I got a letter from the government 

The other day 

I opened and read it 

It said they were suckers 

They wanted me for their army or whatever 

Picture me given' a [bad word] I said never 

Here is a land that never gave a [bad word] 

About a brother like me and myself 

Because they never did 

I wasn't wit' it but just that very minute... 

It occured to me 

The suckers had authority 

Cold sweatin' as I dwell in my cell 

How long has it been? 

They got me sittin' in the state pen 

I gotta get out - but that thought was thought before 

I contemplated a plan on the cell floor 

I'm not a fugitive on [bad word] 

But a brother like me begun - to be another one 

Public enemy servin' time - they drew the line y'all 

To criticize me some crime - never the less 

They could not understand that I'm a Black man 

And I could never be a veteran 

On the strength, the situation's unreal 

I got a raw deal, so I'm goin' for the steel 

They got me rottin' in the time that I'm servin' 

Tellin' you what happened the same time they're throwin' 

4 of us packed in a cell like slaves - oh well 

The same [bad word] got us livin' is his [bad word] 

You have to realize - what its a form of slavery 

Organized under a swarm of devils 

Straight up - word'em up on the level 

The reasons are several, most of them federal 

Here is my plan anyway and I say 

I got gusto, but only some I can [bad word] - yo 

Some do a bid from 1 to 10 

And I never did, and plus I never been 

I'm on a tier where no tears should ever fall 

Cell block and locked - I never clock it y'all 

'Cause time and time again time 

They got me servin' to those and to them 

I'm not a citizen 

But ever when I catch a C-O 

Sleepin' on the job - my plan is on go-ahead 

On the strength, I'ma tell you the deal 

I got nothin' to lose 

'Cause I'm goin' for the steel 

You know I caught a C-O 

Fallin' asleep on death row 

I grabbed his gun - then he did what I said so 

And everyman's got served 

Along with the time they served 

Decency was deserved 

To understand my demands 

I gave a warnin' - I wanted the governor, y'all 

And plus the warden to know 

That I was innocent - 

Because I'm militant 

Posing a threat, you bet it's [bad word]  up the government 

My plan said I had to get out and break north 

Just like with Oliver's neck 

I had to get off - my boys had the feds in check 

They couldn't do nuthin' 

We had a force to instigate a prison riot 

This is what it takes for peace 

So I just took the piece 

Black for Black inside time to cut the leash 

Freedom to get out - to the ghetto - no sell out 

6 C-Os we got we ought to put their head out 

But I'll give 'em a chance, cause I'm civilized 

As for the rest of the world, they can't realize 

cell is [bad word] - I'm a rebel so I rebel 

Between bars, got me thinkin' like an animal 

Got a woman C-O to call me a copter 

She tried to get away, and I popped her 

Twice, right 

Now who wanna get nice? 

I had 6 C-Os, now it's 5 to go 

And I'm serious - call me delirious 

But I'm still a captive 

I gotta rap this 

Time to break as time grows intense 

I got the steel in my right hand 

Now I'm lookin' for the fence 

I ventured into the courtyard 

Followed by 52 brothers 
 [bad word]  battered, and scarred but hard 

Goin' out with a bang 

Ready to bang out 

But power from the sky