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As you listen to the song, follow along reading the lyrics and highlight examples of injustice. At the end, try to determine the song’s message.
The Song
Black Entrepreneur (2020) by Pharrell Williams ft Jay-Z
I am black ambition
I am always whisperin'
They keep tellin' me I will not
But my will won't listen
Gravity on a black man
With everything on his back and
His family and passion
If the doors ain't crackin'
You gotta let go (let go)
If you wanna fly, take the leap
You gotta risk it all (risk it all)
Or there'll be lots of things you'll never see
You gotta let, let go
'Cause you never know
What's in store
Mr. Entrepreneur
In this position with no choice
A system imprison young black boys
Distract with white noise
The brainwashed become hype boys
Third eye dilate
You ain't supposed to make it off Section 8
Robbin' Peter just to pay Paul
Prepare to risk everything
You need to let go (let go)
If you wanna fly, take the leap
You gotta risk it all (risk it all)
Or there'll be lots of things you'll never see
Remember, black is space
And it's the color of your face
There will be no sunny days
If Black went away
[Chorus]
Black man, Black man, Black man
Black man, Black man, Black man
Black man, Black man, Black man
Black man, Black man, Black man
Black man, Black man, Black man
Black man, Black man, Black man
Black man, Black man, Black man
Black man, Black man, Black man
Black man, Black man, Black man
Black man, Black man, Black man
Black man, Black man, Black man
Black man, Black man, Black man
Black man, Black man, Black man
Black man, Black man, Black man
Black man, Black man, black man
Black man, Black man, Black man
Don't go chasin' waterfalls
Please stick to the drip that you're used to
They don't make 'em like they used to
Uh, lies told to you
Through YouTubes and Hulus
Shows with no hues that look like you do
Black Twitter, what's that?
When Jack gets paid, do you?
For every one Gucci, support two FUBU's
Sippin' Crip-a-Cola
Consumer and a owner
'Til we all vertically integrated from the floor up
D'Ussé pour up
Sip Ace 'til I throw up
Like gang signs, 'cept I bang mines for both ya
Serial entrepreneur, we on our own
Stop sittin' around waitin' for folks to throw you a bone
If you can't buy the building, at least stock the shelf (word)
Then keep on stacking 'til you stocking for yourself, uh
See everything you place after black
Is too small a term to completely describe the act
Black nation, Black builder, Black entrepreneur
You in the presence of Black excellence and I'm on the board, Lord
[Repeat Chorus]
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Chad Hugo / Pharrell L. Williams / Shawn C. Carter
Entrepreneur lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Concord Music Publishing LLC