You think Oakland, California, is a city of punks
It only takes a second to pop the trunk
And just like that, you know it`s real
You`re in the right damn town to get killed

It`s all about the game and nothin` else
You come out here, you better watch yourself
`Cause you can wear what you want, even blue or red
But cross the wrong brothers and end up dead

You catch a body full of bullets and get blasted
Tryin` to be a gangsta but you just ain`t lastin`
This little town is gettin` wild as hell
Check the penetentiaries and all the jails

If they could lock us all up, that would be just fine
Got my partners from Oakland doin` serious time
You can`t argue with the truth, it`s hard to be black
But it`s a mindgame and you gotta deal with that

I wake up everyday and I just can`t wait
To make mo money `cause back in the days
When I rapped, I did the same damn thing I do now
Grab the microphone and show you how

But I was broke, the only thing I had was game
I started makin` money and knew things would change
Bought a Benz, thought it might earn respect
But the OPD found it hard to accept

I got jacked by the [unverified]
Face down on the ground, keep my hands in sight
Put the handcuffs on backseat, I`m in it
Illegal search for about thirty minutes

Askin` me where`s the dope
Where`s my gun but I don`t know
I said I`m rappin`, they laugh like I told a joke
And to this day they think I`m sellin` coke

I want to be free, ohh yeah
(And that`s the truth)
I want to be free, ohh yeah

I be in Oakland, California every day of my life
Bass so hard, you think I`m smokin` a pipe
And if I don`t smoke it, I gots to grind
Searched all my stuff and all you find
Is a pocket full of money, count seven G`s
Now you wanna think I`m sellin` keys

`Cause I`m a black man, but I run my own business
So why the police wanna send me to prison
They see a brother makin` major cash
They knock a patch out his black ass

And that`s the truth, you can`t argue you at all
Tryin` to give you ten years for a phone call
Ain`t even trippin` on the dank smoke
`Cause all they wanna find is guns and coke

In court all the time, tryin` to fight it
We get rich, we get [unverified]
So what`s the problem officer, this time?
Is havin` big money, bein` black a crime?

Or did you take me to jail to teach me a lesson
Charge me with somethin` or just ask questions
About the brothers I hang around?
What`s really goin` on in the Oakland town?

Tell me who went broke, and who got rich
But Too $hort baby, just ain`t no snitch
You say you`re just doin` your job
But you`re gettin on my nerves, just like Bob

Every time I hit a corner, I see you
Always tellin` brothers what to do
You lock me up `cause I don`t know how to act
But I`m down for mine, so I be talkin` back
And when I do, you treat me bad as hell
I`m sick of spendin` nights in jail

I want to be free, ohh yeah
(And that`s the truth)
I want to be free, ohh yeah

Got out of jail about [unverified]
Walkin` down the street like a broke dopefiend
Had a pocket full of money tryin` to play the role
Benz got towed and I was hella cold

But I ain`t trippin`, I`m gettin` used to it now
Handcuffed, your boy took me straight downtown
For three warrants, had to catch me sooner or later
`Cause the five-oh`s always tryin` to jack a playa

For no reason, wasn`t doin nothin wrong
You think I`m lyin`, singin` that same ol song
Well I`m a black man, ridin` in a Benz
How in the hell did I make these ends?

Here we go, I pull over to the right
Stop the engine, keep my hands in sight
I start cursin` `cause it don`t make sense
Why would I run and try to jump a fence

If I was plannin` a smooth getaway
I never woulda stopped in the first place
You`d be high speed chasin` me but this time you ain`t
`Cause all I got on me is a big fat bank

And I hope I don`t get robbed by you know who
Make me donate some G`s to the boys in blue
And if I sue, I won`t get nothin` back
But I ain`t mad, I`m just black

I want to be free, ohh yeah
I want to be free, ohh yeah
I want to be free, ohh yeah
I want to be free, ohh yeah