Ice Cube — A Bird in the Hand

[Intro: Big Bird] Say, look at this I've been cleaning out my nest, and I found an old book of my poetry [Verse: Ice Cube] Fresh out of school 'cause I was a high school grad Gots to get a job 'cause I was a high school dad Wish I got paid by rappin' to the nation But that's not likely, so here's my application Pass it to the man at AT&T 'Cause when I was in school I got the A.E.E But there's no SC for this youngsta I didn't have no money, so now I gotta punch the Clock, gotta slave, and be half a man But whitey says there's no room for the African Always knew that I would clock G's But welcome to McDonald's, "May I take your order, please?" Gotta serve ya food that might give you cancer 'Cause my son doesn't take no for an answer Now I pay taxes, that you never give me back What about diapers, bottles, and Similac? Do I have to sell me a whole lotta crack For decent shelter and clothes on my back? Or should I just wait for help from Bush? Or Jesse Jackson, and Operation PUSH? If you ask me the whole thing needs a douche A Massengill, what the hell Crack will sell in the neighborhood To the corner house bitches Miss Parker, little Joe, and Todd Bridges Or anybody that he know So I copped me a bird, better known as a kilo Now everybody know I went from po' To a nigga that got dough So now you put the feds against me 'Cause I couldn't follow the plan of the presidency I never get love again But blacks are too fuckin' broke to be Republican Now I remember, I used to be cool 'Til I stopped fillin' out my W-2 Now senators are gettin' high And your plan against the ghetto backfired So now you got a pep talk But sorry, this is our only room to walk 'Cause we don't want a drug push But a bird in the hand is worth more than a Bush [Outro] Tell the politicians, the hustlers Live and let live (Yeah) Tell the politicians, the hustlers Live and let live (Yeah)