You know they got me trapped in this prison of seclusion

Happiness, living on the streets is a delusion

Even a smooth criminal one day must get caught

Shot up or shot down with the bullet that he bought

Nine-millimeter kickin' thinkin' about what the streets do to me

'Cause they never taught peace in the Black community

All we know is violence, do the job in silence

Walk the city streets like a rat pack of tyrants

Too many brothers daily headed for the big pen'

**** comin' out worse-off than when they went in

Over the years I've done a lot of growin' up

Gettin' drunk, throwin' up, cuffed up, then I said I had enough

There must be another route, way out to money and fame

I changed my name, played a different game

Tired of being trapped in this vicious cycle

If one more cop harasses me, I just might go psycho

And when I get 'em, I'll hit 'em with the bum rush

Only a lunatic would like to see a skull crushed

Yo, if you're smart you'll really let me go, G

But keep me cooped up in this ghetto and catch the Uzi

They got me trapped

Uh-uh, they can't keep the Black man down

They got me trapped

Nah, they can't keep the Black man down

Trapped

Uh-uh, they can't keep the Black man down

Trapped

Nah, they can't keep the Black man down

They got me trapped, can barely walk the city streets

Without a cop harasskin' me, searching me, then askin' my identity

Hands up, throw me up against the wall, didn't do a thing at all

I'm telling you one day these suckers gotta fall

Cuffed up, throw me on the concrete

Coppers try to kill me, but they didn't know this was the wrong street

Bang bang, count another casualty

But it's a cop who's shot for his brutality

Who do you blame? It's a shame because the man's slain

He got caught in the chains of his own game

How can I feel guilty after all the things they did to me?

Sweated me, hunted me, trapped in my own community

One day I'm gonna bust, blow up on this society

Why did you lie to me? I couldn't find a trace of equality

Worked me like a slave while they laid back

Homie don't play that, it's time I let 'em suffer the payback

I'm tryin' to avoid physical contact

I can't hold back, it's time to attack, Jack

They got me trapped

Uh-uh, they can't keep the Black man down

You know they got me trapped

Nah, they can't keep the Black man down

Trapped

Uh-uh, they can't keep the Black man down

They got me trapped

Nah, they can't keep the Black man down

Now I'm trapped and walkin' for my getaway

All I need is a G and somewhere safe to stay

Can't use the phone 'cause I'm sure someone's tapping in

Did it before, ain't scared to use my gat again

I look back in hindsight, the fight was irrelevant

But now he's the Devil's friend, too late to be tellin' him

He shot first and I'll be damned if I run away

Homie is done away, I should've put my gun away

I wasn't thinkin', all I heard was the ridicule

Girlies was laughin', Tup saying, "Damn, homie's dissin' you"

Fired my weapon, started steppin' in the hurricane

I got shot, so I dropped feelin' a burst of pain

Got to my feet, couldn't see nothin' but bloody blood

Now I'm a fugitive to be hunted like a murderer

Ran through an alley, still lookin' for my getaway

Copper say, "Freeze, or you'll be dead today"

Trapped in a corner, dark and I couldn't see the light

Thoughts in my mind was the nine and a better life

What do I do? Live my life in a prison cell?

I'd rather die than be trapped in a living Hell

They got me trapped

Uh-uh, they can't keep the Black man down

They got me trapped

Nah, they can't keep the Black man down

Trapped

Uh-uh, they can't keep the Black man down

You know they got me trapped

Nah, they can't keep the Black man down

Trapped