Day 90, Song 110

Stop the Violence Movement

Self Destruction

Stop the Violence was comprised of KRS-One, D-Nice, Ms. Melodie, Stetsasonic, Kool Moe Dee, MC Lyte, Doug E. Fresh, Just-Ice, Heavy D, and Public Enemy.

Founded by KRS-One, the Stop the Violence Movement was a group of high profile East Coast rappers who banded together to protest violence in the hip hop community. The group released the single featured here in 1988. The song samples "You Can Have Watergate, Just Gimme Some Bucks & I'll Be Straight" by the JB's. All proceeds from the recording were donated to the National Urban League.

Lyrics

[Hook] Self destruction, you're headed for self destruction [KRS-One] Well, today's topic, self destruction It really ain't the rap audience that's bugging It's one or two suckers, ignorant brothers Trying to rob and steal from one another You get caught in the mid So to crush the stereotype here's what we did We got ourselves together So that you could unite and fight for what's right Not negative cause the way we live is positive We don't kill our relatives [MC Delite] Pop pop pop One is shot who's to blame? Headlines, front page, and rap's the name MC Delite here to state the bottom line That black-on-black crime was way before our time [Kool Moe Dee] Took a brother's life with a knife as his wife Cried cause he died a trifling death When he left his very last breath Was "I slept so watch your step" Back in the sixties our brothers and sisters were hanged How could you gang-bang? I never ever ran from the Ku Klux Klan And I shouldn't have to run from a black man Cause that's [Hook] [MC Lyte] Funky fresh dressed to impress, ready to party Money in your pocket, dying to move your body To get inside you paid the whole ten dollars Scotch taped with a razor blade taped to your collar Leave the guns and the crack and the knives alone MC Lyte's on the microphone Bum rushing and crushing, snatching and taxing I cram to understand why brother's don't be maxing There's only one disco, they'll close one more You ain't guarding the door, so what you got a gun for? Do you rob the rich and give to the poor? Yo Daddy-O, school em some more [Daddy-O, Wise] Straight from the mouth of Wise and Daddy-o Do a crime end up in jail and gotta go Cause you could do crime and get paid today And tomorrow you're behind bars in the worst way Far from your family, cause you're locked away Now tell me, do you really think crime pays? Scheming on taking what your brother has? You little suckers.. you're talkin' all that jazz [D-Nice] It's time to stand together in a unity Cause if not then we're soon to be Self-destroyed, unemployed The rap race will be lost without a trace Or a clue but what to do Is stop the violence and kick the science Down the road that we call eternity Where knowledge is formed and you'll learn to be Self-sufficient, independent To teach to each is what rap intended But society wants to invade So do not walk this path they laid It's [Hook] [Ms. Melodie] I'm Ms. Melodie and I'm a born again rebel The violence in rap must cease and settle If we want to develop and grow to another level We can't be guinea pigs for the devil The enemy knows, they're no fools Because everyone knows that hip-hop rules So we gotta get a grip and grab what's wrong The opposition is weak and rap is strong [Doug E. Fresh] This is all about, no doubt, to stop violence But first let's have a moment of silence *Fresh beatboxes*... swing Things been stated re-educated, evaluated Thoughts of the past have faded The only thing left is the memories of our belated And I hate it, when Someone dies and gets all hurt up For a silly gold chain by a chump; word up It doesn't make you a big man, and To want to go out and dis your brother man, and You don't know that's part of the plan Why? Cause rap music is in full demand Understand [Hook] [Just-Ice] My name is Just-Ice -- a man not a prankster I was known as the gangster But believe me that is no fun The time is now to unite everyone You don't have to be soft to be for peace Robbing and killing and murdering is the least You don't have to be chained by the beast But party people it's time I release! [Heavy D] Aiyyo here's the situation: idiodicy Nonsense, violence, not a good policy Therefore we must ignore, fighting and fussing Heavy's at the door so there'll be no bum-rushing Let's get together or we'll be falling apart I heard a brother shot another, it broke my heart I don't understand the difficulty, people Love your brother, treat him as an equal They call us animals -- mmm mmm, I don't agree with them I'll prove them wrong, but right is what your proving them Take heed before I lead to what I'm saying Or we'll all be on our knees, praying [Fruitkwan] Yo Heavy D, deep in the heart of the matter The self-destruction is served on a platter Making a day not failing to anticipate They got greedy so they fell for the bait That makes them a victim, picked then plucked New jack in jail, but to the vets they're a duck There's no one to rob, cause in jail you're a number They never took the time to wonder about [Hook] [Chuck D, Flavor Flav] Yes we urge to merge we live for the love Of our people the hope that they get along (Yeah, so we did a song) Getting the point to our brothers and sisters Who don't know the time (boyyyee, so we wrote a rhyme) It's dead in your head, you know, I'll drive to build And collect ourselves with intellect, come on To revolve to evolve to self-respect Cause we got to keep ourselves in check Or else it's [Hook]