Give The People Epmd

[Chorus: sung hook from an R&B record]



Got to give the people

Give the people what they want

Ladies and Gentlemen

[x2]



[Verse One: 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 couldnt 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 from Yo! MTV Raps

A show, mainly for the black

And still we cant ill, cause to them thats wrong

Cause like P.E. said, were too black and too strong

But hey, what can I say

(Brothers and sisters) thats a price a rapper must pay



[Chorus]



[Verse Two: PMD]



As airwaves collapse rap shows at a standstill

Some racial circuits the frequencies cant handle

The funk tracks produced by EPMD

But its a fat jam, that will never win a grammy

Unless we sellout 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 crack, the mayor in our residence

Give me a break brothers, its time to take a stand

And kill that no sir, yes sir, and thank you maam

Cuz the word is a luxury a black man cant afford

Thats why povertys on the rise and we still ignored

And its 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 mans 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 Im going for mine

Thats why I



[Chorus]



[Verse Three: Erick Sermon, PMD]



Why is that when wrong is done by the black

Its 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 cant be too black and hey, watch what you say, but ayo



[Chorus: to fade]
[ Give The People Lyrics ]