lot of weapons but nobody really wants to fight

I can't imagine if it was my own mama
I can't imagine what it would be like if it happened to my mother

Got her first-born son stole from her, he never had a chance
Her son was killed and never had a chance at life

And we all know its cause he black
We all know it happened because he was Black

Shot 'em 16 times, how fucked up is that?
They shot him 16 times, which is extremely messed up

Now the police superintendent wanna double back
The police chief wants to go back on what he previously said

Cops speeding up to the block like a runnin' back
The police officers are rushing to the scene like a football player

Tension is high, man these niggas is irate
The tension is high and people are extremely angry

You can see it in they eyes, they wanna violate
You can see it in their eyes that they want to retaliate

Screaming out 'Oink! Oink! Bang! Bang! Gang! Gang! Gang! Gang! Murder! Murder!'
They are screaming out obscenities and threats

Murder they mind state
They are in a state of mind that wants to commit murder

I just made me a mil' and still militant
I've made a million dollars but remain aggressive and uncompromising

This ain't conscious rap, this shit ignorant
This isn't conscious rap; it's ignorant and unapologetic

Nigga, hair trigger
I am easily triggered and prone to violence

Ain't no fun when the rabbit got the gun
It's not enjoyable for the person who usually holds the power to be in a desperate position

When I cock back, police better run
When I'm ready to attack, the police better run

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11, fuck 12
We don't acknowledge the authority of the police

16 shots
Referring to the 16 shots that were fired at the victim

And we buckin' back
We're fighting back against the police and oppression

They threw a little girl down on the pavement
The police were violent towards a child

Pushed her off the bike and said, 'Stay out the way, bitch'
They were abusive and vulgar towards the girl

She was bleedin' on the ground through her braces
The girl was hurt and bleeding while still wearing braces on her teeth

This is what happens when niggas don't stay in their places
This is what happens when Black people don't follow the rules according to the police

The mayor duckin' when he fired the superintendent
The mayor hid from responsibility when the police chief was fired

But resignation come with bonuses and recognition
The chief's resignation came with benefits and recognition, rather than punishment

So we gon' break in the stores on Magnificent Mile
We will break into the wealthy shopping area on Magnificent Mile

And if we gotta go, let's go to prison in style
We'd rather go to jail in style than to continue living in oppression

Cops killin' kids and stayin' out of jail
Police are killing children with no repercussions or consequences

But Bobby Shmurda can't even catch bail
A rapper named Bobby Shmurda is being held in jail for a lesser offense

We on 16th ridin' by the police station
We're purposely driving by the police station on 16th street

We might make a pork rind out of pig, bro
We might harm the police officers

Somebody tell these mothafuckas keep they hands off me
I don't want the police to touch me

I ain't a mothafuckin' slave, keep your chains off me
I'm not a slave, so don't try to control me

You better hope this 9 millimeter jam on me
You should be afraid that my firearm might malfunction

Or get blown, I hope you got your body cam turnt on
Or you might get shot, but I hope your body camera is on

Fuck a black cop too, that's the same fight
Black police officers are not exempt from fighting against police brutality and racism

You got a badge, bitch, but you still ain't white
Having a badge doesn't change the fact that you aren't white

This for Laquan on sight, when you see Van Dyke
This is in honor of Laquan and in opposition to the officer who killed him

Tell him I don't bring a knife to a gunfight
I won't back down from a fight against the police

There's a war on drugs, but the drugs keep winnin'
The war on drugs is failing to stop drug abuse

There's a war on guns, but the guns keep ringin'
The effort to reduce gun violence is falling short

Singin' mu-u-u-u-murderer, murderer
Singing 'murderer' as an accusation against the police and those in power