“Police State,” Dead Prez
Released in the year 2000, one might think that on their single, “Police State” M1 and Stic were channeling their inner lyrical prophets considering the ways things have manifested over 21 years later in this country. But these two southern emcees were not reading into a crystal ball, but analyzing through history the patterns of oppression and fascism that seems to always unfold with white supremacy. They called it like it was and added a true revolutionary edge to Loud Records on their classic debut album, Let’s Get Free.
Jumping off the song with the powerful voice of Chairman Omali Yeshitela, the founder of the Uhuru Movement, a left wing, African Internationalist organization based in St. Petersburg, Florida. Then the duo pulled back the veil of organized oppression clothed in the disarming disguise of law enforcement. They aren’t protecting nobody, but persuading the masses to walk into a Orwellian trap that lulls the masses to sleep.
“The average Black male … Live a third of his life in a jail cell … ‘Cause the world is controlled by the white male … And the people don’t never get justice … And the women don’t never get respected … And the problems don’t never get solved … And the jobs don’t never pay enough … So the rent always be late, can you relate? We livin’ in a police state”
“Police State” definitely could have been an anthem for the participants in the BLM protests over the summer … and it is no surprise that the Dead Prez was right there with the people.