This song formulates an attack on the American dream and the ideas it represents. The speaker describes an urban environment which has been ruined by violence, used by criminals and metered out by police and the system they represent. He describes his loss of optimism as more innocent people are caught up in wars which America’s leaders appear to have no interest in ending. He highlights money as one cause for this pain but also points out the ongoing issues with race, poverty, inequality, and drugs/alcohol which cause so much suffering. The speaker also draws a comparison between the wars America fights overseas and the wars it fights against its Black citizens domestically; alluding to the fact they they are one and the same – products of the military industrial complex, racism, and global hegemony. He hopes that with wisdom and education a better future can be found; but says for now the American dream is a nightmare. This critique is rich with religious allegory, metaphors, euphemisms, symbolism; all bound by creative rhythms and a novel rhyme scheme.
Link to Lyrics: https://genius.com/6498208
Humanity4HipHop 