Rakim - Shades of Black lyrics

Check it out yo this is a test to see if
You know what time it is
What time it was and what time it's gonna be
It's Rakim Allah and Easy Mo Bee
Ya know what I'm sayin'
And this how we get down representin'
Check it out for the Black Panthers
It's gonna get set like this

We're dealing with some devious days
But believe me it's ways
Of posing tact for those
That act mischievous pays
Foes in town is bound to hold you down
Physically your baddest when you
Hold your ground and let loose the hounds
And double barrel scatters the thunder
When I stand they want me to be under
See the government wanna remove the
G and be over me
Make more men and still live life free
And leave me for sorrow
Not promised tomorrow a job, a house
Or a chance to show what I know
I'm out to crusade, all I got is the streets
Cuz I've been waitin' for opportunity
To knock for weeks
If he come, tell him I went to organize
And enterprise unity in the
Community and rise that means take it back
Whoever's against that, then we attack
With various shades of black
When we attack, with various shades of black

Lost in North America
Stressed and led astray
In search of light so I
Could see a better day
Or maybe I could look from
Off the mountain top
A great king got dropped cuz
He found the spot
He said umm "My eyes have seen the becoming"
And that's the very last speech
That we heard from him
But, I'ma remain on the
Scene and reign supreme
And go through many 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 than 'Nam
More casualties, more tragedies
On the mission to seize races, nationalities
And if it gotta be like that, then we attack
With various shades of black

Various shades of black

It shouldn't have to be like that

We got to travel in harmony
In tune with the movement
Make moves in unison all crews represent
Come together for the common cause
For mine and yours
Fix the broken laws and open doors
We want in, or let the revolution begin
We've been beat before but
This time we'll win
It's gonna take bravery to stop slavery
And days'll be full of flave and carefree
It's different now, the predicament I'm in
Judge with a grudge just cuz
The color of my skin
Race brutality because of my nationality
And this is what they call reality
It's political, hypocritical, uncorrect
First I get lyrical then we come for wreck
Let's take control, they can't hold us back
And let's attack
With various shades of black
This part of the revolution
Is gonna be televised
Ya-know-what-I'm-sayin' this is Rakim Allah
My man Easy Moe Bee kept the flow
Ya-know-what-I'm-sayin'
The last platoon coming to
Through your neighborhood?
Ain't nothin' change but the year
For '95 so c'mon