[Intro]
Naughty Boy presents
[Verse 1: Bashy]
Yo, Black boys, Black boys, yeah, we're all Black boys
I can't stop screaming it
I could have left my version and done, took the glory
I said "nah, I'm not leaving it"
It's bigger than just having me on it, 'cause
We need the whole scene on it
So if you ain't done a version, send me your email
I'll send you the beat so you can breathe on it
Black boys are achieving tings
All around the world back to Stevenage
Take a page from their book, start reading it
Put this track on repeat, start beating it
Start feeling it, Black boys, it's our time
It's not a dream, believe in it
I wrote "Black Boys" because we needed it
This is deep shit, guess who I brought for the remix?
[Verse 2: Chipmunk]
To my Black boys out there, I'm one of you too
I'm repping for us on the tune that
Kept on getting kicked out of school
But we beat the system and made it through
And pursued our gifts
And if we work hard on our talents, we'll make it big
And if opportunities do not come
Please just don't resort to moving sniff
Just work that little bit harder, look
I swear down, we can all excel
'Cause I raised from the estates a well
Young Black achiever, my name rings bells
And tunes like this are providing help
To make all other Black boys rise
So if you get stereotyped
Just t'ump this tune through your stereo like
And let it all slide, set your goal and aim
Don't get held back 'cause your race
If you're born Black, you've gotta work harder in life
But bun it, don't watch no face
And don't lose dignity, rep for your race
Be proud and rep for your lace
And if Moses' stick could separate oceans
I know my pen can educate nations
[Verse 3: Tinie Tempah]
They ask us why are our palms white?
'Cause we keep our fists clenched to symbolise Black power
I was born November the 7th
10:33 and I've tried my best
To remain positive ever since that hour
'Cause I'm a Black boy
The first son to African parents, loving and caring
I can't even explain to you that joy
Mum said I should be a doctor, Dad said "a degree, you've got to
So you can increase your wealth, son
'Cause you've gotta own a firm or hospital
Not sweep and mop one"
They constantly will
'Cause they don't want me to fail or be a statistic
'Cause let's be realistic
There's loads of us Black boys rotting in jail
Well, whether it's murder or self-defence
We're only something like twelve percent
Let's come together, 'cause they say Black is beautiful
That's why we all came together
And sang and spat and made it musical
And that's very unusual
So pump this so your neighbours hear it through the wall
Yeah
[Verse 4: Alaye]
We're Black, not crack kings
No more this rap ting, trapped in this trap ting
Descended from kings, they just show slavery
Imagery's misery, don't fall for the gimmicks, B
Reach for the stars, touch the sky
You fail if you don't try, Alaye don't lie
We're powerful people, let nothing restrain us
Come together, they can't contain us
Fuck being strangers, that's how they trained us
Black cats, blackball, black markets
See, we're a target, that's why we need
Black banks, Black shops, spend Black money
Doctors, lawyers, got Black ballers
An F1 racer, Lewis is danger
Once in, we take over tings
Get your mind off bling, getting blinded by tings
Black from my ancestors, let your brain paint pictures
Then you pen the scriptures
What the mind sees, it can be
Don't overstand that? That's the reason for me
Fam, you need to know
No matter how you roll
There's more than one way to grow
I say because I know
[Verse 5: Mike GLC]
Ha, mm, I ain't even claiming that I'm righteous
I'm just tryna do [?]
And I know what my life is
'Cause I know what my life was
And I know what a life is
I ain't caught up in the hype, cuz
I'm still caught up in the hype 'cause
The information I'm giving you came from the lifers
Ha, my life is condoned by evil
The same time, I love my people
Oi, little man, remember this
Nubia came before Genesis
I can go way back, way back
But Bashy, straight up, they won't play that
But for now I'ma say that
Hold your hand up, I'm sorry your video, I didn't make that
[Chorus: Bashy]
'Cause we're all Black boys, Black boys, yeah we're all Black boys
And one day we're gonna be Black men
And one day we might have Black boys
And we gotta teach them to be Black men
Black boys, Black boys, yeah we're all Black boys
And one day we're gonna be Black men
And one day we might have Black boys
And we gotta teach them to be Black men
[Post-Chorus: Loick Essien]
Ooh, child
Things are gonna get easier
Ooh, child
Things will get brighter
Ooh, child
Things are gonna get easier
Ooh, child
Things will get brighter