Editor’s note: The state continues to weaponize rap lyrics to throw the book at young Black men, in particular. In 2017, a Louisiana judge told the artist YoungBoy Never Broke Again, then 17 years old, that his lyrics were making people die. “Your genre has normalized violence,” the judge continued. Today, we’re witnessing a similar attack, as rappers Young Thug and Gunna are held without bond in a RICO case that includes their lyrics as alleged evidence of conspiracy and “participation in criminal street activity.”
For incarcerated rappers like Lil Mobb, who has spent the entirety of his teenage years in Mississippi prisons, the state’s crackdown on freedom of expression concerns him: “I don’t want people to judge me by the music that I rap.” And still, penning lyrics and spitting them over a track has provided the 21-year-old with an outlet to reckon with the compounding violence and injustices that have shaped his life to date.
Here are three of his original songs, all recorded from the inside, offering a raw, unfiltered perspective on rappers who front in their songs, conflict resolution in prison, and anger with a system that’s stolen so many years away.
Spin on ’em
some shit on my mind I can’t talk about it
Said fuck it I gotta go rap
can’t get on bs cause I’m tryna go home
but ain’t nobody talking bout that ,
fuck it I’m with it with whoever
it’s a K for a Opp Ima die bout them 2 letters
Lil Mobb A Big Stepper ,
SURROUNDED by Niggas in prison with shanks
Make You Think You Better ,
back on my dumb shit
switch got a dick so (you know) Ima Cum quick
when I shoot, bitch I don’t miss
speaking on me that’s shit got yo brudda hit ,
And I’m back in my mode
scream Fuck all the opps
make me up the score
I done Been Down that road
Better Get You Some motion
Don’t die bout a hoe
making status and post ,
attitude with The money I had to get mo
up this bitch and unload
forever Gone spin till I wipe His nose
and it’s free all the bros
forever get money & hard on a ho
first day out with a pole
Ian going for nun put ts on the FOLKS ,
Fuck a diss
smoke on that boy how that blunt hit
spin onney block this my shit
Finna slide for them days I couldn’t, bitch ,
take you to Prison they ain’t got no guns at
But a whole lot of blood shed
10 niggas you gotta out think
might die inna blink
fuck it I’m use to that ,
The opps know wassup w me
the day we collide it’s gone be a first degree
& I’m knowing it ain’t me
keep that fye on my hip
In The hood like I’m waist deep ,
won’t let up
I’m stepping on FN neck all summer
riding with it on me
wherever I catch you at Nigga I strike my opponent
he don’t really want it
tuff on the internet but he done snitched on his homie ,
it ain’t nomo falling out
yea we Gone walk em down
Ian rapping ts here a promise ,
Big Dude
Bitch I’m the best
No pen ts from the chest
open yo legs and I want some neck
from the back I gotta make her wet 2x
Fuck a diss
smoke on that boy how that blunt hit
spin onney block this my shit
Finna slide for them days I couldn’t, bitch
Stepping On Shit
Stepping on shit
break my wrist from shooting sticks
Give 2 , fucks bout a bitch
but that hoe still can suck my dick ,
soak the game
now I be preaching shit
hoe I got deacon dick ,
cross me once then I delete a bitch
ian With That beefing Shit ,
He Gone rap like He want smoke
letbut his bitch ass work with the folks
why you clutching on poles if you ain’t never shot it Tho ? ,
niggas Be cap don’t wanna hear it
why you lying in your lyrics?
ain’t no pressure
Finna Spin the block and hit everyone near you,
Nigga’s bitchs
keep the fame, bitch, where my recognition?
Glock With switches
first day out I’m tryna Some onna fitty,
Keep The dissing
he tough on the net Gotta Get Up With em
pay attention
them chances i took yeah they kinda risky ,
Free Ceo
He Never Told
Cant Speak On The Other Folks ,
Bet Not Break The Code
Might Tag His Toe
Since 13 I had a pole ,
Pissed Off Cause We Seen Murder
When It’s Beef I’m Tryna Shirt’em ,
Walk Down Cos it’s Personal
I Gotta Hurt Em ,
Know what I’m on collect my funds it never stop
it’s blood on that body, lord, you can take me if it’s not
no noise with this suppressor and the switch came onna Glock
from the bottom to the top
left or right I clear the block
Thats On God
Next Up
forever Gone spin
we Gone spin on his block like a replay
Pull his card go Sell it on eBay
mouth closed i ain’t with the he-say ,
Fuck allat The linking I’m tryna Get Money
can’t say a trap but this bitch still jumping
solid yn turnt nothing to Some
whole lotta racks but I don’t gotta stunt
That’s on god
niggas be dissing me, ion trip
I don’t do the media, keep this in the streets
making 10 a week
fuck nigga add up getting money this really been in me ,
As part of Scalawag’s 3rd annual Abolition Week, pop justice is exclusively featuring perspectives from currently and formerly incarcerated folks and systems-impacted folks.
like Nike we all bout a check
that’s the main reason I’m keeping my foot On They neck
uuhn she say I’m the best
10 inches of dick bih give my respect
PRESSURE
I put them switches on glocks guaranteed to be smoking a Opp
first day out, Got The city on lock
Got Some Shit On My chest To Get Off
On God ,
H was e ain’t bout that bitch all talk if it’s smoke Lmk When You cough 😷 , his head I’m taking it off if he think bout running his mouth ,
Waiting on my get back
And it’s pressure, pull up first day out
Finna give him Shìt bag
yea let me get that
for them shootings and ain’t never killing
Shìt I want my lick back ,
& I’m dying bout my brothers
idgaf I put nothing above em
ain’t a bitch that I’m trusting,
I Be chasing that money Ian going fa nothing ,
forever Gone spin
we Gone spin on his block like a replay
Pull his card go Sell it on eBay
mouth closed i ain’t with the he-say ,
Fuck allat The linking I’m tryna Get Money
can’t say a trap but this bitch still jumping
solid yn turnt nothing to Some
whole lotta racks but I don’t gotta stunt
That’s on god
