Give the People

Lyrics

[Chorus] Got to give the people (Ladies and gentleman) Give the people what they want (Ladies and gentleman) Got to give the people (Ladies and gentleman) Give the people what they want (Ladies and gentleman) [Verse 1: Erick Sermon] When I came out with my first rap jam I had no idea that the record would slam It did real good without radio play Maybe at night, but no airplay in the day I couldn't understand why to be exact Our music was good and I was far from wack Then came the answer, commercial was the key To get airplay and a spot on TV Like Ed Lover and Doctor Dre for Yo! MTV Raps A show mainly for the Black And still we can't ill, 'cause to them, that's wrong 'Cause like P.E. said, we're too Black and too strong But hey, what can I say? (Brothers and sisters), that's a price a rapper must pay, 'cause [Chorus] Got to give the people (Ladies and gentleman) Give the people what they want (Ladies and gentleman) Got to give the people (Ladies and gentleman) Give the people what they want (Ladies and gentleman) [Verse 2: PMD] As airwaves collapse, rap shows at a standstill Some waves short-circuit the frequencies, can't handle The funk tracks produced by EPMD But it's a fat chance that we'll ever win a Grammy Unless we sell out and kill the Black movement dead Which means swallow our pride and become flunkies instead And stop the rap about freedom, thoughts of a Black president And rap about a Black cracked-up mayor in our residence Give me a break, brothers, it's time to take a stand And kill that no, sir, yes, sir, and thank you, ma'am 'Cause the word if's a luxury a Black man can't afford That's why poverty is on the rise and we're still ignored And it's a setback and yet the clock still ticks And if we let it, rap would be run by politics I read it somewhere that every man's created equal But not in this day and age, maybe in the sequel Which means next time, so observe these rhymes And take a stand and go for yours, 'cause I'm going for mine That's why I [Chorus] Got to give the people (Ladies and gentleman) Give the people what they want (Ladies and gentleman) Got to give the people (Ladies and gentleman) Give the people what they want (Ladies and gentleman) [Verse 3: Erick Sermon & PMD] Why is that when wrong is done by the Black It's blown out of proportion and immediately attacked? By the press and yes, conflict is caused By the kids at concerts who bumrush the doors One child gets hurt, the press gets pesty But what about the Beatles, G, and Elvis Presley? Same stuff was rough, rap does not cause violence So (Fight the power), and make them understand But too much power and you might get banned So if you want airplay You can't be too Black and hey, watch what you say, but ayy, yo [Chorus] Got to give the people (Ladies and gentleman) Give the people what they want (Ladies and gentleman) Got to give the people (Ladies and gentleman) Give the people what they want (Ladies and gentleman) Got to give the people (Ladies and gentleman) Give the people what they want (Ladies and gentleman) Got to give the people Give the people what they want (Ladies and gentleman) Got to give the people Give the people what they want