For some rappers/poets in the 90’s social consciousness and hip hop were synonymous. One of the greatest and most respected artists from that era of hip hop is Scarface. On top of his solo career, Scarface is also a member a rap group named the Geto Boys.
Scarface has many songs that touch on issues that are a direct result of the socio-economic conditions African Americans live under in inner cities including Houston, where Scarface is from.
The song that I wanted to focus on today is titled “Now I feel Ya”, a beautiful song about growing up and viewing issues that plague his community from a more mature perspective than he did during his childhood.
I wanted to focus on the 3rd verse of this song. In this verse, Face, as some call him, touches on everyday reality for black men and women coming from these communities. Police brutality and black on black violence are highlighted in this verse.
If one just pays attention to the broken English and cuss words, of course this song would simply be labeled as gangster rap and any intellectual findings within this song would be written off. In reality this song is giving a very vivid image of situations that come about in the black community.
“Now I feel ya”
Now I’m twenty-two and finally got a grip on life
It’s nineteen ninety-three, I put away my pocket knife
And got a bigger stick to fight with
I’m young and black so my choice ain’t a nightstick
Because we livin’ in a concentration set
And everyday, we face to face with death
I seen my homies go and come
And judgement day is just somethin we can’t run from
So I know my number’s comin’ up
So I gotta protect myself from suckers who be runnin’ up
And even though I hate killin’ off my own kind
I gotta be a man and as a man I’m a defend mine
My brother Quanell’s tryin’ to keep the neighbourhood at peace
Don’t fight each other, we gots ta stand and fight the beast
So united we stand but we gonna fall quick
Because we always tryin to take another brother’s shit
And the cops is in the same vote
Just because we comin’ up quick they think we slang dope
They shootin’ ta kill, they gats ain’t sparkin’ duds
They shot my long time partner Rudy in cold blood
And now the story’s all twisted up
And if they gave the cop the chair
I really wouldn’t give a fuck
Because she left my partner’s family with memories
And after hearin’ this I know you don’t remember me
But yet in still I find it hard for me to stay in touch
I see his parents and then I started breakin’ up
Because I know what you did was wrong
But you won’t realize until you dead and gone
It ain’t no justifiable homicide, you never gave a warning
You straight up shot him from behind
But all the cryin’ in the world ain’t gonna bring him back
You give a gat to a black he don’t know how to act
But you gotta tell your story to the judge
Not the imitation judge, the judge that everybody loves
And if the man upstairs grants you forgiveness
Then in reality you took care of your business
But regardless I know you wanna kill me
But I ain’t goin’ out like dat
Ya feel me?