Police show up in music in all kinds of ways, from stories about daily run-ins to songs that call out police brutality or honor the people behind the badge. This list runs through decades of music and covers everything from anger to humor to personal stories that shaped how artists see law enforcement. You’ll find reggae, hip-hop, punk, country, and more tackling the topic from different angles.
Be sure to check out the Songs About Police Playlist at the bottom of this page.
Best Songs About Police
1. “Bad Boys” – Inner Circle
Lyric Sample: “Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?”
This early ’90s reggae hit is a warning to anyone trying to break the law that the cops will get them. It became known worldwide thanks to its use on the popular TV show Cops.
2. “Sound of da Police” – KRS-One
Lyric Sample: “Woop-woop! That’s the sound of da police.”
“Sound of da Police” calls out how authority has targeted black communities for generations. It became one of the most well-known songs about police brutality in ’90s hip-hop.
3. “Police and Thieves” – Junior Murvin
Lyric Sample: “Police and thieves in the street, scaring the nation with their guns and ammunition.”
This 1970s reggae hit is about the tension and violence happening in Kingston at the time. Murvin sings about how both groups contribute to fear in the streets.
4. “I Shot the Sheriff” – Bob Marley & The Wailers
Lyric Sample: “I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy.”
Marley uses the story of a man accused of a crime to highlight mistrust between citizens and law enforcement. The song taps into themes of self-defense, injustice, and reputation.
Related: “I Shot the Sheriff” Song Meaning
5. “Cop Killer” – Body Count
Lyric Sample: “I got my brain on hype, tonight’ll be your night.”
Ice-T’s metal band released one of the most controversial songs about cops in the early ’90s. “Cop Killer” sparked political outrage and opened conversations about censorship and police violence in music.
6. “American Skin (41 Shots)” – Bruce Springsteen
Lyric Sample: “Is it a gun? Is it a knife? Is it a wallet? This is your life.”
In “American Skin (41 Shots),” Springsteen details the real-life 1999 killing of Amadou Diallo, an unarmed Guinean immigrant, by four plainclothes New York City police officers.
7. “Police Truck” – Dead Kennedys
Lyric Sample: “We’re playin’ cops for real, we’re playin’ cops for pay.”
This 1980s punk rock track satirizes the misuse of police power and the perceived boredom of officers. The song focuses on police officers engaging in joyrides and harassment rather than solving crimes.
8. “Killing in the Name” – Rage Against the Machine
Lyric Sample: “Some of those that work forces are the same that burn crosses.”
RATM goes after racial injustice and institutional violence with pure anger in this track. “Killing in the Name” is one of the most widely recognized rock songs about police brutality.
Related: Rock Songs About Transformation
9. “F**k tha Police” – N.W.A
Lyric Sample: “Shining the light in my face, and for what? Maybe it’s because I kick so much butt.”
This groundbreaking track pushes back against harassment, racial profiling, and abuse of power. It became one of the most important protest songs in hip-hop history.
10. “The Weight of the Badge” – George Strait
Lyric Sample: “He swore that oath to protect and serve, pours his heart and soul into both those words.”
This 2019 country song honors the emotional strain police officers carry in their daily work. Strait focuses on sacrifice and family rather than conflict or anger.
11. “Police Story” – Black Flag
Lyric Sample: “Walk down the street, I flip them off, they hit me across the head with a billy club.”
This early ’80s hardcore punk track centers on hostile, street-level run-ins and a growing sense of anger toward authority. It’s a song that focuses on conflict, frustration, and the feeling of being pushed into a losing battle.
12. “Cops Shot the Kid” – Nas ft. Kanye West
Lyric Sample: “White kids are brought in alive, black kids get hit with like five.”
This 2018 track is about unequal treatment, racial profiling, and the repeated cycle of police violence in black communities. Nas and Kanye West point out how quickly everyday moments can turn deadly.
13. “The Bigger Picture” – Lil Baby
Lyric Sample: “It’s bigger than black and white, it’s a problem with the whole way of life.”
Released during the 2020 George Floyd protests, Lil Baby details his experiences with racism and critiques the systemic issues of police brutality that led to the unrest. The track became an anthem of the movement, calling for unity and reform.
14. “Ghetto Bird” – Ice Cube
Lyric Sample: “Officer bird’s on his way, and I don’t wanna see him.”
In “Ghetto Bird,” Ice Cube raps about police helicopters circling neighborhoods and the anxiety that comes with constant surveillance. It’s about the tension between Los Angeles communities and law enforcement in the ’90s.
15. “Police on My Back” – The Equals
Lyric Sample: “They will catch me if I dare drop back.”
This 1960s funk song, famously covered by the Clash, describes the paranoia and stress of constantly being pursued by the authorities. It’s all about feeling relentless pressure and suspicion from the cops.
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16. “Hip Hop Police” – Chamillionaire ft. Slick Rick
Lyric Sample: “With so much drama in the industry, hip hop police are listening, be careful or you’ll be history.”
This 2007 hip-hop track employs the clever “hip-hop police” metaphor to describe the constant scrutiny and unfair judgment placed on rap artists and the culture. Chamillionaire and Slick Rick suggest that artists are monitored just for the content of their music.
17. “Cop Car” – Sam Hunt
Lyric Sample: “I fell in love in the back of a cop car.”
Hunt tells a story about falling for someone during an unexpected run-in with the cops. It’s a country song built around a memorable moment rather than social commentary.
18. “New York City Cops” – The Strokes
Lyric Sample: “New York City cops, they ain’t too smart.”
Lead singer Julian Casablancas wrote this song to critique local police, blending frustration and cynicism with the chaotic energy of city life. It’s another track written in response to the Amadou Diallo shooting.
19. “Gee, Officer Krupke” – West Side Story
Lyric Sample: “Officer Krupke, you’re really a slob, his boy don’t need a doctor, just a good honest job.”
This musical-theater classic uses comedy to address how the system labels troubled teens. The song pokes fun at the police officer while showing how young people get passed from one institution to another.
20. “The Guns of Brixton” – The Clash
Lyric Sample: “When they kick at your front door, how you gonna come?”
This late-’70s track is about police power and fear in a working-class London neighborhood under constant pressure. It focuses on survival, resistance, and the strain between authority and the people living under it.
21. “Officer Down” – Hannah Ellis
Lyric Sample: “We prayed for a miracle, but you didn’t come back around.”
Written in honor of Hannah Ellis’ cousin, Richmond Police Officer Daniel Ellis, “Officer Down” captures the grief and loss of a loved one taken in the line of duty. Told from the perspective of his wife, Katie, it shows the personal impact of his death and pays tribute to his life and service.
22. “Mr. Officer” – Tee Grizzley
Lyric Sample: “Mister Officer, what if that was my brother?”
“Mr. Officer” is a 2020 track about police violence from the perspective of those affected by it, highlighting fear, frustration, and loss in black communities. Tee Grizzley, Detroit Youth Choir, and Queen Naija raise questions about accountability and the personal impact of systemic injustice.
23. “Ridin’” – Chamillionaire ft. Krayzie Bone
Lyric Sample: “They see me rollin’, they hatin’, patrollin’ and tryna catch me ridin’ dirty.”
In this mid-2000s hit, Chamillionaire and Krayzie Bone depict the tension of avoiding legal trouble while enjoying life and music in their community. “Ridin’” highlights police surveillance and racial profiling while cruising in Houston.
24. “Dicks Hate the Police” – The Dicks
Lyric Sample: “You’d better stay out of the way, I think I’ve had a bad day.”
“Dicks Hate the Police” depicts a cycle of violence and frustration with the police in early-’80s Texas. It became a cult classic in underground punk circles.
25. “Who Got the Camera?” – Ice Cube
Lyric Sample: “When I stepped out the car, they slammed me.”
In this 1992 track, Ice Cube raps about police harassment and racial profiling in Los Angeles. He blends tense storytelling with dark humor, pointing to the absurdity and danger of encounters with law enforcement.
26. “Caught by the Fuzz” – Supergrass
Lyric Sample: “In the back of the van, with my head in my hands.”
“Caught by the Fuzz” is a 1990s pop-punk track that tells the story of a teenager getting arrested for the first time, describing the panic, confusion, and regret of the experience.
27. “Runnin’” – 2Pac
Lyric Sample: “Why am I fighting to live if I’m just living to fight?”
2Pac and his collaborators, including Biggie Smalls, describe the pressures of growing up under scrutiny and facing constant threats from the police. They rap about running from law enforcement and surviving in a world where the odds are stacked against them.
28. “The Laughing Policeman” – Charles Penrose
Lyric Sample: “A fat and jolly red-faced man, he really is a treat.”
This comedic song from the 1920s portrays a cheerful police officer with a booming laugh. It became a novelty hit in the UK.
29. “Mrs. Officer” – Lil Wayne
Lyric Sample: “Now I got her hollerin’, soundin’ like a siren.”
In this hip-hop and R&B track, Lil Wayne turns a run-in with a female cop into a sexual relationship. It’s a completely different type of police-related song, but it definitely belongs on the list!
Conclusion
Songs about police can be found in every genre you can think of, covering everything from protest to humor to respect for officers who show up every day. Whether an artist talks about police brutality, tells a funny story, or honors a family member in uniform, the topic has made its way into plenty of great songs.
If you liked this list, you might also enjoy browsing Songs About Jail, Songs About Peace, and Songs About California.
