Picking Cotton

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> > ***"Y'all beat us and treat us so rotten, still think we slaves, we just not picking cotton."***
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> Picking Cotton
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> ###  Length
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> 3:27
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> ### Released
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> January 4th, 2018
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> ### Album
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> Audacious
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> **Picking Cotton** is a song by Chicago-rapper cupcakKe's album Audacious.
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## Background

"Picking Cotton" was chosen as the lead single for the album, Audacious. It was released on September 30th, 2016.

## Composition

“Picking Cotton” is a protest song that depicts the racism against colored people that is still prevalent today. It mainly analogizes the way slaves were treated by their owners centuries ago to the contemporary way of how African-Americans are treated by law enforcement, and even society in general.

## Lyrics

***Read the song lyrics with annotations on Genius !***

My sister wheezing so I'm speeding down the E-way
Having a baby don't blame me for being late

Officer light so bright I hear a siren

Pull me over and it's over shots firing

Bleeding bad, tryna look at his badge

Blood bath because he decided to spaz

Aiming at my brain to put me under a grave

Cops say yo car was moving faster than a runaway slave

Than I froze, can't even stand up on my toes

Why shoot when there's a taser and a pole?

Blue and black lives matter, who knows?

Is you gone call it in? The ambulance they could have took me

It's always that one cop that try to be a rookie

This ain't right why blacks and whites can't stick together

Do whatever sorta like a duplex cookie, you fucking rookie

Beat us and treat us so rotten

Still think we slaves we just not picking cotton

Yall beat us and treat us so rotten

Still think we slaves we just not picking cotton

Yall beat us and treat us so rotten

Beat us and treat us so rotten

Beat us and treat us so rotten

Still think we slaves we just not picking cotton

They don't really want us to speak its about unity

Right now I'm rapping on a white man's beat

Cause I'm complete and comfortable with me

Every white man is not corrupted as the white men we see

I could vouch for that but some still stuck in a state of mind

Or putting us behind and making us leave out the back

Play that damn angel when they among us

But 164 years back they hung us

I'm not a slave to the white man

Or white woman standing by me

I'm not a slave to the record labels bidding how to sign me

I am not a slave I am brave video every cop that make us stop

Before our body drop and be sure to press save

We need that for proof these cops they goof

They pull you over and shoot then play it off like oops

Intimidated by our presence so he be drawing the weapon

Not screaming justice for nothing we not gone keep on failing

Beat us and treat us so rotten

Still think we slaves we just not picking cotton

Yall beat us and treat us so rotten

Still think we slaves we just not picking cotton

Yall beat us and treat us so rotten

Beat us and treat us so rotten

Beat us and treat us so rotten

Still think we slaves we just not picking cotton

Of course, there's no remorse

Upon the force, freedom of speech till I'm hoarse

You ain't gotta you ain't gotta

You ain't gotta call me a n\*\*\*\*\*

I'm dead even if I surrender

You ain't gotta call me a n\*\*\*\*\*

I'm dead even if I surrender

Oh yo, you ain't gotta call me a n\*\*\*\*\*

I'm dead even if I surrender

I said you ain't gotta call me a n\*\*\*\*\*

I'm dead even if I surrender
## Music Video

A now-deleted music video was released for this song. It begins with a shot of a police department, and some black teenagers playing on a basketball court outside. During the verses, cupcakKe is reciting the song in a public park. She prays during the bridge, which may be a homage to her Christian faith and upbringing.