Cover art for D.O.W.N. by ​dead prez
Jan. 3, 20041 viewer

D.O.W.N. Lyrics

[Intro: stic.man]
RBGs, RBG. Nigga, it's that RBGs
RBGs, RBG. Nigga, this that RBG


[Hook: stic.man]
Tell me: are you down? When it's goin’ down
You got to hold it down—don't talk it, put it down
Homie, tell me: are you down? When it's goin’ down
You got to hold it down—don't talk it, put it down
Homie, tell me: are you down?

[Verse 1: M-1]
Have you ever had a lesson from a OG? From a nigga that's been in the war?
Been locked up longer than I’ve been on the earth, finished crime and defendin’ the poor
And they can tell you ‘bout death and tell you ‘bout life
But most of all, they tell you ‘bout sacrifice
And they can tell if a woman ain't with you when you down ‘cause she never really could be your wife

What it mean to be D-O-W-N?
Is ya homies still down when it's trouble you in?
You wanna have a good time, make it hot when the pigs come down on the block—would they fuck with you then?
Then you wanna get high with me? Nigga, organize with me
Start a clothes drive. Then, maybe we can start a fire
Where my RBGs? My guerillas with a G-U-E
Don't got a I-Ching, homie, get free

[Verse 2: stic.man]
Rule number one: when we ride, we follow the plan—there's a role for every man
With a chain of command, even when the shit hit the fan, anything get outta hand, we still stand
To me, bein' down mean more than bein' friends or kin
We comrades, we struggle through any trouble
Sacrifice my life in combat for ya
So you know I gotta love ya, I'm down for my brothas
And sistas. Fuck the system, bust ya pistols. Nigga, I'm with ya

Just put a rag on ya face when you ride—you don't want them satellites to take ya picture
We gotta have a lot of discipline to win and it comes from within—it's not somethin’ you pretend, homie
A lot of niggas be talkin’ that shit. When it really goes down, they be gone with the wind, homie
Can't be no coward. Gotta get this power by any means
Gotta know yaself and ya enemy when you puttin’ it down for ya family
Can't tell by no tattoo, can't tell by no handshake
It start with the heart, bein’ down is an attitude—doin’ what you gotta do for the crusade
My definition of a soldier: revolutionary, military-minded, and ready for whatever
Nigga, hope for the best and prepare for the worst. Stay aware, be alert, bomb first, don't tear

[Hook: stic.man]
Tell me: are you down? When it's goin’ down
You got to hold it down—don't talk it, put it down
Homie, tell me: are you down? When it's goin’ down
You got to hold it down—don't talk it, put it down
Homie, tell me: are you down?

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Credits
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Written By
Release Date
January 3, 2004
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