They are known for their sometimes confrontational style, combined with socialist lyrics focused on both militant social justice, and also positivity. The duo maintains an ethical stance against corporate control over the media, especially hip-hop record labels.
Police State
dead prez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of this thing that's called the State
What is the State?
The State is this organized bureaucracy
It is the police department
It is the Army, the Navy
It is the prison system, the courts, and what have you
This is the State, it is a repressive organization
You've got to have the police, 'cause
If there were no police, look at what you'd be doing to yourselves!
You'd be killing each other if there were no police!
But the reality is
The police become necessary in human society
Only at that junction in human society
Where it is split between those who have and those who ain't got
I throw a Molotov cocktail at the precinct
You know how we think
Organize the hood under I-Ching banners
Red, Black and Green instead of gang bandanas
F.b.i. Spyin' on us through the radio antennas
And them hidden cameras in the streetlight watchin' society
With no respect for the people's right to privacy
I'll take a slug for the 'cause like Huey P.
While all you fake niggas try to copy Master P
I want to be free to live, able to have what I need to live
Bring the power back to the street, where the people live
We sick of workin' for crumbs and fillin' up the prisons
Dyin' over money and relyin' on religion for help
We do for self like ants in a colony
Organize the wealth into a socialist economy
A way of life based off the common need
And all my comrades is ready, we just spreadin' the seed
The average Black male
Live a third of his life in a jail cell
'Cause the world is controlled by the white male
And the people don't never get justice
And the women don't never get respected
And the problems don't never get solved
And the jobs don't never pay enough
So the rent always be late, can you relate?
We livin' in a police state
No more bondage
No more political monsters
No more secret space launchers
Government departments started it in the projects
Material objects, thousands up in the closets
Could've been invested in a future for my comrades
Battle contacts, primitive weapons out in combat
Many never come back
Pretty niggas be runnin' with gats
Rather get shot in they back than fire back
We tired of that, corporations hirin' blacks
Denyin' the facts, exploitin' us all over the map
That's why I write the shit I write in my raps
It's documented, I meant it
Every day of the week, I live in it, breathin' it
It's more than just fuckin believin' it
I'm holdin' them ones, rollin' up my sleeves an' shit
It's cee-lo for push-ups now, many headed for one conclusion
Niggas ain't ready for revolution
The average Black male
Live a third of his life in a jail cell
'Cause the world is controlled by the white male
And the people don't never get justice
And the women don't never get respected
And the problems don't never get solved
And the jobs don't never pay enough
So the rent always be late, can you relate?
We livin' in a police state
The lyrics of Dead Prez’s song “Police State” critique the oppressive nature of the state and its various institutions. The State is introduced as an organized bureaucracy that includes the police, military, prison system, and courts, which function to maintain the status quo by suppressing dissent and keeping people in line. The song argues that the police, while necessary, become oppressive and invasive when used to control the population, especially those who are marginalized and disadvantaged. The singer’s declaration that “we livin’ in a police state” highlights the song's main message that society has become a place where freedom is scarce, and where the privileged few govern the many.
The second verse of the song includes a criticism of corporate exploitation that benefits only a few while leaving the majority of people in poverty. The lyrics lament that jobs never pay enough and that rent is always late, and points out that corporations exploit people all over the world. The singer advocates for a socialist economy that is based on common need rather than profit, and for people to organize and work together rather than being divided by arbitrary distinctions and allegiances.
Overall, the lyrics of “Police State” criticize the institutional structures that maintain oppressive systems, and advocate for change through collective action and a reimagined society that is just and equitable.
Line by Line Meaning
You have the emergence in human society
The State has appeared in human society
Of this thing that's called the State
The State is a concept that has emerged in society
What is the State?
What is the definition of the State?
The State is this organized bureaucracy
The State is a structured bureaucracy
It is the police department
It includes the police department
It is the Army, the Navy
It includes the Army and Navy
It is the prison system, the courts, and what have you
It includes the prison system, courts, and more
This is the State, it is a repressive organization
This is the State, an oppressive organization
But the state and gee, well, you know
But the State, you know
You've got to have the police, 'cause
We need the police because
If there were no police, look at what you'd be doing to yourselves!
Without police, society would fall apart
You'd be killing each other if there were no police!
We would resort to violence without the police
But the reality is
In reality
The police become necessary in human society
Police are necessary in society
Only at that junction in human society
Only when society is divided into haves and have-nots
Where it is split between those who have and those who ain't got
Where there is a division between those who have and those who do not have
I throw a Molotov cocktail at the precinct
I throw a Molotov cocktail at the police station
You know how we think
You know the way we think
Organize the hood under I-Ching banners
Organize the community under I-Ching banners
Red, Black and Green instead of gang bandanas
Use the colors red, black, and green instead of gang bandanas
F.b.i. Spyin' on us through the radio antennas
The FBI is spying on us through radio antennas
And them hidden cameras in the streetlight watchin' society
Hidden cameras in streetlights are used to watch society
With no respect for the people's right to privacy
The people's right to privacy is not respected
I'll take a slug for the 'cause like Huey P.
I'll take a bullet for the cause like Huey P. Newton
While all you fake niggas try to copy Master P
While all of you fake people try to copy Master P
I want to be free to live, able to have what I need to live
I want to be free to live and have the necessities of life
Bring the power back to the street, where the people live
Give power back to the community where people live
We sick of workin' for crumbs and fillin' up the prisons
We are tired of working for little pay and being imprisoned
Dyin' over money and relyin' on religion for help
People are dying over money and relying on religion to help them
We do for self like ants in a colony
We work for ourselves, like ants in a colony
Organize the wealth into a socialist economy
Organize wealth into a socialist economy
A way of life based off the common need
A way of life based on common needs
And all my comrades is ready, we just spreadin' the seed
All of my comrades are ready and we are spreading the message
The average Black male
The typical Black male
Live a third of his life in a jail cell
Spends a third of his life in prison
'Cause the world is controlled by the white male
Because the world is controlled by white males
And the people don't never get justice
And people never get justice
And the women don't never get respected
And women never get respect
And the problems don't never get solved
Problems are never solved
And the jobs don't never pay enough
Jobs never pay enough money
So the rent always be late, can you relate?
Rent is always late, can you understand that?
We livin' in a police state
We are living in a state where the police have too much control
No more bondage
No more enslavement
No more political monsters
No more corrupt politicians
No more secret space launchers
No more secret space launches
Government departments started it in the projects
Government departments started social problems in the projects
Material objects, thousands up in the closets
We value material possessions more than anything
Could've been invested in a future for my comrades
Money spent on possessions could have been used to help my community
Battle contacts, primitive weapons out in combat
We are fighting wars with outdated weapons
Many never come back
Many never return from these wars
Pretty niggas be runnin' with gats
Handsome gangsters carry guns
Rather get shot in they back than fire back
They would rather die than fight back
We tired of that, corporations hirin' blacks
We are tired of corporations only hiring Black people
Denyin' the facts, exploitin' us all over the map
They are denying the facts and exploiting us everywhere
That's why I write the shit I write in my raps
That's why I rap about these things
It's documented, I meant it
I'm serious and I have evidence to back it up
Every day of the week, I live in it, breathin' it
I live and breathe these issues every day of the week
It's more than just fuckin believin' it
It's not just about belief, it's a reality
I'm holdin' them ones, rollin' up my sleeves an' shit
I'm holding money and ready to work hard
It's cee-lo for push-ups now, many headed for one conclusion
We are playing cee-lo and many are heading towards the same conclusion
Niggas ain't ready for revolution
People are not ready for a revolution
Lyrics © Royalty Network
Written by: Andrew Mair, Clayton Gavin, Lavonne Alford, Vonkeli Williams, UNKNOWN NO WRITER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Niz W
You have the emergence in human society
Of this thing that's called the State
What is the State? The State is this organized bureaucracy
It is the police department. It is the Army, the Navy
It is the prison system, the courts, and what have you
This is the State it is a repressive organization
But the state and gee, well, you know,
You've got to have the police, cause..
If there were no police, look at what you'd be doing to yourselves!
You'd be killing each other if there were no police!
But the reality is
The police become necessary in human society
Only at that junction in human society
Where it is split between those who have and those who ain't got
I throw a Molotov cocktail at the precinct, you know how we think
Organize the hood under I Ching banners
Red, Black and Green instead of gang bandanas
F.B.I. spyin' on us through the radio antennas
And them hidden cameras in the streetlight watchin' society
With no respect for the people's right to privacy
I'll take a slug for the cause like Huey P.
While all you fake niggaz try to copy Master P
I want to be free to live, able to have what I need to live
Bring the power back to the street, where the people live
We sick of workin' for crumbs and fillin' up the prisons
Dyin' over money and relyin' on religion for help
We do for self like ants in a colony
Organize the wealth into a socialist economy
A way of life based off the common need
And all my comrades is ready, we just spreadin' the seed
The average Black male
Live a third of his life in a jail cell
Cause the world is controlled by the white male
And the people don't never get justice
And the women don't never get respected
And the problems don't never get solved
And the jobs don't never pay enough
So the rent always be late; can you relate?
We livin in a police state
No more bondage, no more political monsters
No more secret space launchers
Government departments started it in the projects
Material objects, thousands up in the closets
Could've been invested in a future for my comrades
Battle contacts, primitive weapons out in combat
Many never come back
Pretty niggaz be runnin' with gats
Rather get shot in they back than fire back
We tired of that - corporations hirin' blacks
Denyin' the facts, exploitin' us all over the map
That's why I write the shit I write in my raps
It's documented, I meant it
Every day of the week, I live in it; breathin' it
It's more than just fuckin believin' it
I'm holdin' them ones, rollin' up my sleeves an' shit
It's cee-lo for push-ups now, many headed for one conclusion
Niggaz ain't ready for revolution
The average Black male
Live a third of his life in a jail cell
Cause the world is controlled by the white male
And the people don't never get justice
And the women don't never get respected
And the problems don't never get solved
And the jobs don't never pay enough
So the rent always be late; can you relate?
We livin in a police state
Eric Simpson
Right now everybody should listen to this on repeat today in 2020 💪🏾
Pebbles Stone
You know Bro
Eric Simpson
Sean Hill my man ! It’s on here?
Sean Hill
Eric Simpson nah. It’s on my iTunes playlist.
Brandon Peterson
Sean Hill this stays on repeat.... Volume cranked at the light, gas station, especially when I smell bacon!
Janis Barreda
He said “organized the wealth into a socialist economy, a way of life based off the common need, all my comrades is ready, we just spreadin the seeds” STRAIGHT BARS
Sound Logic
Uh yeah except that’s a terrible idea that’s been tried many times with disastrous, murderous results. Just saying.
SocialistSuccubus
@Sound Logic Like China, right? The fastest growing economy in the world?
Cecillio Corvus
@SocialistSuccubus because life in China is so pleasant for your average citizen.
SocialistSuccubus
@Cecillio Corvus Except it is pleasant for your average citizen, especially in the past decade