War At 33 1/3
Public Enemy · Fear of a Black Planet [1990]
I got quick and clever at the level
Of a scientist with this list
My fist pumps, chumps and don't miss
Sorry majority grudgin' against the enemy
And any other nigger wit an attitude see
And any other rapper whose a brother
Who try to speak to one another
Gets smothered by the other kind
No so divine so I heard it through the grapevine
Sent the feds out to get mine
Time yo-yo to go Bronco in 90-91
Laughin' while they're searchin' for my 98
Accelerate the race from the chase
Looka my face
It ain't hate but they don't want a debate
To take great
Can I live my life without 'em treatin'?
Every brother like me, like we're holdin'
A knife alright time to smack Uncle Sam
Don't give a damn, look at the flag
My bloods a flood without credit
Black and close to the edit
I fed it, you read it, just remember who said it
War at 33 1/3 not really live, I rather do it at 45
Went west in the quest for my intelligence
Climbed a fence took a teacher on
Ain't seen him since, hence he winced
And convinced that the Black
Was back revolving to a renaissance
Bronze to gold I told felt bold
Taught a so called teacher our role
In civilizin' the whole globe
Banned unplanned as I said
I don't break down religion why?
There ain't a smidgen for a pigeon
Nature for bird, dog, worm or lion
So my question to man is, so why the lyin'?
God's law I saw is natural factual
Only man creates a waste
Defiance in his haste
Based on scheme a scam
From some mastermind damn if we read it
And we see it and still be blind
No need to search a fake church
Evangelical, huster
Anglo taxin' to muscle ya
Check I wreck you guess yes
All the bullshit now that's progress
War At 33 1/3
Public Enemy's "War At 33 1/3" stands as a defining track on the landmark album Fear of a Black Planet, released in 1990. This hip-hop classic blends aggressive rap delivery with a driving, industrial-tinged beat that exemplifies the group's signature sound. The song serves as a powerful commentary on the escalating tensions of the early 1990s, reflecting the era's social unrest through a lens of urgency and political awareness. Produced with the band's characteristic intensity, the recording captures the raw energy that propelled Public Enemy to the forefront of hip-hop culture. It remains a cornerstone of their discography, illustrating how the genre evolved to address pressing societal issues while maintaining a distinct musical identity.