They say the governor collect, all of our taxes except
When we in traffic and tragic happens, that shit ain't no threat

from Kendrick Lamar (Ft. MC Eiht) – M.A.A.d City Lyrics on Rap Genius

The government collects taxes on legitimate business transactions, but when “we in traffic” (aka traffickers engaged in the business of trafficking illicit materials) means that they don’t pay taxes on transactions off the books.

When “tragic happens” to a trafficker, it “ain’t no threat” to the governor because he wasn’t getting money from them in the first place. So, the police don’t investigate it. The government is self-serving. They don’t help anyone that isn’t helping them.

Also a possible reference to a quote from Benjamin Franklin: “Nothing is certain except for death and taxes.” In other words, you’re going to have to pay taxes until you die.

When he refers to traffic, it seems as if he is referring to actual traffic. Drama goes down while they sit in traffic, as in someone walking up in the middle of the street during a red light.

In that sense, the government collects taxes for one’s safety, but when it comes down to the drama of the streets, the government is not there to protect people.

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