[Intro: Richard Pryor]
The cops used to come around in my neighborhood
"Alright, you kids, stop having so much fun, move along!"
Oh they'd arrest me, you know, especially at night
They had a curfew, niggas had to be home at 11, negros, 12
And you'd be trying to get home, doing your crew runs
And they'd always catch you out in front of a store or something
'Cause you'd be taking shortcuts, right
Cops, "Ree, put your hands up, black boy!" (AH!)
[Interlude: Slick Rick]
"Uncle Ricky, could you read us a bedtime story?
Please, huh, please?"
All right, you kids get to bed, I'll get the storybook
[Verse 1: Kanye West]
Stay tuned up and down your timeline
This fake news, people is all lyin'
Money is bein' made when a mom cries
Won't be satisfied 'til we all die
Tell me, who do we call to report crime
If 9-1-1 doin' the driveby?
It's certain things I can't abide by
I ain't bein' extreme, this is my side
Talkin' big shit, ready to die
I know every story got two sides
Claimin' he paranoid by the black guy
Cop wanna make it home by nighttime
Just a good kid, he wasn't that guy
Had a little hit, he wasn't that high
Cop gon' claim that it was self-defense
Say he was ridin' dirty so the case rests
[Chorus: Slick Rick, Kanye West & Richard Pryor]
Cops shot the kid
The cops shot the kid, the cops shot– (Workin' nine-to-five)
The cops shot the kid
The cops shot the kid, the cops shot– (Tryna stay alive)
The cops shot the kid
The cops shot the kid, the cops shot– (Makin' ends meet)
The cops shot the kid
The cops shot the kid, I still hear him scream (Shot him this week)
He dropped his gun, so went the glory
And this is the way I have to end this story
He was only seventeen, in a madman's dream
The cops shot the kid, I still hear him scream (AH!)
[Verse 2: André 3000]
All my pets are mystic, keeps me in a cage (Cage)
Aww, my head is twisted, keeps me spinnin' 'round for days (Days)
Exorcism, pessimism has arisen
There's no reason really, treason to myself so silly
So perfect, so perfect, so why do I look for curtains?
Uncertain but certainly false alarm's alertin'
A burden in beautiful times, a garden snake (Sss)
Won't bite me, but frightens me like I know I'm ate
I know I ain't, I know it, ayy
Harmony, harmony, how many, how many
Days of amazin' will it be before it phases?
And I say, "I told you so" (Told you so)
Summer bee, summer bee buzzin'
Some'll be hovering over nothin'
All of a sudden it's fall and it's over, though (Phew)
Come with me, come with me, calming me down
Be chamomile, calamine lotion
Camel motion, humpin' on the flo' (Yeah)
Tumbleweed, tumbleweed
Wanna leave before the avaricious take over the city
[Chorus: Slick Rick, André 3000, Kanye West & Richard Pryor]
Cops shot the kid (We build and discover gold)
The cops shot the kid, the cops shot– (Workin' nine-to-five)
The cops shot the kid (Alchemists make it silver before you know it)
The cops shot the kid, the cops shot– (Tryna stay alive)
The cops shot the kid (Negative nickels until it's void)
The cops shot the kid, the cops shot– (Makin' ends meet)
The cops shot the kid (Aluminum foil it back to soil)
The cops shot the kid, I still hear him scream (Shot him this week)
He dropped his gun, so went the glory
And this is the way I have to end this story
He was only seventeen, in a madman's dream
The cops shot the kid, I still hear him scream (AH!)
[Verse 3: Nas & Slick Rick]
I don't wanna hurt nobody
We just came here to party
See a few dames, exchange some names
I'm a top shotta, kid, stay in your lane
The cop shot the kid, same old scene
Pour out a little liquor, champagne for pain (Cops shot the kid)
Slap-boxin' in the street (Cops-cops shot the kid)
Crack the hydrant in the heat
Cop cars on the creep
Doin' they round-ups, we just watch for the sweep (Cops shot the kid)
Yeah, it's hotter than July (Cops-cops shot the kid)
It's the summer when niggas die
It's the summer when niggas ride
Together we'll be strong, but forever we divide (The cops shot the kid)
So y'all are blowin' my high (Cops-cops shot the kid)
Type of shit that's killin' my vibe
White kids are brought in alive
Black kids get hit with like five (Cops shot the kid)
Get scared, you panic, you're goin' down (Cops-cops shot the kid)
The disadvantages of the brown
How in the hell the parents gon' bury their own kids
Not the other way around?
Reminds me of Emmett Till
Let's remind 'em why Kap kneels
[Chorus: Slick Rick, Kanye West & Richard Pryor]
Cops shot the kid
The cops shot the kid, the cops shot– (Workin' nine-to-five)
The cops shot the kid
The cops shot the kid, the cops shot– (Tryna stay alive)
The cops shot the kid
The cops shot the kid, the cops shot– (Makin' ends meet)
The cops shot the kid
The cops shot the kid, I still hear him scream (Shot him this week)
He dropped his gun, so went the glory
And this is the way I have to end this story
He was only seventeen, in a madman's dream
The cops shot the kid, I still hear him scream
