[Intro: Malcolm X]

We all agree, tonight—all of the speakers have agreed that America has a very serious problem. Not only does America have a very serious problem, but our people have a very serious problem. America's problem is

[Refrain]

Self-destruction, you're headed for self-destruction

Self-destruction, you're headed for self-destruction

Self-destruction, you're headed for self-destruction

Self-destruction, you're headed for self-destruction

[Verse 1: KRS-One]

Well, today's topic, self-destruction

It really ain't the rap audience that's buggin'

It's one or two suckers, ignorant brothers

Trying to rob and steal from one another

You get caught in the mid

So to crush that stereotype, here's what we did

We got ourselves together

So that you could unite and fight for what's right

Not negative 'cause the way we live is positive

We don't kill our relatives

[Verse 2: MC Delite]

Pop, pop, pop, when it's shot, who's to blame?

Headlines, front page, and rap's the name

MC Delite here to state the bottom line

The black-on-black crime was way before our time

[Verse 3: Kool Moe Dee]

Took a brother's life with a knife as his wife

Cried 'cause he died a trifling death

When he left, his very last breath

Was, "I slept, so watch your step"

Back in the '60s, our brothers and sisters were hanged

How could you gang-bang?

I never ever ran from the Ku Klux Klan

And I shouldn't have to run from a black man

'Cause that's

[Refrain]

Self-destruction, you're headed for self-destruction

Self-destruction, you're headed for self-destruction

Self-destruction, you're headed for self-destruction

Self-destruction, you're—

[Interlude]

Uno, dos, tres, cuatro

[Verse 4: MC Lyte]

Funky fresh, dressed to impress, ready to party

Money in your pocket, dyin' to move your body

To get inside, you paid a whole ten dollars

Scotch taped with a razor blade taped to your collar

Leave the guns and the crack and the knives alone

MC Lyte's on the microphone

Bum rushing and pushing, snatching and taxing

I cram to understand why brothers don't be maxing

There's only one disco, they'll close one more

You ain't guarding the door, so what you got a gun for?

Do you rob the rich and give to the poor?

Yo, Daddy-O, school them some more

[Verse 5: Daddy-O, Wise, Daddy-O & Wise, & D-Nice]

Spittin'-spittin'-spittin' straight from the mouth of Wise and Daddy-O

Do a crime, end up in jail and gotta go

'Cause you could do crime and get paid today

And tomorrow you're behind bars in the worst way

Far from your family 'cause you're locked away

Now tell me, do you really think crime pays?

Schemin' on taking what your brother has?

You little sucker, you're talkin' all that jazz

[Verse 6: D-Nice]

It's time to stand together in a unity

'Cause if not, then, yo, we're soon to be

Self-destroyed, unemployed

The rap race will be lost without a trace

Or a clue, but what to do

Is stop the violence and kick the science

Down a road that we call eternity

Where knowledge is formed and you learn to be

Self-sufficient, independent

To teach to each is what rap intended

But society wants to invade

So do not walk this path that they laid, it's

[Refrain]

Self-destruction, you're headed for self-destruction

Self-destruction (D-Nice, break it down like this)

[Bridge]

Children grow and women produce

And men go work and some do stealing

[Refrain]

Self-destruction, you're headed for self-destruction

Self-destruction, you're—

[Verse 7: Ms. Melodie]

I'm Ms. Melodie, and I'm a born-again rebel

The violence in rap must cease and seckle

If we wanna develop and grow to another level

We can't be guinea pigs for the devil

The enemy knows, they're no fools

Because everyone knows that hip-hop rules

So we gotta get a grip and grab what's wrong

The opposition is weak and rap is strong

[Verse 8: Doug E. Fresh]

This is all about, no doubt, to stop violence

But first, let's have a moment of silence

Swing, things been stated, re-educated, evaluated

Thoughts of the past have faded

The only thing left is the memories of our related

And I hate it when someone dies and get all hurt up

For a silly gold chain while they choke (Word up)

It doesn't make you a big man (And)

To wanna go and diss your brother, man (And)

You don't know that's part of the plan (Why?)

'Cause rap music is in full demand, understand?

[Refrain]

Self-destruction, you're headed for self-destruction

[Verse 9: Just-Ice]

My name is Just-Ice, a man, not a prankster

I was known as the gangster

But, believe me, that is no fun

The time is now to unite everyone

You don't have to be soft to be for peace

Robbing and killing and murdering is the least

You don't have to be chained by the beast

But party people, it's time I release

[Verse 10: Heavy D]

Ayo, here's the situation, idiocy

Nonsense, violence, not a good policy

Therefore, we must ignore fighting 'n' fussing

Heavy's at the door, so there'll be no bum rushing

Let's get together because we're falling apart

I heard a brother shot another, it broke my heart

I don't understand the difficulty, people

Love your brother, treat him as an equal

They called us animals, mm-mm, I don't agree with them

I'll prove 'em wrong, but right is what you're provin' 'em

Take heed before I lead through what I'm sayin'

Or we'll all be on our knees, praying

[Verse 11: Frukwan]

Yo, Heavy D, deep in the heart of the matter

Their self-destruction is served on a platter

Makin' a day, not failing to anticipate

They got greedy so they fell for the bait

That makes them a victim, picked and plucked

New jack in jail, but to the vets, they're a duck

There's no one to rob 'cause, in jail, you're a number

They never took the time to wonder about

[Refrain]

Self-destruction, you're headed for self-destruction

Self-destruction, you're headed for self-destruction

[Chuck D, Flavor Flav, & Chuck D & Flavor Flav]

Yes, we urge to merge, we live for the love of our people

To hope they get along (Yeah, so we did a song)

Gettin' the point to our brothers and sisters

Who don't know the time (Boy! So we wrote a rhyme)

Instead in your head, you know our job

To build and collect ourselves with intellect (Come on)

To revolve, to evolve to self-respect

'Cause we got to keep ourselves in check

Or else, it's

[Refrain]

Self-destruction, you're headed for self-destruction

Self-destruction, you're headed for self-destruction