Hold Your Head Up

[Verse 1: Akala]

I was the kid in school with hand me downs from my sister

And gal dem still loved me now that’s charisma

Front of my crep split ain’t seen a barber for months

But the way I profile you would have thought I was Trump

Back when I was spotty and my head way outgrew my body

Even those times spittin' it shoddy

Before I bust my first nut behind the trees in the park

You’d find me and Jay drunk way after dark

Bams too, looking for moves like bees do swarming

Funny thing we all got ball in the morning

We like thirteen but grown as we see it

You find us any Saturday night in Coliseum

Sticking d*ck to big gal and I told her my age straight

Never been one to play games

Or watch face or none of that

Pop shots I’m gunning back

No ball to catch

Look how these cowards running back

[Hook: Selah]

No matter what they say to you

No matter what they put you through

Always to yourself stay true

You gotta hold your head up high

When you feel you’ve hit the ground

And they seem to laugh out loud

Whatever goes up must come down

You gotta hold your head high

[Verse 2: Akala]

For my young tugs on every block, eighth in their sock

With aims to get paid and parade in the drop

Sweet kids get older, grow chips on both shoulders

Daddy left it seems the wind done blow colder

Even in july, that’s why we hoodied the whole year

Mothers lose sons when them clouds disappear

Nothin' sweet out here, but I count my blessings

Been through a lot of shit, but I take it as lessons

Just a young yout that ain’t never had nothing

Many times went to school stomach still rumblin

Still felt like I had a right to f**k

Brought gal to my yard and the power would cut

While yutes sleeping, I’m at the launderette before school

With big bin liners still trying to look cool

At the time it was hell, now I just laugh

Funny how you change the way you feel about the past

[Hook]

[Bridge: Selah] x 2

Hold your head up, hold your head up

I know you're fed up but you gotta get up

Hold your head up, hold your head up

Never let up cos you've gotta get up

[Verse 3: Akala]

If they put your back to the wall, you gotta stand tall

Don’t watch these little dicks, all they do is talk

Fuck em all I’m rollin, real niggas’ll roll wid it

Yeah life’s a bitch, but I still wanna hit it

Spit what’s real to me nothing more nothing less

Niggas ain’t got no homes, but roll with stones around they neck

Can’t you see you’re the diamond, always shining

Plus the only thing tough enough to break us is us

[Hook]