Turned The Key

Lyrics

[Intro] "Neighborhood tensions have been simmering over gentrification. Though moderate housing has been built, thousands have been displaced. While a new class of urban professionals took up residence in luxury apartment houses, spawning changes that cater to them" [Verse 1: Paris] I try to represent the struggle But the struggle as of late is being co-opted to bubble Check the hustle, poverty-stricken huddles Poverty stricken of us just displaced and rustled up With po' folks rushed to the valley Movin' us outta coastal Cali Provin' that the gap between the haves and the have-nots Got the workin' classes steady assed out when it come to housing Gentrified is what we call it Reverse white flight steady spoilin' Got these wealthy techies lovin' when we selling weed for they dogs But little black kids sellin' water get the cops called Liquor stores and weed when it's us When it's them is microbreweries and cannabis Same neighborhood, different people but the quality of life Is through the roof for certain reasons that they tap dancin' answers to [Chorus: T-K.A.S.H.] We want freedom and equality, right here where the gangstas ride And if you can't follow me, all you gotta do is look outside Where did we go? Where are we at? How did we get here? Can we go back? Thinkin' 'bout how they burned me - I should've never turned the key [Verse 2: Paris] It ain't no black people left in Oakland It ain't no black people left in San Francisco I see more black people back in Sacramento And we all know that none of this is accidental Ask ya kinfolk about the 80's and 90's Back when it was all so simple Quality of life was just as good in the areas they swear changed recently But really, it's the hood and the hood means black And if it's black then it's bad, and if it's bad Then it's cheap and if it's cheap, then we grab And we hold, then we sell, when we finish Criminalizing and displacing families for twice the price what the hell, fail Rebel, question their entitlement, I been hood You live in the hood, now it's good? Why is this? I resist, prices which side with rich whites and give Light to this fight against my kind and won't silence this [Chorus: T-K.A.S.H.] We want freedom and equality, right here where the gangstas ride And if you can't follow me, all you gotta do is look outside (That's right) Where did we go? Where are we at? How did we get here? Can we go back? Thinkin' 'bout how they burned me - I should've never turned the key [Verse 3: Paris] They vilify my black skin Just enough for demonizing fraternizing black men Just enough for chastising black kids Police pull up and turn the block to target practice, plus the fact is Eastern Contra Costa county and Castro Valley Harbor Klu Klux Klansmen, add this with black families Looking for a better life and what you get is Resistance from pre-established pro-right old whites So they make up harm to take up arms And take what's ours, imaginary adversaries Claimin' that my race does harm, but they come hard For burdens they create then insist I have to carry, irony So I plot to take back plots of real estate Give back spots and make fat knots and educate Give blacks props, and set up shops and get us straight Give them devils somethin' to really hate, ha