Shallow Days

I just keep moving on... (moving on...) I just keep moving on... (moving on...) Time and time, a brother asks why The rhyme is not laced with a gangsta touch I said "Simply because I don't live that way Still kickin' them rhymes rugged and rough" "But that won't sell Cause you gotta keep it real So that we can feel Where you're coming from Because these streets is ill so if you ain't Killing niggas in rhymes Your whole sound's just bubble gum" I said "I won't contribute to genocide; I'd rather try to cultivate the inner side And try to evolve the frustrated ghetto mind The devil and his army never been a friend of mine" "But niggas don't wanna hear that shit" said the brother Who was obviously totally misled and yelled out "murder murder, kill, murder" instilled in the influential thoughts Of our kids' heads Shallow days, you never wanna Let a brother be a brother Fully inner to the outer Caught up in all them hollow nights Can't escape cause everywhere that I look People front, and it just ain't right (repeat) I said "Don't you know the powers that be Are using people as pawns, devouring we Until they see us all gone and outta the scene" And as I passed the chronic, he said "look at where I be I tried to get a job for real But all the homies hit liqs and rob and steal And keep fat pockets caught in a rut to catch ground This way's in, plus who could you trust?" I said "I'm all about protecting mine But neglected minds be gettin' left behind Why don't you change your environment?" He said "This is all I know Plus my fam's all that I got, I can't go" I said "You gotta make it for the fams" "Damn," he said "I didn't make the ghetto The ghetto made the man" I said "You're more than just that," Shook his hand, said "Damn, you gotta find a way To break the devil's master plan, peace" Shallow days, you never wanna Let a brother be a brother Fully inner to the outer Caught up in all them hollow nights Can't escape cause everywhere that I look People front, and it just ain't right (repeat) The word "peace" is just an expression Used to say bye when it's time to jet And them red black and green medallions Was all just part of the trend, I guess Hardly ever them around brothers' necks no more Instead of that gold, gats; Inspiring gangstas and macks Who at the young age of four Be seeing more drama than war veterans Instead of learning God's laws And hip-hop is a voice that we enlisted To express how we be feeling about this and that But music does reflect life And kids look up to what you're portraying And mimic what you act like It's time for a new day An era in rap, conscious styles Makin' them aware of the happenings But their ears seem more steered towards Self-annihilation so then they might laugh And write this off, like I'm out here just Blowing wind, maybe label us soft or unreal Something they just can't feel, while they yell "murder murder murder, kill kill kill" I just keep movin' on (moving on ...) I just keep movin' on (moving on ...) Shallow days / hollow nights (repeat)