Still I Rise

Dear Lord As we down here, struggle for as long as we know In search of a paradise to touch (my nigga Johnny J) Dreams are dreams, and reality seems to be the only place to go The only place for us I know, try 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 [Verse 1: 2Pac] Somebody wake me I'm dreamin, I started as a seed the semen Swimmin upstream, planted in the womb while screamin On the top, was my pops, my momma screamin stop From a single drop, this is what they got Not to disrespect my peoples but my poppa was a loser Only plan he had for momma was to fuck her and abuse her Even as a little seed, I could see his plan for me Stranded on welfare, another broken family Now what was I to be? A product of this heated passion Momma got pregnant and Poppa got a piece of ass Look how it began, nobody gave a fuck about me Pistol in my hand, this cruel world can do without me How can I survive? Got me askin white 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 When everybody's sleepin I open my window jump to the streets and get to creepin I can live or die, hope I get some money 'fore I'm gone I'm only 19, I'm tryna hustle on my own On the spot where everybody and they pops tryna slang rocks I'd rather go to college, but this is where the game stops Don't get it wrong cause it's always on, 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 heater All the time this is how we grind Meet up at the cemetery then get smoked out, pass the weed nigga That Hennessey'll keep me keyed nigga Everywhere I go niggas holla at me, "Keep it real G" And my reply til 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 [Chorus: Ta'He] Still I (still I) I rise (I rise) Please give me to the sky (the sky) And if (and if) I die (I die) I don't want you to cry [Verse 2.1: Yaki Khadafi] I stay sharp as always Runnin ya bricks with blitz, through ya project hallways Dumpin crews like two's, nigga all day Secrets of war prepare me for the worst A life that's lavish full of cabbage or a life that's in a hearse But now my dreams it seeems though, be placin triple beams and things bro Diamond pinkie ring got the loot poppin out my jeans [Verse 2.2: Napoleon] Now I plan to keep my Glock cocked If trouble was searchin for me then why not? Show em what I'm made of plus raised on, on my block Chancellor Ave, where many turn to the street, thugs snatchin bags We out for power, makin cash it wasn't fast it'll make me mad I'm just like, pimpin My homey on the corner with his gat tucked, in Youngest they buckin somethin the life he leads The life he don't need, don't we all know He tryin to rise up and we just go doe, still he rise [Verse 2.3: Young Noble] Dreams of lost hope I hit the strip broke where the fiends get coke And still I rise now I float cowards ghost Whenever we come around, I'm runnin down Clutchin a pound, live as sirens, duckin the sound I used to hustle with my moms til the sun came My homey Harm doin time from this drug game Stolen cars, war scars, born a Outlaw Behind bars, go to sleep just to see the stars Freedom is ours, though we trapped on a firm block Crackheads only ten learn to duck cops [Verse 2.4: Khadafi] In '96 my Glock's my plastic, passion for blastin bastards No faces for open caskets, peelin ya cap backwards Ya cowards ain't prepared for pistol practice, I send my missiles through your mattress, leavin holes in your body like a cactus While me and my crew be boppin more greens than topic And loot to keep the seams in my motherfuckin jeans poppin Leavin ya spleen to pick up Half of you niggas is softer than a Snicker Let's go to war and see who draw quicker And still I rise, and still I rise... [Ta'He] Still I (still I) I rise (I rise) Please give me to the sky (the sky) And if (and if) I die (I die) I don't want you to cry Still I (still I) I rise (I rise) Please give me to the sky (the sky) And if (and if) I die (I die) I don't want you to cry [Some little kid] Y'all niggas fake All day everyday So now I got roller blades, bitch Thought you knew Your mouth is rich C'mon pops, let's go..