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Credits
PERFORMING ARTISTS
Nas
Vocals
Richard Pryor
Sampled Artist
Slick Rick
Sampled Artist
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Kanye West
Songwriter
Nasir Jones
Songwriter
Ricky M.L. Walters
Songwriter
Richard Pryor
Songwriter
Che Smith
Songwriter
Andrew Dawson
Songwriter
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Kanye West
Producer
Zack Djurich
Engineer
Sean Solymar
Engineer
Noah Goldstein
Engineer
Jenna Felsenthal
Assistant Recording Engineer
Andrew Dawson
Mixing Engineer
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Cops used to come around, you know, my neighborhood
"Alright, you kids, stop having so much fun, move along"
Oh they'd arrest me, you know, especially at night
They had a curfew, **** had to be home at 11, negros, 12
And you'd be trying to get home, you know, doing your crew runs
And they'd always catch you out in front of a store or somethin'
'Cause you'd be taking shortcuts, right?
Cops, "Put your hands up, black boy"
[Verse 2]
The cops shot the kid, the cops shot the kid, the cops shot
The cops shot the kid, the cops shot the kid, the cops shot
The cops shot the kid, the cops shot the kid, the cops shot
The cops shot the kid, the cops shot the kid, the cops shot
[Verse 3]
I don't wanna hurt nobody
We just came here to party
See a few dames, exchange some names
I'm a top shotta, kid, stay in your lane
The cop shot the kid, same old scene
Pour out a little liquor, champagne for pain
[Verse 4]
Slap-boxing in the street
Crack the hydrant in the heat
The cop cars on the creep
Doin' they round-ups, we just watch for the sweep
Yeah, it's hotter than July
It's the summer when **** die
It's the summer when **** ride
Together we be strong, but forever we divide
[Verse 5]
So y'all are blowin' my high
Type of shit that's killin' my vibe
White kids are brought in alive
Black kids get hit with like five
Get scared, you panic, you're goin' down
The disadvantages of the brown
How in the hell the parents gon' bury they own kids
Not the other way around?
Reminds me of Emmett Till
Let's remind 'em why Kap kneels
[Verse 6]
The cops shot the kid, the cops shot the kid, the cops shot
The cops shot the kid, the cops shot the kid, the cops shot
The cops shot the kid, the cops shot the kid, the cops shot
The cops shot the kid, the cops shot the kid, the cops shot
[Verse 7]
The cops shot the kid, the cops shot the kid, the cops shot
The cops shot the kid, the cops shot the kid, the cops shot
The cops shot the kid, the cops shot the kid, the cops shot
The cops shot the kid, I still hear him scream
[Verse 8]
Stay tuned up and down your timeline
This fake news, people is all lyin'
Money is bein' made when a mom cries
Won't be satisfied till we all die
Tell me, who do we call to report crime
If 9-1-1 doin' the drive-by?
It's certain things I can't abide by
I ain't bein' extreme, this is my side
[Verse 9]
Talkin' big shit, ready to die
I know every story got two sides
Claimin' he paranoid by the black guy
Cop wanna make it home by night time
Just a good kid, he wasn't that guy
Had a little hit, he wasn't that high
Cop gon' claim that it was self-defense
Say he was ridin' dirty so the case rests
[Verse 10]
The cops shot the kid, the cops shot the kid, the cops shot (Workin' 9 to 5)
The cops shot the kid, the cops shot the kid, the cops shot (Tryna stay alive)
The cops shot the kid, the cops shot the kid, the cops shot (Makin' ends meet)
The cops shot the kid, the cops shot the kid, the cops shot (Shot him this week)
[Verse 11]
The cops shot the kid, the cops shot the kid, the cops shot
The cops shot the kid, the cops shot the kid, the cops shot
The cops shot the kid, the cops shot the kid, the cops shot
The cops shot the kid, I still hear him scream
Written by: Andrew Dawson, Che Smith, GOLDSTEIN NOAH D, Kanye West, Nasir Jones, Richard Pryor, Ricky M.L. Walters