“We Will Not,” T.I. Harris
T.I. might be one of the forefathers of Trap music, but there is a socially conscious side to his life’s grand hustle that distinguishes him from the lot. Push aside some of the chauvinistic rhetoric he has espoused or the cloud of controversy that seems to follow him where ever he goes, the Atlanta native wants his people to win.
“We Will Not” tells us also that he wants those who have oppressed us to know that with our winning, there are things that won’t be tolerated.
Unlike other trap anthems that we’ve grown accustomed to hearing from Tip, in this song we get to experience the man he is growing into. As a father and husband, we see him take a no nonsense approach to addressing the mood of the times. Rather than call out the police or the government, he elects to address the people.
Withing the song, he also provides some simple instructions on what we must do to bring about substantial change to out community and what things will not be tolerated.
“All you youngin’s out here in the streets only want to shoot people who look like you … You can stay home, you weak too … Oh no, we will not go and repeat the mistakes of the past … Ignorin’ the snakes in the grass … Payin’ you cash … Still we pray and we fast … Till one day that’s your @ss … We will not ask for no war … No-no-no, but we will be prepared for one … Hoppin’ out with a gun … With the unity, using the same shit you did to destroy me … We sick of the garbage you kickin’ and teachin’, and lynchin’ us … Lockin’ us up for no reason, they killin’ us.”
The song addresses the taking out of Black and Brown leaders by racialized systems who want our voices silenced and the value of Black bodies in America. His frustrations burst at points in the song, but is thinly veiled by that collected cool that is expected from the “King of the South.”
Assassinate all the leaders who leadin’ us … Leave us with ones who misleadin’ us … Then go and reward all the ones who mistreat us … And leave us in projects and give us these poisonous products … On top of narcotics to push to our sisters and brothers … Like them ain’t our sisters and brothers … No we will not be run amuck, led astray … Or bamboozled, the buck’ll be stoppin’ today … See what happen when athletes’ll no longer play for you … Tell them accountants to pray for you … On respect or just respect what that paper’ll do … Look up, it too late for you … Droppin’ you off … Turnin’ them profit to loss.
The commodification of Black bodies is probably the most important “ah ha” moment in the song. T.I., ironically, sees this is his personal life now. When the monkey suit doesn’t fit anymore, you know longer will be their Curious George but will appear to be their King Kong. The rapper reminds us that King Kong has nothing on him!