I grew up in the same place where Squeaky got shot in the face
I saw Abraham's brain split on the pave
He jumped off the block, right where the kids played
We used to sit every day, chatting *, we all strayed
I guess it's deep-seated urban decay
From my angle I can see the ghetto burning away
I wanna cry, I find myself turning away
There's kids sixteen burning the yay
Miss learning the game, I send a prayer for their pain
As I'm staying here, ooh, watching you walk around
How it always keeps me down
Is it supposed to be like this, like this?
As we rise, ooh, to gain an edge in life
Someone always seems to try to come in the way
Is it supposed to be like this?
I come from the place where you can't tell what's round the corner
Going to jail, going to jail, going to jail
Getting * up, like them little black kids from Bronx town
Well, as long as we're living in hell
In the streets, violence will always dwell
I could tell you a thousand tales, documented in detail
And most niggas can relate round the world
My nigga Kirk got found with bullet rounds in his chest
Up in ATR and the papers hate me well
I'm tryna revoke the violence, not promote the violence
This is my broken silence
And you can hear my screams louder than police sirens
I'm tryna fight back, like my nigga Lil Byron
Just as long as we're living in hell, in the streets, violence will always dwell
As soon as I love and stay vibrant, I shall prevail
I shall not betray you
I shall put my hands up at the end and say I done gone
Only time will tell for real
As I stand here, ooh, watching the world go round
How it always keeps me down
Is it supposed to be like this, like this
As we rise, ooh, to gain an edge in life
Someone always seems to try to come in the way
This is supposed to be like this
It's like we're imprisoned in the ghetto and it's getting to me
To the point where I'm feeling institutionalized
Look in my eyes, you'll see pain in it but
Who can decide whether I stay entrapped in, packed in
Or fly from the restraint and the thoughts packed inside my brain
But I proclaim that I will withstand the rain
In order to get out this game
Plus the media, government try to blow us
But they can't out the flame or doubt the name
*, and your revolution's bout to change
Trust me, sit around tables with your ties and shirts
With the lust to disgust me
You disgust me, so I must be
As level headed as I can to never backpedal on the plan
So we can all hold hands together
Unite so we can live as one
As I stand here, ooh, watching the world go round
How it always keeps me down
Is it supposed to be like this, like this
As we rise, ooh, to gain an edge in life
Someone always seems to try to come in the way
Is it supposed to be like this
As I stand here, ooh, watching the world go round
How it always keeps me down
Is it supposed to be like this, like this
As we rise, ooh, to gain an edge in life
Someone always seems to try to come in the way
Is it supposed to be like this
Is it supposed to be like this
Is it supposed to be like this