Lyrics like, “Lil' tear gas cleared the whole place out / I'll be back with the hazmat for the next round / We was tryin' to protest, then the fires broke out” show the perseverance of the protesters during this time. Many tactics were used to target innocent people and stop the protesting, like rubber bullets and a huge number of violent arrests. Though the protestors were retaliated against while  trying to peacefully protest, Anderson .Paak’s lyrics show that no matter what people throw at them (figuratively or literally) they will not give up and will be back even stronger.

These lines, such as “Said, "It's civil unrest" but you sleep so sound”

 show white privilege, along with the ignorance of many people.  People choose to not acknowledge the murder going on in our country, but only speak out when people are protesting against it.

In 2020 COVID-19 was spreading rapidly and people were getting sick, disposing of thousands of tissues and cleaning wipes.  .Paak’s lyric, “'Cause they throw away Black lives like paper towels,” creates a powerful contrast because many Black Americans were being killed unjustly. 

“Lockdown”  was released in honor of Juneteenth. Juneteeth honors the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas at the end of the American Civil War.  This release date resembles the fact that African Americans were freed over 100 years ago, yet are stillin the same place they started: being discriminated against, murdered, and subjected to foul treatment based on race.

This whole song reveals so much about the social climate during 2020. Many people were focused on COVID-19 , and did not pay enough attention to the police brutality occuring during this time. This song has such a powerful message and exposes the amount of hate and violence protesters were facing, while fighting for equal rights under the law. The governments, police, and people  in power did not protect these citizens and failed to prevent the violence that occurred. 

Lyrics

You should've been downtown (ayy)
The people are risin' (yeah)
We thought it was a lockdown (what?)
They opened the fire (damn)
Them bullets was flyin' (ooh)
Who said it was a lockdown? Goddamn lie

Oh my, time heals all but you outta time now (now)
Judge gotta watch us from the clock tower (true)
Lil' tear gas cleared the whole place out
I'll be back with the hazmat for the next round

We was tryin' to protest, then the fires broke out
Look out for the secret agents, they be planted in the crowd
Said, "It's civil unrest" but you sleep so sound
Like you don't hear the screams when we catchin' beatdowns

Stayin' quiet when they killin' n*****s, but you speak loud
When we ride, got opinions comin' from a place of priv'
Sicker than the COVID, how they did him on the ground
Speakin' of the COVID, is it still goin' around?

Oh, won't you tell me 'bout the lootin', what's that really all about?
'Cause they throw away black lives like paper towels
Plus unemployment rate, what, forty million now?
Killed a man in broad day, might never see a trial

We just wanna break chains like slaves in the South
Started in the North End but we in the downtown
Riot cops try to block, now we gotta show down
(Citizens of Los Angeles) damn
(I hereby declare this to be an unlawful assembly)
(And in the name of the people of the State of California)

You should've been downtown
The people are risin' (right here)
We thought it was a lockdown
They opened the fire
Them bullets was flyin' (lockdown)
Who said it was a lockdown? Goddamn lie ('cause they tell us to)

And downtown, where I got popped with the rubber bullet
Tre pound, got it in my name now, I'ma shoot it

Never understand why they do it
Someone cut the channel off the news 'fore I loose it
I ain't even trippin', if you wit' it then we lootin' (nah)
Help me put this Louis in the back of Suzuki (ooh), o-he

Had to break it down so smoothly (slow)
They gon' say, "It's not about race, " but we movin', ho, pow (okay)
Got the tre pound, had to put in my name
Wish a n**** play now (yeah)

Any given day, I'll be headed to the pulpits (yeah)
Say a lil' prayer, matter fact, I need two of 'em (ooh)
Only do it, only do it (ooh)
This ain't '92 so we learn the new rules

N****s got hip so we don't loot the projects
'Bout to hit Rodeo with my lil' cousin Marcus
Someone threw a whole brick in the Neiman Marcus (ah)
Help me put the whole mannequin in the Charger

You should've been downtown (down)
The people are risin' (look around)
We thought it was a lockdown (lockdown)
They opened the fire (had to get low, fire)
Them bullets was flyin' (down, down)
Who said it was a lockdown? Goddamn lie (ooh-wee)

Lockdown, we ain't gotta stop 'cause they tell us to
And downtown, where I got popped with the rubber bullet
Tre pound (uh), got it in my name now, I'ma shoot it
Lockdown, we ain't gotta stop 'cause they tell us to
And downtown