Trapped

You know they got me trapped in this prison of seclusion.
Happiness living on the streets is a delusion.
Even a smooth criminal one day must get caught.
Shot up or shot down with the bullet that he bought.
Nine millimeter kickin' thinking about what the streets do to me.
'Cause they never taught peace in the black community.
All we know is violence, do the job in silence.
Walk the city streets like a rat pack of tyrants.
Too many brothers daily heading for the big pen.
Niggas comin' out worse off than when they went in.
Over the years I've done a lot of growin' up.
Get drunk, throwin' up.
Cuffed up, then I said "I had enough."
There must be another route, way out.
To money and fame, I changed my name, played a different game.
Tired of being trapped in this vicious cycle.
If one more cop harrasses me I just might go psycho.
And when I get 'em, I hit 'em with the bum rush.
Only a lunatic would like to see his skull crushed.
Yo, if your smart you'll really let me go 'G'.
But keep me cooped up in this ghetto and catch the Uzi.

     Tupac:                          Shock G:
They got me trapped.    Uh-uh, they can't keep the black man down.
They got me trapped.    Nah, they can't keep the black man down.
Trapped.                Uh-uh, they can't keep the black man down.
Trapped.                Nah, they can't keep the black man down.


They got me trapped!
Can barely walk the city streets without a cop harrassing me,
searching me, then asking my identity.
Hands up, throw me up against the wall, didn't do a thing at all.
I'm tellin' you one day these suckers got to fall.
Cuffed up, throw me on the concrete. Coppers try to kill me,
but they didn't know this was the wrong street.
Bang bang, count another casualty.
But it's a cop who's shot, there's brutality.
Who do you blame? It's a shame because the man's slain.
He got caught in the chains of his own game.
How can I feel guilty after all the things they did to me?
Sweated me, hunted me. Trapped in my own community.
One day I'm gonna bust, blow up on their society.
Why did you lie to me? I couldn't find a trace of equality.
Work me like a slave while they laid back
Homie don't play that, It's time I let 'em suffer the payback.
I'm tryin' to avoid physical contact.
I can't hold back, it's time to attack, jack.

     Tupac:                          Shock G:
They got me trapped.           Uh-uh, they can't keep the black man down.
You know they got me trapped.  Nah, they can't keep the black man down.
Trapped.                       Uh-uh, they can't keep the black man down.
They got me trapped.           Nah, they can't keep the black man down.


Now I'm trapped and workin' on my getaway.
All I need is a 'G' and somewhere safe to stay.
Can't use the phone 'cause I'm sure someone's tappin' in.
Did it before, ain't scared to use my gat again.
I look back, in hindsite the fight was irrelevant.
But now he's the devil's friend. Too late to be tellin' him
"He shot first," and I'll be damned if I run away.
Homie is done away, I should of put my gun away.
I wasn't thinkin'. All I heard was the ridicule.
Girlies was laughin' too, sayin "Damn, Homie's dissin you."
Fired my weapon, started steppin' in the hurricane.
I got shot so I dropped, feelin' a burst of pain.
Got to my feet, couldn't see nothin' but bloody blood.
Now I'm a fugitive to be hunted like a murderer.
Ran through an alley, still lookin' for my getaway.
Coppers said "Freeze, or you'll be dead today."
Trapped in a corner, dark and I couldn't see the light.
Thoughts in my mind was the nine and a better life.
What do I do, live my life in a prison cell?
I'd rather die than be trapped in a living hell.

     Tupac:                          Shock G:
They got me trapped.           Uh-uh, they can't keep the black man down.
They got me trapped.           Nah, they can't keep the black man down.
Trapped.                       Uh-uh, they can't keep the black man down.
You know they got me trapped.  Nah, they can't keep the black man down.
Trapped.



Transcription 1993 by Jim Moore for Relativity Labs.
Written by Tupac Shakur.
Copyright 1991 Interscope Records. All Rights Reserved.
Used without permisson.