Dear Lord, as we down here, struggle for as long as we know, in search of a paradise we can touch. Dreams are dreams, and reality seems to be the only place to go, the only place for us. I know, trying to make the best of bad situations, seems to be my life's story. Ain't no glory in pain, a soldier's story in vain, and can't nobody live this life for me. It's a ride y'all, a long hard ride. Somebody wake me, I'm dreaming, I started as a seed, a semen. Swimming upstream, landed in the womb, I'm screaming. On the top was my pops, my mama screaming, stop from a single drop. This is what they got, not to disrespect my peoples, but my papa was a loser. Only plan he had for mama, was to *** her and abuse her. Even as a little seed, I can see his plan for me. Stranded on welfare, another broken family, and what was I to be? The product of this heated passion, mama got pregnant, and papa got a piece of ass, look how it began. Nobody gave a *** about me, pistol in my hand. This cruel world could do without me, how can I survive? Got me asking why Jesus will a nigga live or die? Cause the Lord can't see us in the deep, dark clouds of the projects. Ain't no sunshine, no sunny days, and we only play sometimes. With everybody sleeping, I open my window, jump to the street and get to creeping. I can live or die, hope I get some money, phone gone. I'm only 19, I'm trying to hustle on my own. On this block where everybody and they pops trying to slang rock. Rather go to counties, but this is where the game stops. Don't get it wrong, cause it's all it's own. From dusk to dawn, you can buy rocks, glocks, or a herringbone. You can ask my man, he's a mind reader. Keep my nine, eat up all the time, this is how we grind. Meet up at the cemetery, then get smoked out. Past the weed nigga, now Hennessy will keep me keyed. Everywhere I go, niggas holler at me, keep it real cheap. And my reply till they kill me, act up if you feel me. I was born not to make it, but I did. The tribulations of a ghetto kid, still I rise. Still I rise, and things can lead to the sky. The sky, and then I die, cause I don't want you to cry. I stay sharp as always, running your bricks with blicks. Do your project always, dumping crews like tubes. Nigga all day, secrets of war, prepare me for the worst. So life is lavish, full of cabbage, all life that's in the hearse. But now my dreams, it seems dope. We play some triple beams and things, bro. Diamond piggy ring, got the loot poppin' out my chest. I've been trying to keep my clock cocked, and Trump was searching for me. Then why not? Show him what I'm made of, plus Ray Stone on my block. Chance the ad with me, then he turned to the streets. Love snatchin' bags, we out to pop. We'll make a cash, we buzzin' fast. It'll make me mad, I'm just like him. My homie on the corner with his gat tucked in. Youngest, they buckin' something. The life he lead, the life he don't need. Don't we all know, he tryna rise up and reach his goal. Dreams of lost hope. I hit the strip, broke where the beams get cold. And still I rise, now I float, cowards, ghosts. Whenever we come around, I'm runnin' down. Clutchin' a pound, lava sirens duckin' the sound. I used to hustle with my mom, till the sun came. My homie, I'm doin' time from the drug game. Stolen cars, war scars, born an outlaw. Behind bars, go to sleep, just to see the stars. Freedom is ours, though we trapped on the burnt block. Crack kids, only ten learnin' to duck. In 96, my Glock's my plastic passion for blastin' bastards. No faces for open caskets, peelin' your cat backwards. Your cowards ain't prepared for pistol practice. I sent my mistress through your mattress. Leavin' hoes in your body like a cactus. Why me and my crew be boppin'? More green's the topic. I look to keep the seams in, my mother***in' jeans poppin'. Leavin' your screen to pick up. Half of you niggas are softer than a snicker. Let's go to war and sleep real quicker. And still I rise, and still I rise. And still I rise, and still I rise. Release me to the sky, and then I die. I don't want you to cry. And still I rise, and still I rise. Release me to the sky, and then I die. I don't want you to cry. Y'all niggas fake. All day, every night. Now I got real straight. Bitch. It's got to move. My mouth is big. My mouth is big.