Dr. Dre – Animals Lyrics

Dr. Dre – Animals Lyrics

Animals Lyrics by Dr. Dre

“Animals” is a commentary on the mistreatment of African-Americans in Compton, Baltimore, and the rest of the United States in general, with police inflicting ruthless violence and essentially treating black people like animals. This song also illustrates how the media gives focus to the wrongdoings of the black community rather than highlighting their peaceful acts.

Anderson .Paak discussed the track with Power 106 L.A.:

This is a song called ‘Animals.’ And this is a tune that’s special, very special to me because this is a tune that I actually brought to Dre. And It’s a tune that I got from [DJ] Premier in Russia after doing a show with him with my group No Worries. He blessed me with this beat and I wrote this tune around the time the riots were going on in Baltimore and I just wanted to express my opinion. I just wanted to be a part of the conversation and what was going on at the time. And I felt like, as an artist, we are to provide the soundtrack for the time and reflect the time so this is one of those tunes where I feel like I was able to capture that with the help of DJ Premier and Dr. Dre. So it was crazy to be able to lock in with both of them for this song, and a powerful song that’s timely and timeless.

.Paak also performed his own verse, which is not included on the studio version.

[Produced by DJ Premier & BMB Spacekid]

[Refrain: Anderson Paak]
These old sneakers, faded blue jeans, no tricks, no gimmicks
I be stompin’ down-down-down-down-down demons
Rollin’ up trees in the belly of the beast
Where the people disagree
The upper class eat, middle don’t exist
The bottom of the beat, glad I got my sticks
Are you jumpin’ on a fad, layin’ in a ditch?
I be stompin’ down demons, stompin’ down quick, come on

[Chorus: Anderson Paak]
And please don’t come around these parts
And tell me that we all a bunch of animals
The only time they wanna turn the cameras on
Is when we’re fuckin’ shit up, come on

[Verse 1: Anderson Paak]
Bullets still ringin’, blood on the cement
Black folks grievin’, headlines readin’
Tryna pay it no mind, you just livin’ your life
Everyone is a witness, everyone got opinions
Got a son of my own, look him right in his eyes
I ain’t livin’ in fear, but I’m holdin’ him tight
Got a son of my own, look him right in his eyes
I ain’t livin’ in fear, but I’m holdin’ him tight

[Verse 2: Dr. Dre]
Damn, why the fuck are they after me? Maybe ’cause I’m a bastard?
Or maybe ’cause of the way my hair grow naturally?
Still tryna figure out why the fuck I’m full of rage
I think I noticed this bullshit right around the fifth grade
Paraphernalia in my locker right next to the switchblade
Nothin’ but pussy on my mind and some plans of gettin’ paid
But I’m a product of the system, raised on government aid
And I knew just how to react when it was time for that raid
Just a young black man from Compton, wonderin’, ‘who could save us?’
And could barely read the sentences the justice system gave us
So many rental cars with bricks, I think they probably funded Avis
Some of us was imbalanced but some us used our talents, shit
Not all of us criminals but cops be yellin’, “Stay back, nigga!”
We need a little bit of payback (Payback!)
Don’t treat me like an animal ’cause all this shit is flammable
Don’t fuck around ’cause when it’s done, it’s done
Fuck you!

[Pre-Chorus: Anderson Paak]
And the old folks tell me it’s been goin’ on since back in the day
But that don’t make it okay
And them white folks tell me all the lootin’ and the shootin’s insane
But you don’t know our pain

[Chorus: Anderson Paak]
And please don’t come around these parts
And tell me that we all a bunch of animals
The only time they wanna turn the cameras on
Is when we fuckin’ shit up, come on
And please don’t come around these parts
And tell me that we’re all a bunch of animals
The only time they wanna turn the cameras on
Is when we’re fuckin’ shit up, come on

[Refrain: Anderson Paak]
These old sneakers, faded blue jeans, no tricks, no gimmicks
I be stomping down-down-down-down-down demons
Rollin’ up trees in the belly of the beast
Where the people disagree
The upper class eat, middle don’t exist
The bottom of the beat, glad I got my sticks
Are you jumpin’ on a fad, laying in a ditch?
I be stompin’ down demons, stompin’ down quick, come on

[Pre-Chorus: Anderson Paak]
And the old folks tell me it’s been goin’ on since back in the day
But that don’t make it okay
And them white folks tell me all the lootin’ and the shootin’s insane
But you don’t know our pain

[Chorus: Anderson Paak]
And please don’t come around these parts
And tell me that we all a bunch of animals
The only time they wanna turn the cameras on
Is when we’re fuckin’ shit up, come on
And please don’t come around these parts
And tell me that we’re all a bunch of animals
The only time they wanna turn the cameras on
Is when we’re fuckin’ shit up, come on

[Outro: DJ Premier, Dr. Dre, & Samples]
Yeah! This is DJ motherfuckin’ Premier!
And I’m Dr. Dre (Dr. Dre)
What, Premo! Yeah, we fuckin’ shit up!
No! We don’t play no games here! Motherfucker, please!
Aftermath
One of the reasons that me and you click
We don’t lose, I always win
Let’s face it, you basic, boy, for realla, for realla
Professional winners!
For realla, for realla