[Verse 1]
Let me tell you a little story about the slavemaster (Slavemaster)
Use a whip on your ass so you behave faster (Behave faster)
You got chains on your neck, and the man's respect
You'll work all damn day, but you will never see a check
In the field. Cotton you yield. Your skin peels off your back
From the crack of the whip, it won't heal
Ya wish you had a shield 'cause he wields iron
So when you act up, he smokes ya and keeps firing
And it's tiring, forget about recreation (Forget it)
One wrong move and it's death you're facing
White motherfuckers got the ball and chain
On your leg, and in the form of religion on your brain
They say, "You the devil." You say, "Who the devil?"
Some of us was house niggas, some of us was rebels
Some tried to get along the best they could
And didn't nobody use the phrase, "It's all good"
Would you? They got you living like a shrew
They throw you pig lips and chicken gizzards, then you make a stew
They give us a white Jesus to appease us
We talk among ourselves and hope that nobody sees us
They had our brothers beating us, called us cretins plus monkeys
They just flunkies, mistreating us
The master said, "If you don't whip 'em, you're dead"
It was fucking with his head, but he beat us instead
And we bled, red blood flowing like a flood
Then he'd rape your mother, stick her face in the mud
They were ruthless! If you tried to front, you'd be toothless
Some tried to run even though it seemed useless
Virginity was torn, soon, babies was born that was half white
And now his skin is kind of light
You think you're special, because they let you
Oversee the carnage? But I bet you
Will get hung, even if you stick out your tongue
Cause they pull out the shank and stick it right through your lung
Now it's '96 and white people say, "Forget it
It's all in the past." And some even regret it
'Cause they think we'll set it, now my mission's to get federal
So I can raise a Black family without you devils
And you know how that goes
[Chorus]
Yeah, slavemaster watching over you
Always tryna tell you what the fuck to do
The slavemaster watching over you
But ain't nothing gonna stop me or my crew
The slavemaster watching over you
Always tryna tell you what the fuck to do
The slavemaster watching over you
But ain't nothing gonna stop me or my crew
[Verse 2]
This is for you kids trying to get signed (Ayy, peep this)
Just a little something you should keep in mind:
The labels are slavemasters, artists are slaves
Don't get too raunchy, they want you to behave
You get signed, you're thinking, "This is great!"
But wait, you never knew what was at stake
Creative control they withhold, you sell your soul
When you sign on the dotted line hoping to go gold
But you'll never see that, not without promotion
The label just throw your shit out and got it floatin'
You think your shit is potent, but ain't nobody buying it
If they ain't never heard of it, ain't nobody trying it
If they ain't never heard of it, your record, they murder it
You could complain, but they are not concerned a bit
'Cause when they signed you, they thought you'd make a hit
'Cause of who you was affiliated with and all that bullshit
Frustrations, all these rules and regulations
Just so you can have your shit heard by the nation, and be patient
'Cause by the time they finally release your shit, it's ancient
You think they're working your album? You're mistaken
And if you flop, you get dropped
'Cause you ain't the star, you didn't go pop
Just straight up hip-hop, time to get a mop
'Cause without no promotion, of course sales drop (Damn)
Peep the breakdown: If tapes cost ten
You'll probably only get to see a dollar in the end
That you cannot spend 'cause your budget gets recouped
So you never get cash unless your record is "Shoop."
You better hope you get shows, which will not happen
If you don't have a record that's the main attraction
Even if you sell a million, you'll get burned
'Cause they keep half your cash just in case of returns
For a while, you wonder why rappers don't smile
'Cause to them, you're not an artist, you're just another file
Another nigga used to make another buck, they don't give a fuck
And if your shit don't blow up — tough
But the star gets both promotion and devotion
From the whole fucking staff — at you, they laugh
The star probably don't know that he the house nigga
Thinking he bigger 'cause he the, pick of the litter
These labels think backwards
They push the acts that need it the least
So they can get all the money they can when it's released
They take you to a restaurant for a feast
And then expect you to pick up the check?
That's why I give props to niggas who is independent
'Cause they make they own money, plus decide how to spend it
Splendid — let's end it — and don't get offended
[Chorus]
Slavemaster watching over you
Always tryna tell you what the fuck to do
The slavemaster watching over you
But ain't nothing gonna stop me or my crew
Yeah, the slavemaster watching over you
Always tryna tell you what the fuck to do
The slavemaster watching over you
But ain't nothing gonna stop me or my crew
[Outro]
Hieroglyphics
