Live Again

[Verse 1: Kendrick Lamar] Lifestyles of the kid who never had shit Living off that bad shit, that shoot shit, that stab shit Rock a flag and don’t give a fuck about U.S flag shit George Bush got some nerve, fuck a war, we trying to serve Motherfucking 8 balls, til’ we live at the pool hall And knock billiards out of your business, ya bitch Thats my surroundings in Compton, have common sense Smell death in the air, around here, thats a common scent You know the gunpowder You know when your homie barely blink, he just done powder Only at seventeen You know the common statistic inspired by hoop dreams Now hire about street schemes, and getting blood money I try my best to stay focused and hope the city love me Pray it's not lust, cause if it is, I’d be death in a month Lord forbid, for the good kid They took his life She want her baby back, like a cooked rib But that’s just life, where I’m from [Hook: Kendrick Lamar] If there’s a shining star Hope my city is not too far So we can live again See, where I come from is hard Hope all over, we can start So we can live again, so we can live again [Verse 2: $] I’ve seen this young’un on the train, I had to pick his brain He said he on his way uptown to get a brick of caine’ He said he needed a come up, because selling nicks' was lame He needed a change, so I gave him fifty cent He looked up at me like I was crazy, I said listen man I rather give you my last to see you live again Just cause you change what you pitching, don’t make the difference You gotta get off the mound, and put the game down Petty thoughts could keep your brain down I leave you with that jewel, go get the chain now And put it together You see coming up, we ain’t have that shit to keep our mind focused I love Mike, but it was a hassle trying to buy Jordans My nigga hustle all day in front of the corner store To get a pair, niggas killed him right in front the mall So all the hustling for nothing man I threw my pair on the lightpole because of him Like fuck it man [Hook: Kendrick Lamar] [Verse 3: Schoolboy Q] Trying to move foward, though it never stops A mother’s son dead, was killed by some kids popped Shots, they back and forth Murder for murder, the beef recycled is light No idols, bunch of unread bibles Allies that turned to rivals, niggas turned street disciples Smokers get high as Eiffiels Addicted to being fiends Because of the feds as we pledge to let our plague spread Tiny this and if and that if they banging back Because they Adapt to being black, strapped and gang tats, look Rats get mouse trapped Can’t afford tuition But hit a lick I bet I earn crack, I heard that Looking at the sky, hoping a light would shine Daylight saving times all the time on this block of mines All the time with this Glock of mines Swear to God man it ain’t a rhyme, I grind for a piece of mine Co-sign [Hook: Kendrick Lamar] [Bridge/Outro: Black Ice] When you look at my brothers, what's your first impression? Does the sight of us leave you guessing? Or do you understand the stressing, the aggression The look of no hope on my niggas' faces Like the Lord overlooked us when He handed down His graces See embraces, fall short on the numb tips of street entrepeneur fingers Stuck in the walls of the project halls where the Coke smell still lingers - External blingers is all we can be Cause on the inside we been given nothin to shine on And the gig is harder to get than Coke so niggas get their grind on Because the TV tells us aim high Nigga, make all goals lateral But that takes paper that we don't have so niggas put their souls up as collateral Now, some niggas reclaim 'em, some blame 'em Making excuses to sell 'em But when a nigga goes from not doin', to doin' What can you tell him? Not to be a nigga? Shit I gots to be a nigga that's how I pay the bills and I'mma do that whether I gotta sling this coke or exploit these rhyme skills [Hook: Kendrick Lamar]