PostPoems Be Artistic. Be Creative. Be Inspired!

*I wanted to give respect and honor to one of my idols, the microphone fiend, Rakim(who did this in honor of the Black Panthers). Most folks probably never heard of this before, but it's called, SHADES OF BLACK.



VERSE 1

"we're dealin with some devious days but believe me it's ways/

oppose attacks for those who are mischevious....paid/

closing towns that are bound to hold you down/

physically and fast when you're holdin your ground/

and let loose the hounds and double barrels

scatter the thunder/

when I'm standing you want me to be under/

see the government wanna remove the "G" and be over me/

create more madness and still live life free/

and leave me for sorrow, not promised tomorrow/

a job or a house a chance to show what I know/

I'm out to be saved cuz all I got is the streets/

and I've been waitin for opportunity to knock for weeks/

If they come, tell em I went to organized/

and enterprise unity in the community advised/

that means take it back, whoever's against that/

then we attack with various shades of black//



It shouldn't have to be like that.



VERSE 2

lost in off-America, stressed and led astray/

insert them lights so I can see another day/

or maybe I can look from the mountain top/

a great King got dropped cuz he found a spot/

and he said, "Umm, my eyes have seeen the becoming/

and that's the very last speech we heard from him/

but Imma remain on the scene and reign supreme/

and go through any extremes by any means/

but I don't need a military, I'm ill already/

I kill and bury with an aim still and steady/

so bring me a bomb and ring the alarm/

when I do harm, I leave more dead then'Nam/

more casualties, more tragedies/

on a mission to sieze racist nationalities/

and if it gotta be like that/

then we attack with various shades of black/



It shouldn't have to be like that.



VERSE 3

we got to travel in harmony and in tune with the movement/

make moves in unison, all crews represent/

come together for the commom cause for mine and yours/

fix all broken laws and open doors/

we want in or else let the revolution begin/

we've been beaten before but this time we'll win/

It's gonna take bravery to stop slavery/

and days'll be full of flava care free/

it's different then, the predicament of men/

the judge won't grudge cuz of the color of my skin /

race brutality because of my nationality/

and and this is what  they call reality/

it's political, hypocritical, uncorrect/

first we get lyrical, then we come for respect/

let's take control, they can't hold us back/

and let's attack, with various shades of black//"





*Rakim in the mid-90s*