Originally Posted by VEGANGELICA

"99 Problems" - Jay-Z

The cleverly constructed lyrics below show the frustration of racial profiling so well!

This rap song impressed me as soon as I heard it because the song makes me imagine clearly how it feels to be seen as guilty until proven innocent. The song gives me just what I like: meaningful lyrics with a compelling storyline and an "I'm not going to take your crap" attitude.

Of course the irony is that the song lyrics may have been based on a true story in which there really *were* drugs in the car! So, the police officer's suspicions were justified. However, civil rights are civil rights and they apply to everyone.

From Wikipedia: "Jay-Z wrote that in 1994 he was pulled over by police while carrying cocaine in a secret compartment in his sunroof. Jay-Z refused to let the police search the car and the police called for the drug sniffing dogs. However, the dogs never showed up and the police had to let Jay-Z go. Moments after he drove away, he wrote that he saw a police car with the dogs drive by."

Apparently, the "bitch" in the song refers to the police dog : "The chorus 'If you're having girl problems, I feel bad for you son/I've got 99 problems but a bitch ain't one' was defined in Jay-Z's book, Decoded, as referring to a police dog." 99 Problems - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

* * * * *

The year is ninety-four, in my trunk is raw
In my rear view mirror is the mother****in' law
Got two choices y'all, pull over the car or
Bounce on the Devil, put the pedal to the floor

And I ain't tryin' to see no highway chase with Jake
Plus I got a few dollars, I can fight the case
So I pull over to the side of the road
Son do you know why I'm stoppin' you for?

'Cause I'm young and I'm black and my hat's real low
Or do I look like a mind reader sir? I don't know
Am I under arrest or should I guess some mo'?
Well you was doin fifty-five in the fifty-four (<-- This line especially shows the injustice of the situation. A great line!)

License and registration and step out of the car
Are you carryin' a weapon on you? I know a lot of you are
I ain't steppin' out of ****, all my papers legit
Well do you mind if I look around the car a little bit?

Well my glove compartment is locked, so is the trunk in the back
And I know my rights, so you gon' need a warrant for that (<-- Oooo! Defending his rights! I like that.)
Aren't you sharp as a tack, you should try out
For lawyer or somethin', somebody important or somethin'

Child I ain't passed the bar, but I know a little bit
Enough that you won't illegally search my **** (<-- Knowledge IS power. This is another great line in the song.)
Well we'll see how smart you are when the canine comes
I got 99 problems, but a bitch ain't one


Jay z - 99 problems lyrics - YouTube