The Roots - Criminal lyrics

rate me

Monday they predict the storm

Tuesday they predict the bad

Wednesday they cover the grass

And I can see it's all about cash

And they got the nerve to hunt down my ass

And treat me like a criminal

Look, it is what it is

Because of what it was

I did what I did

'Cause it does what it does

I don't put nothin' above

What I am, what I love

My family, my blood

My city and my hood

Hater for the greater good

I'm back from Hollywood

And I ain't changed a lick

Though, I know I probably should

But, what I'm doin' is not a good look

I never did it by the good book, as a lifetime crook

All the petty crime took a toll on me

I look around at my homies that's gettin' old on me

But still somethin' gotta hold on me

Maybe it's faith

If it's comin', yo I'm willing to wait

I'm not runnin', I done ran through the mud

I done scrambled and such

I done robbed an odd job and gambled enough

Till I'm put up in handcuffs

And pissin' in a cup

If there's a God,

I don't know if he listenin' or what

Yeah, it is what it is

And that's how it go

Get treated like a criminal

If crime is all you know

Get greeted like a nigga

If a nigga saw your show

A public enemy, to send a eye in the scope

My city like a island where you can't find a boat

Have you wishin' for a raft

And prayin that hope flows

So real

Who lookin' for a chair and some real strong rope

Just to end it all here

Screamin' "f**k the mayor"

He see the faces at the bottom of the welfare

They act like I'm somethin' to fear

Trapped in urban warfare

And pullin' triggers at a college career

Can't ignore the call of the wild

That's drawin' 'em near

Try to make fast money last long some years

Try to laugh it off

Still couldn't lose the tears

To the rules, I will not adhere

Break the law, yeah...

Who wanna challenge mine?

I'm sick of St. Valentine

I did the violent crimes

That's why I got this style of rhyme

Seek repentance to spittin' them sentences

To senseless experience is the difference

You can't convince this

In a crime sense, niggas is infants

I'm like a senior citizen

Still livin' but gettin' benefits

Put emphasis on hittin' my nemesis in high percentages

Crooked ass cops is the reason for my belligerence

And it gets deeper than that

Remember nights I used to sleep with a gat

With a package of crack under my sneaker strap

D's sneak attack and raid me

It took a week for that

Beat the rat, but you're sayin' "look, he think he the mack"

F**k ya'll!

Niggas who thinkin' they might try us

Watch us inside riots

Blue cars and light fires

We already been knocked, scrutinized

Plus, cops rush to brutalize us

America's polluted by lust

Who could I trust?

If I can't trust you, then I might touch you

If I ain't got love for you

Then f**k you!