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Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
Brand Nubian
Brand Nubian
Programming
Alamo
Alamo
Programming
Diamond D
Diamond D
Programming
Grand Puba
Grand Puba
Programming
Buck Wild
Buck Wild
Programming
O. Gee
O. Gee
Programming
Chris "Suga" Liggio
Chris "Suga" Liggio
Programming
Lord Finesse
Lord Finesse
Programming
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Lorenzo Dechalus
Lorenzo Dechalus
Composer
Willie Dixon
Willie Dixon
Composer
K. Jones
K. Jones
Lyrics
Derek Murphy
Derek Murphy
Composer
Grover Washington, Jr.
Grover Washington, Jr.
Composer
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Brand Nubian
Brand Nubian
Mixing Engineer
Alamo
Alamo
Producer
Drew Dixon
Drew Dixon
Executive Producer
Jeff Dixon
Jeff Dixon
Executive Producer
Jim Albert
Jim Albert
Recording Engineer
Brian Garten
Brian Garten
Recording Engineer
Dave Hyman
Dave Hyman
Recording Engineer
Tom Leinbach
Tom Leinbach
Recording Engineer
Eddie Sancho
Eddie Sancho
Recording Engineer
Kirk Yano
Kirk Yano
Recording Engineer
Andrew Blakelock
Andrew Blakelock
Mixing Engineer
Diamond D
Diamond D
Mixing Engineer
DJ Premier
DJ Premier
Mixing Engineer
Jason Goldstein
Jason Goldstein
Mixing Engineer
Ken "Duro" Ifill
Ken "Duro" Ifill
Mixing Engineer
Matt Stein
Matt Stein
Mixing Engineer
Patrick Viala
Patrick Viala
Mixing Engineer
Fred Hedemark
Fred Hedemark
Assistant Engineer
Bill Importico
Bill Importico
Assistant Engineer
Jason Stasium
Jason Stasium
Assistant Engineer
Dexter Thibou
Dexter Thibou
Assistant Engineer
Grand Puba
Grand Puba
Assistant Engineer
Artese Williams
Artese Williams
Assistant Engineer
Tom Coyne
Tom Coyne
Mastering Engineer

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Yeah
Then they say probable cause
Probable cause
You don't have to break no laws, they say probable cause
(Probable cause)
Probable cause, probable cause
You don't have to break no laws, they say probable cause
[Verse 2]
Now who's this **** in the four point six?
About twenty to five, got a truck full of chicks
Just leavin' the disco, me and my man from the Knicks
Oak Dog, later on because they live in the bricks
Jumped on the George Washington and now Jeru' turnpike
Head feelin' right from a long-ass night
Whoa, I see Jake so I let off the gas
So I was doin' fifty five when I passed his ass
Looked over, caught the shine from the rim of the Rover
You know his next move, pull it over
I pulls over to the right-hand shoulder
Look through the rearview, he got his hand on his holster
He had this look, "How this black **** get this car?"
You know these crackers, State Troopers don't know rap stars
He asked me for my license and my registration
Seen my New York tags and he asked my my destination
I said, "Vacation," handed him my registration
Papers were straight so I didn't wet the situation
Got my shit back and that was that but that wasn't that
'Cause in fact I got stopped two more times 'cause
[Verse 3]
Probable cause, probable cause
You don't have to break no laws, they say probable cause
Probable cause, probable cause
You don't have to break no laws, they say probable cause
Probable cause, probable cause
You don't have to break no laws, they say probable cause
Probable cause, probable cause
You don't have to break no laws, they say probable cause
[Verse 4]
It feel like my hands stay tied, 'cause in New York State
And they childcare rate, Miss Judge Lady in a courtroom can dictate
A fee for me to pay monthly, even suggested that I be arrested
They don't count the time invested or the bond beyond the money
They hit you with arrears bad enough to bring tears
They been on my back for years fuckin' with my license
And every time I'm stopped by Dick I see the booking
That makin' me violent in this wilderness land
Now can we talk for a minute?
'Cause we both made this child, can we leave support alone?
Please take me off of that file, 'cause every time I see the court
My blood pressure rise and a heart attack is a killer of black guys
I stay civilized, maintain, sometimes restrain myself
A court officer is near me but I think he fear me
[Verse 5]
'Cause it's probable cause, probable cause
You don't have to break no laws, they just say probable cause
Probable cause, probable cause
You don't have to break no laws, they say probable cause
Probable cause, probable cause
You don't have to break no laws, they say probable cause
Probable cause, probable cause (True indeed, dog)
You don't have to break no laws, they just say probable cause
[Verse 6]
Yo, on October 22nd we wore black for all **** po-po shot in the back
Robocops with the crack, they'll never get props
From the black folks, lock us up while they crack jokes
And stack notes while we payin' the bail
Knowin' damn well a ****'s gonna stay in the jail
It's all made for us to fail, the dog is smarter than the tail
But if the tail were smarter it would wag the dog
I can't wait till we bag the hog, New York state of mind
Doesn't mind murderin' my kind
We even got our own convertin' across the line
He turned swine, guess his ass'll learn when he burn
They say, "Protect and to serve" and never give the people
The respect they deserve as if they wasn't equal
These is man-made laws selectively applied
All they need is probable cause for me to fry
[Verse 7]
Probable cause, probable cause
You don't have to break no laws, they say probable cause
Probable cause, probable cause
You don't have to break no laws, they say probable cause
Probable cause, probable cause
You don't have to break no laws, they say probable cause
Probable cause, probable cause
You don't have to break no laws, they say probable cause
[Verse 8]
I ain't do shit
Jake's lock a **** with a weed clip
Couldn't believe it when he took me in
Threw me and my man up in the van
A seven-hour stand ridin' around watchin' them arouse the black man
I had the afghan I just copped from the record shop
Took it up the block, my usual spot, when I roll a L
I never expected to go to jail, I wish they'd all go to hell
Now Giuliani wanna talk about the quality of life
Think he got the right to follow me at night with no
Probable cause, other than my skin is black like yours
Now they got me in the beast, sittin' right in his jaws
Of the Central Booking, yo, people lookin'
Knowin' that I'm in the rap game and I got trapped the same way
They did, you know these motherfuckers don't play, kid
A little smoke caught me for a three-day bid
'Cause it's
[Verse 9]
Probable cause, probable cause
You don't have to break no laws, they say probable cause
Probable cause, probable cause
You don't have to break no laws, they say probable cause
Probable cause, probable cause
You don't have to break no laws, they say probable cause
Probable cause, probable cause
You don't have to break no laws, they say probable cause
Written by: Derek Murphy, Grover Washington, Jr., K. Jones, Lorenzo Dechalus, Willie Dixon
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