Claimin' I'm A Criminal

Brand Nubian

7 in the mornin, they kickin down my momma's door 
Now tell me what is this motherfuckin drama for? 
Can a nigga get rest after rest without the stress? 
Then they put the Glock to my chest 
Best think 'fore I twitch or I'm popped 
Off to the clink with this bitch ass cop 
They gotta nigga locked like the dread on my head, jack 
And if I try to fight back, well then I'm dead, black 
I got the right to an attorney and to stay silent 
They got the right to try to burn me if I play violent 
I know the game so I just roll with the procedure 
Illegal search and seizure, somethin that they're doin at their leisure 
Down at the station, interrogation is takin place 
Overcrowded jails but for me they're makin space 
Tell the devil to his face he can suck my dick 
It's the whole black race that they're fuckin with 
Come to find my crime was lettin brothers know the time 
Only the devil is stoppin me from eatin swine 
And plus my prior record sealed my fate 
One For All and In God We Trust got me sent upstate 
But still I won't bite my tongue 
I just write tight shit to incite the young, to fight the one 
Who keeps them on a level that's minimum 
That's the number one reason 

(They claimin' I'm a criminal) 
This time and day 
Oh, gotta run for time 
(They claimin' I'm a criminal) 
This time and day 
Oh, gotta run for time 

(They claimin' I'm a criminal) 
This time and day 
Oh, gotta run for time 
(They claimin' I'm a criminal) 
This time and day 
Oh, gotta run for time

I was frustrated, I can't do no more push-ups 
Niggas be swole up, locked down 'cause of a hold-up 
"The devil made me do it" is what I say 
Got some bad news on my one phone call the other day 
"I love the kids and I teach em to love their father 
I'll get you some kicks and try to send some flicks 
But it's over, baby, yes it's over" 
Ain't much you can do when you're holdin a phone 
A million inmates but ya still alone 
You're not cryin but inside ya dyin 
You might cry in the night when ya safe and outta sight 
Damn I miss my peeps and the rides in the jeeps 
And my, casual freedom, where's my crew when I need em? 
A visit ain't the same like being in the game 
But I'll take it, at least with that I'll make it 
The beast is a bitch and I see it 
I do the knowledge to em, so next time I can do em 
"Yo X, I got ta lock it now but write me real soon 
I know that you're a busy man, give me a minute" 
You can never know the penal til you been locked the fuck up in it 

This time and day 
Oh, gotta run for time 
This time and day 
Oh, gotta run for time 
(They claimin' I'm a criminal) 
This time and day 
Oh, gotta run for time 
(They claimin' I'm a criminal) 
This time and day 
Oh, gotta run for time 

(They claimin' I'm a criminal) 
(They claimin' I'm a criminal) 
(They claimin' I'm a criminal) 
(They claimin' I'm a criminal) 

(They claimin' I'm a criminal) 
(They claimin' I'm a criminal) 
(They claimin' I'm a criminal) 
(They claimin' I'm a criminal) 

(They claimin' I'm a criminal) 
(They claimin' I'm a criminal) 
(They claimin' I'm a criminal) 
(They claimin' I'm a criminal) 

(They claimin' I'm a criminal) 
This time and day 
Oh, gotta run for time