Live Again

[Verse 1: Kendrick Lamar] Lifestyles of a kid that never had shit Livin' 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 tryna serve Motherfuckin' eight balls 'til we live at the pool hall And knock billiards out of your business, ya bitch That's my surroundings in Compton, have common sense Smell death in the air, around here, that's 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 hired by street schemes of gettin' 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'll be dead 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 [Chorus: Kendrick Lamar] If there's a shining star Hope my city's 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: CurT@!n$] I seen this youngin' 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, 'cause sellin' nicks was lame He needed a chain, so I gave him fifty cent He looked at me like I was crazy, I said "Listen, man I'd rather give you my last to see you live again Just 'cause you change what you pitchin', 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" See, comin' up, we ain't have shit to keep our mind focused I love Mike, but it was a hassle tryna buy Jordans My nigga hustle all day in front the corner store To get a pair, niggas killed him right in front the mall, huh So all that hustlin' for nothin', then I threw my pair on the light pole because of him Like fuck it, man [Chorus: Kendrick Lamar] If there's a shining star Hope my city's 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 3: ScHoolboy Q] Tryna move forward, though it never stops A mother’s son dead, was killed by some kid's pops Shots, they back and forth Murder for murder, the beef recycled, it's vital No idols, bunch of unread Bibles Allies that turned to rivals, niggas turned street disciples Smokers get high as Eiffels Addicted to being fiends 'Cause of the feds as we pledge to let our plague spread Tiny this and if and that, they bangin' back 'Cause they'll adapt to being black Straps and gang tats, look Rats get mouse traps Can't afford tuition But hit a lick, I bet I earn crack, I heard that Lookin' at the sky, just hopin' that a light'll shine Daylight savin' time 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 [Chorus: Kendrick Lamar] If there's a shining star Hope my city's 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 [Outro: Black Ice] When you look at my brothers, what's your first impression? Does the sight of us leave you guessin', or do you understand the stressin', 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 'Cause 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 Makin' 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'ma do that whether I gotta sling this coke or exploit these rhyme skills [Chorus: Kendrick Lamar] If there's a shining star Hope my city's 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