Baruch “Baba” Israel

Selected Lyrics

terrified

terrified
I am terrified of aids
rappers with attitudes
those who kill DJ's

I am terrified of bush and a push to war
I am terrified of those I love, not having health care
I am terrified of me not having health care

and this country is civilized?
Bullshit

we’re built on the backs of black and Asian hands on tracks
and red blood
body of blood body of love
terrorized by fear factories and fear machines

I am terrified of cops who stare at kids with fear in their eyes
instead of protection

I am terrified of teachers who scream
and count the hours to the bell

I am terrified of those who think teachers and schools
don't deserve priority over war

I am terrified of a news system that keeps us
locked in terror

I am terrified of guns and nervous hands
and humiliated spirits

I am terrified of a music industry with no conscience
I am terrified of military recruiters who see poor youth as potential property
I am terrified of white black and Latino kids who diss Arab kids with the power of their words

I am too terrified to worry about terrorism

State of Emergency

Were raised to respect the strong fighting man
We pledge allegiance to war on this land
Our heroes nameless solider who died to young
Our countries beat
The warrior drum
The marching band and the military song
Were taught that for freedom
Violence is not wrong
We know the history of slavery and civil war
War is not civil
Our soil soaked with blood and gore
We speak of freedom but our legacy is death
From bullets to blades weapons that steal our breath
When poor people and people of color roll deep
They call em gangs and terrorists
And out army and police protectors of the weak
It’s all wrong
From the top to the bottom
You could never solve a problem with an m-16 or shotgun

We in a state of Emergency
Violence can never set us free

No it can never set us free!

There is violence that erupts and orders that corrupt
And discipline that disrupts the best of our humanity
Mind control training exercises
Simulated warfare that numbs us to violence
The deepest discipline and potential power
Is the maintaining of peace
In the darkest hour
Its not soft or weak its hard core to stop war
As they drop more
We let our songs roar
As blood pours on our shores and your shores
We stand up and say no more!

And to those who say I disrespected those who died
For my freedom
Bleeding barely breathing
That’s a straight up lie
They did not have to die

Black Music

this is the music that originates
in African landscapes
now broadcast on mix tapes
I got the privilege to be a part of this culture

respect this

This is Black music

I am a guest at best blessed to express stress over beats with finesse

elvis was a tragic star that fell so far from what music meant
pimped by his management
the cross over sex appeal
let's get real
rock and roll
was a code for soul
to get RnB played on white radio
its not long hair and guitars
that came later
The British invader

singing the blues without paying dues
this country is infused with African philosophy
this music is African property and should be respected properly

the transcendental state of blackness
I want to have this
but to think its mine is madness
to bear the bounce but not the burden
all I can possess is the presence of mind
not to be blind
and look beyond the curtain
what's on the stage?
unfair wage and prison cage?
racist policy human mockery
a militant monopoly that absorbs culture into a commodity

so white kids let's not make the same mistake musical rape
respect build trust in order to integrate
know our privilege is power unchecked at the gate

I have felt alone in a world that is cold
found peace and strength in stories told
hip-hop molds my flow language and soul
so to this I owe humility
yeah I'm nice on the mic
my spirit would recite poetic transmissions whether black or white
these words were given form and function
through African diction and tradition
as I find my way is this contradiction?
should I hang up the mic and seek somewhere else

I know hip-hop like I know my self

I remember coming up
pumping x clan
like I can't be a white man
used to get love from my black fam
it was like I wanted to change who I was
measure myself by the thickness of my blood
and the depth of my love

always stepped with sincerity
got love from the crowd staring at me
it was a spiritual calling
that I could not refuse
this path I had to choose it
but let's not forget this is Black music