Still I Rise

[Intro: Kastro]

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, tryna 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 mama screamin' stop

From a single drop, this is what they got

Not to disrespect my peoples, but my papa was a loser

Only plan he had for mama 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

Mama got pregnant and papa 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 nineteen, I'm tryna hustle on my own

On the spot where everybody and their 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 (To the sky)

And if (And if), I die (I die), I don't want you to cry

[Verse 2: Yaki Kadafi]

I stay sharp as always, runnin' your bricks with blitz

Through your 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 seems though, be placin' triple beams and things, bro

Diamond pinkie ring got the loot poppin' out my jeans

[Verse 3: 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, preoccupied with makin' cash

It wasn't fast, it'll make me mad, I'm just like him

My homie on the corner with his gat tucked in, youngins, they buckin' somethin'

The life he lead's the life he don't need, don't we all know?

He tryna rise up and we just go, yo, still he rise

[Verse 4: 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 homie Harm doin' time from this drug game

Stolen cars, war scars, born an 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 5: Yaki Kadafi]

In '96 my Glock's my plastic, passion for blastin' bastards

No faces for open caskets, peelin' your cap backwards

You 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' your 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—

[Chorus: Ta'He]

Still I (Still I), I rise (I rise), please, give me to the sky (To 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 (To the sky)

And if (And if), I die (I die), I don't want you to cry

[Outro: some little kid]

Y'all niggas be fake, all day every day

So now I got roller blades, bitch

Thought you knew

Your mouth is rich

C'mon pops, let's go!