What is song The Slam talking about?

The song "The Slam" by Public Enemy is about the negative portrayal of African Americans in the media. The lyrics address the way that the media often creates a hostile narrative that depicts African Americans as perpetrators of violence and crime, and how this narrative is perpetuated by the news and political discourse. The song criticises the media for focusing on negative aspects of the African-American community while ignoring the positive contributions of African-American individuals to society.

Furthermore, the song also draws attention to the systematic racism and oppression faced by African Americans, particularly through the criminal justice system. Chuck D, the lead vocalist of Public Enemy, raps:

"Our freedom of speech is freedom or death

We got to fight the powers that be

'Cause in the end it's gonna come down to me and you

But first, we gotta hear the drummer"

It expresses a call to action, encouraging African Americans to collectively confront and resist these negative representations and fight for their rights.