Royce da 5'9"

Released: February 21, 2020

Featuring: Ashley Sorrell

Songwriter: S1 WU10 Uncle EJ Ashley Sorrell Royce da 5'9"

Producer: Royce da 5'9"

[Intro]
(Let my people go)
(Let my people go)

[Verse 1: Ashley Sorrell]
Oh, first off, free Juan, free Brian, and free Jig
Behind bars, doin' bids, locked up on "he say, she say" shit
Separated from they kids, the system's sick
We guilty before we can prove our innocence
Because it's lucrative
The more bodies in cells, the more they can make sales
To get more sales, it makes no sense
And recklin' the major detention center
Won't give their inmates no heat or medical attention
They lie to the masses and downplay their livin' conditions
But steady, they buildin' more prison cells
And increasin' college tuition, closin' down neighborhood schools
They strip away tools, we're still gon' go teachin' them shit they can use
When it's all said and done

[Chorus: Ashley Sorrell & Royce da 5'9"]
Ring, ding, dong
Ring, di-ding, ding-ding, dong
The bell is ringin', the clock is tickin'
We need to change the way we livin' and how we thinkin'
Ring, ding, dong (Uh)
Ring, di-ding, ding-ding, dong
To our people on high positions
Ain't assistin' bein' a house nigga
How you a public figure only worried 'bout your figure?
Free (That's real spirit, Ash)
Let my people free (Lord, physically, spiritually)
Let my people—

[Post-Chorus: Royce da 5'9"]
I had a nightmare the other night
That all of my prayers were denied
When you look toward a savage nation for humanity
Which one do you want more, the validation or reality?
Let my people free

[Verse 2: Royce da 5'9"]
Yeah, let my people free
I rap for the night Big L and Big and Pac got killed, uh
I know some street niggas that's real
I know some regular niggas who just as real
Some legends who never popped that steel
Street niggas who rap as ill, real life, they not that ill
Niggas with record deals, real life, they contract kill
Niggas who kill to survive, niggas who kill just to kill
A lot of niggas probably want you to die just 'cause you're dressed to kill (Survive that shit)
Your final day might be the day that you finally made it
Only Gucci we acknowledge around this way is Radric Davis
Only thing fly around this way, hollow tips, I dodge that shit
Gave my nigga three to five for marijuana and legalized that shit

[Chorus: Ashley Sorrell]
Ring, ding, dong
Ring, di-ding, ding-ding, dong
The bell is ringin', the clock is tickin'
We need to change the way we livin' and how we thinkin'
Uh, ring, ding, dong
Ring, di-ding, ding-ding, dong
To our people on high positions
Ain't assistin' bein' a house nigga
How you a public figure only worried 'bout your figure?
Free (Free)
Let my people free
Let my people—

[Post-Chorus: Royce da 5'9"]
I had a nightmare the other night
That all of my prayers were denied
When you look toward a savage nation for humanity
Which one do you want more, the validation or reality?
Let my people free
Let my people free
Let my people free
Let my people free

[Outro: Royce da 5'9"]
My appreciation goes out to
Rizza Islam, David Banner, Derrick Grace, Mike Eric Dyson
D.L. Hughley, T.I.P., Clarence Avant, Steve Carless, Pharrell
Killer Mike, Jay-Z, Dave Chappelle, Jemele Hill
And a special shout out and thank you to Ice T and Ice Cube
For putting your platform on the line
So we could say whatever we want on our platform
You are appreciated

Royce da 5'9", real name Ryan Daniel Montgomery, is undoubtedly one of the underground rap kings of Detroit. The Michigan MC is a long-time collaborator of Eminem’s, meeting him in December 1997, and is noted as one of the greatest lyricists in hip-hop’s history (in 2012, The Source ranked him as the 48th greatest lyricist of all time in their top 50, this questionable ranking unsurprisingly being scrutinized by many as a gross misjudgment).

Although critics have previously cast shade on his ability to create a well-rounded body of work, many, critics included, considered his sophomore effort, Death is Certain (2004), to be a strong album. To learn more in-depth about his solo discography, read this page (the page listed is old, so it is not updated).

Royce is the Bad half of Bad Meets Evil (with Eminem), ¼ of Slaughterhouse (alongside Crooked I KXNG CROOKED, Joe Budden and Joell Ortiz), and ½ of PRhyme (with DJ Premier). Royce currently operates a independent record label, Bad Half Entertainment.

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