Black Boy Fly

[Produced by Rahki & Dawaun Parker]

[Intro: Kendrick Lamar]

So I'm saying, "What up? What up? Nigga, you made it"

So I'm saying, "What up? What up? Nigga, you made it"

So I'm saying, "What up? What up? Nigga, you made it"

So I'm saying, "What up? What up? Nigga, I hate it"

So I'm saying, "What up? What up? Nigga, I hate it"

Frustrated and I'm riding down them back streets

Making my conscience ask me

"Will I survive to make it up out this hoe in time?"

Black boy fly, black boy fly

Black, black boy fly, black boy fly

[Verse 1: Kendrick Lamar]

I used to be jealous of Arron Afflalo

I used to be jealous of Arron Afflalo

He was the one to follow

He was the only leader foreseeing brighter tomorrows

He would live in the gym, we was living in sorrow

Total envy of him, he made his dream become a reality

Actually making it possible to swim

His way up outta Compton with further more to accomplish

Graduate with honors, a sponsor of basketball scholars

It's 2004 and I'm watching him score thirty

Remember vividly how them victory points had hurt me

'Cause every basket was a reaction or a reminder

That we was just moving backwards

The bungalow where you find us

The art of us ditching classes, heading nowhere fast

Stick my head inside the study hall, he focused on math

Determination ambition, plus dedication and wisdom

Qualities he was given was the shit we didn't have

Dug inside of his book bag and Coach Palmer asked for his finals

He had his back like a spinal, meanwhile

We singing the same old song spinning the vinyl

Eleven graders gone wrong

He focused on the NBA, we focused on some Patron

Now watch that black boy fly

[Chorus: Anna Wise]

Black boy fly, watch that black boy fly

Black boy fly, watch that black boy fly

Black boy fly, watch that black boy fly

Black boy

[Verse 2: Kendrick Lamar]

I used to be jealous of Jayceon

I used to be jealous of Jayceon Taylor when I was young

Taylor made a career out of music from writing songs

A Buick had driven past bumping him when I mowed the lawn

Money laundering hustling, homies pondering up against

Schemes to make a million even if doing you harm

War's the case and just in case you wasn't alarmed

The city had fought with firearms and many had died before dawn

It's 2004 and I'm hearing the people roar

For the name of The Game, they line in front of the store

Swap meets, selling our mixtapes, I'm like, "Oh shit, wait"

Don't wanna be another nigga stuck regretting mistakes

Mixed feelings was my opinion, I was defending my insecurities

Chillin' my conscience next to a villain

Compton made you believe success wasn't real

Be honest, none of us knew of a record deal

So as I peel through these lottery tickets

I see a Harley Davidson truck visit the same plaza we shopped

A tall nigga hopped out with Jordans and a white tank top

He was top of the rap game, we was the top of the block

So watch that black boy fly

[Chorus: Anna Wise]

Black boy fly, watch that black boy fly

Black boy fly, watch that black boy fly

Black boy fly, watch that black boy fly

Black boy

[Verse 3: Kendrick Lamar]

My mama didn't raise me up to be jealous-hearted

Like most of the winners call it

Regardless of where you stay, hold your head and continue marching

That's what she said, but in my head I wanted to be like Jordan

Award touring the country with money from mic recording

The only way out the ghetto, you know the stereotype

Shooting hoops or live on the stereo like Top 40

And shortly, I got discouraged

Like every time I walked to the corner, had them guns bursting

Nigga, I was rehearsing in repetition the phrase

That only one in a million will ever see better days

Especially when the crime waves was bigger than tsunamis

Break your boogie boards to pieces, you just a typical homi'

All these niggas facetious and they all standing beside me

They all'll buy me a chopper if any one of you try me

What am I to do when every neighborhood is an obstacle?

When two niggas making it out had never sounded logical?

Three niggas making it out? That's mission impossible

So I never believed the type of performance that I could do

I wasn't jealous cause of the talents they got

I was terrified they'd be the last black boys to fly out of Compton

Thank God

(Black boy fly, watch that black boy fly)