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.
We Want Freedom
dead prez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I'ma die probably because I'm black
Because some cracker that knows I'm black
Better than you nigga
Is probably gonna put a bullet in the back of my head
Yeah our lives fucked up, no doubt
All this shit we go through every day
But see I got my niggas
And we gon' organize a people army
And we gon' get control over our own lives
And I mean that shit right there from the bottom of my shit
I Ching
Yeah, yeah
Imagine havin' no runnin' water to drink
Chemicals contaminate the pipes leadin' to your sink
Just think, if the grocery stores close they doors
And they saturate the streets with tanks and start martial law
Would you be ready for civil war
Could you take the life of somebody you know,
Or have feelings for if necessary?
I got cousins in the military
But far as I'm concerned they died, when they registered
Yo, this world is oh so cold
I think about my ancestors being sold
And it make me want to break the mold
Fuck the gold and the party, train yourself, clean your shottie
Tell me what you gon' do to get free, we need more than MC's
We need Hueys, and revolutionaries
The niggas on the streets today, it's kinda scary
The smell around my way ain't roses or strawberries
In fact it's kinda poisonous, bringin' out the boy in us
But I'ma stand up on my own, like a man do
Dominate the land and make wealth, like Fu-Manchu
Yes the peoples army stick together like glue
We represent the I Ching, and to this we stand true
Military formation, anyone participation is welcome
Each one teach one, son help son
Just one gun is all it take to get it started
Livin' in the wilderness of the west we cold hearted
If you don't think it could happen, think again my son
Be prepared for the worst that's yet to come
We want freedom, prophecies and ancient wisdom
Cataclysm, niggas be like fuck the system
If you don't think it could happen, think again my son
Be prepared for the worst that's yet to come
We want freedom, prophecies and ancient wisdom
Cataclysm, niggas be like fuck the system
I don't want to be no movie star
I don't want to drive no fancy car
I just want to be free to live my life
To live my own life
Yeah, I'm for peace
But I'll kill ya if ya fuck with my moms or my niece
See we all want peace, but the problem is
Crackers want a bigger piece
Got it where the niggas can't get a piece
That's why police get stabbed and shot
'Cause a nigga can't eat if the ave is hot
Locked up you get three hot meals and one cot
Then you sit and rot, never even got a fair shot
That's where a whole lotta niggas end up
My man moms even got sent up, tryin' to keep the rent up
When I'm bent up I think a lot about the reason I'm here
I think about the things I fear in the comin' years ahead of me
I'm ready for whatever they bring though
I'd go against a tank wit a shank for my dreams
And that's my fuckin' word
One day the whole world will smoke herb
And niggas won't get took to jail for hangin' on the curb
If you don't think it could happen, think again my son
Be prepared for the worst that's yet to come
We want freedom, prophecies and ancient wisdom
Cataclysm, niggas be like fuck the system
If you don't think it could happen, think again my son
Be prepared for the worst that's yet to come
We want freedom, prophecies and ancient wisdom
Cataclysm, niggas be like fuck the system
I don't want to be no movie star
I don't want to drive no fancy car
I just want to be free to live my life
To live my own life
If you don't think it could happen, think again my son
Be prepared for the worst that's yet to come
We want freedom, prophecies and ancient wisdom
Cataclysm, niggas be like fuck the system
If you don't think it could happen, think again my son
Be prepared for the worst that's yet to come
We want freedom, prophecies and ancient wisdom
Cataclysm, niggas be like fuck the system
The song ‘We Want Freedom’ by Dead Prez is a powerful commentary on the systemic oppression faced by black people in America. The lyrics express the frustration and anger felt by the black community due to their treatment at the hands of white people. The first verse denotes the fear that black people live with, of being senselessly gunned down by a white person who considers themselves superior. The vocalist then talks about organizing a people’s army to take control of their own lives, as they cannot rely on the current system.
The second verse urges the listeners to imagine a world where even basic amenities like clean water are not available, and how prepared they are to face a civil war if the situation demands it. The line “I got cousins in the military, but as far as I’m concerned, they died when they registered” hints at the irony of the military that the country takes pride in, not protecting all of its citizens equally. The vocalist expresses the need for more than just rappers but also revolutionaries who will fight for their freedom. The song concludes with the notion that, though they want peace, they are ready to fight for their loved ones and will not be silenced any longer.
Overall, ‘We Want Freedom’ is a message of resistance and resilience against a system that denies equal rights to certain sections. It is an ode to the Black Panther Party and their ideologies of self-defense and armed revolution.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born black, I live black
And I'ma die probably because I'm black
Because some cracker that knows I'm black
Better than you nigga
Is probably gonna put a bullet in the back of my head
The singer is aware of the reality that they will likely die because of the color of their skin, due to racism and violence perpetrated by white people who are aware of their blackness.
Yeah our lives fucked up, no doubt
All this shit we go through every day
Sometimes a nigga don't know what the fuck to do
But see I got my niggas
And we gon' organize a people army
And we gon' get control over our own lives
And I mean that shit right there from the bottom of my shit
I Ching
Life is difficult for the singer and their community, but they plan to organize and create a people's army to gain control over their lives. They are committed to this effort and draw inspiration from the I Ching, an ancient Chinese text that emphasizes adaptability and perseverance.
Imagine havin' no runnin' water to drink
Chemicals contaminate the pipes leadin' to your sink
Just think, if the grocery stores close they doors
And they saturate the streets with tanks and start martial law
Would you be ready for civil war
Could you take the life of somebody you know,
Or have feelings for if necessary?
I got cousins in the military
But far as I'm concerned they died, when they registered
The singer paints a picture of a dystopia in which basic necessities like water and food are scarce, and the government has become a violent oppressor. They ask their audience if they would be willing to fight for their freedom in such a scenario and reflect on the difficult choices that would come with it. They also express disappointment with the military and the way that it forces people to give up their lives for ultimately meaningless causes.
Yo, this world is oh so cold
I think about my ancestors being sold
And it make me want to break the mold
Fuck the gold and the party, train yourself, clean your shottie
Tell me what you gon' do to get free, we need more than MC's
We need Hueys, and revolutionaries
The niggas on the streets today, it's kinda scary
The smell around my way ain't roses or strawberries
In fact it's kinda poisonous, bringin' out the boy in us
But I'ma stand up on my own, like a man do
Dominate the land and make wealth, like Fu-Manchu
Yes the peoples army stick together like glue
We represent the I Ching, and to this we stand true
Military formation, anyone participation is welcome
Each one teach one, son help son
Just one gun is all it take to get it started
Livin' in the wilderness of the west we cold hearted
The world is unforgiving and cruel, and the artist is inspired to rebel against this oppression and the legacy of slavery that still affects their community. They emphasize the need for more than just music to bring about change, and call for a united and disciplined people's army to fight for justice. The artist acknowledges the devastating conditions in their environment but chooses to stand up and fight nonetheless. They reference Fu-Manchu, a villainous Asian character from a pulp novel, to convey the idea of using power to gain independence. They also promote a culture of mentorship and mutual aid and suggest that even a single weapon can make a difference in a revolution.
I don't want to be no movie star
I don't want to drive no fancy car
I just want to be free to live my life
To live my own life
The artist rejects the materialistic values of mainstream society and instead desires to live a life of freedom and independence.
Yeah, I'm for peace
But I'll kill ya if ya fuck with my moms or my niece
See we all want peace, but the problem is
Crackers want a bigger piece
Got it where the niggas can't get a piece
That's why police get stabbed and shot
'Cause a nigga can't eat if the ave is hot
Locked up you get three hot meals and one cot
Then you sit and rot, never even got a fair shot
That's where a whole lotta niggas end up
My man moms even got sent up, tryin' to keep the rent up
When I'm bent up I think a lot about the reason I'm here
I think about the things I fear in the comin' years ahead of me
I'm ready for whatever they bring though
I'd go against a tank wit a shank for my dreams
And that's my fuckin' word
One day the whole world will smoke herb
And niggas won't get took to jail for hangin' on the curb
The singer initially expresses a desire for peace but acknowledges that they are willing to defend their loved ones with violence if necessary. They observe that societal inequality and systemic racism prevent Black people from accessing basic resources that whites take for granted, leading to frustration and violence in response. They depict a bleak reality of mass incarceration and wasted lives caused by poverty and despair. The singer emphasizes their determination to fight for their dreams, even against overwhelming odds, and expresses a belief in a future where people can enjoy simple pleasures like smoking weed without fear of persecution.
If you don't think it could happen, think again my son
Be prepared for the worst that's yet to come
We want freedom, prophecies and ancient wisdom
Cataclysm, niggas be like fuck the system
If you don't think it could happen, think again my son
Be prepared for the worst that's yet to come
We want freedom, prophecies and ancient wisdom
Cataclysm, niggas be like fuck the system
The singer cautions their audience to be prepared for the worst and not to underestimate the potential for societal collapse and revolution. They reiterate their demand for freedom and express a belief in prophecies and ancient wisdom to guide them through difficult times. They acknowledge the destructive power of a cataclysm but see it as a necessary evil to dismantle the oppressive system.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Andrew Mair, Bergman Kegrand, Clayton Gavin, Lavonne Alford, Vonkeli Williams, ALAN BERGMAN, MARILYN BERGMAN, MICHEL LEGRAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mike rodriguez
this album changed the way i think today, A real classic
Son of Soweto
So did grow further?
Mr Shep
For Dead Prez to make knowledge sound so good on record , is true talent. theres no reason why they're not bigger
earthcitizen-9191919191
They are true revolutionaries, that is why. The veggie song is all about that as well, in the sense that if everybody stop eating meat, dairies, sweet and junkfood, the moneymen's system cumbles, and those financial technocrats sure as hell don't want that. That's my humble answer.
RA SunGod7
The powers that be make sure music like this doesn't make it onto radio stations and definitely not win any Gramny awards to encourage other artists to put out meaningful music.
Jesus Arenas
Because people are deaf and ignorant to the truth and have amplified hearing to garbage music that has no real meaning or sense to things that matter.
Eclectic Mind
This album is my bible, I base my actions of the teachings of it, and I repeat the lyrics as a mantra
skiptomylou011
I remember buying this album because of the Hip Hop song as a kid, and I was much too young to understand their concepts and beliefs. It's very interesting to be able to look back and listen to the same music but with a new perspective. Much respect to Dead Prez.
Evie170
2022 and this song is just as relevant forever. We need to always be prepared to fight for freedom.
Y J
A TRUE GEM... COMING FROM THE 90S AND FROM THE WEST COAT, THIS IS REAL N.Y 90s JAMS.... Those beats and rhymes DON'T LIE!