[00:02.27]Dear Lord
[00:03.95]As we down here, struggle for as long as we know
[00:07.64]In search of a paradise to touch (my ***** Johnny J)
[00:10.76]Dreams are dreams, and reality seems to be the only place to go
[00:15.23]The only place for us
[00:17.31]I know, try to make the best of bad situations
[00:21.02]Seems to be my life's story
[00:24.01]Ain't no glory in pain, a soldier's story in vain
[00:27.62]And can't nobody live this life for me
[00:30.13]It's a ride y'all, a long hard ride
[00:33.27]Somebody break me I'm dreamin, I started as a seed the s***n
[00:35.89]Swimmin upstream, planted in the womb while screamin
[00:39.79]on the top, was my pops, my momma screamin stop
[00:41.81]From a single drop, this is what they got
[00:44.02]Not to disrespect my peoples but my poppa was a loser
[00:46.44]Only plan he had for momma was to **** her and abuse her
[00:49.32]Even as a little seed, I could see his plan for me
[00:52.31]Stranded on welfare, another broken family
[00:55.00]Now what was I to be, a product of this heated passion
[00:58.20]Momma got pregnant, and poppa got a piece of ass
[01:00.74]Look how it began, nobody gave a **** about me
[01:03.48]Pistol in my hand, this cruel world can do without me
[01:06.85]How can I survive? Got me askin white Jesus
[01:08.23]will a ***** live or die, cause the Lord can't see us
[01:12.43]in the deep dark clouds of the projects, ain't no suns*ine
[01:15.21]No sunny days and we only play sometimes
[01:18.32]When everybody's sleepin
[01:19.89]I open my window jump to the streets and get to creepin
[01:22.77]I can live or die, hope I get some money 'fore I'm gone
[01:25.70]I'm only 19, I'm tryin to hustle on my own
[01:27.80]on the spot where everybody and they pops tryin to slang rocks
[01:30.74]I'd rather go to college, but this is where the game stops
[01:33.60]Don't get it wrong cause it's always on, from dusk to dawn
[01:36.69]You can buy rocks glocks or a herringbone
[01:39.00]You can ask my man Ishmael Reed
[01:41.13]Keep my nine heated all the time this is how we grind
[01:44.41]Meet up at the cemetary then get smoked out, pass the **** *****
[01:48.08]That Hennessey'll keep me keyed *****
[01:50.21]Everywhere I go ****** holla at me, "Keep it real G"
[01:53.41]And my reply til they kill me
[01:55.31]Act up if you feel me, I was born not to make it but I did
[01:58.96]The tribulations of a ghetto kid, still I rise
[02:01.50]Still I (still I) I rise (I rise)
[02:04.14]Please give me to the sky (the sky)
[02:06.69]And if (and if) I die (I die)
[02:09.46]I don't want you to cry
[02:11.56]I stay sharp as always
[02:13.03]Runnin ya bricks with blitz, through ya project hallways
[02:15.80]Dumpin crews like two's, ***** all day
[02:17.84]Secrets of war prepare me for the worst
[02:19.77]A life that's lavish full of cabbage or a life that's in a hearse
[02:22.44]But now my dreams it seeems though, be placin triple beams and things bro
[02:26.20]Diamond pinkie ring got the loot poppin out my jeans
[02:28.52]Now I plan to keep my glock c**ked
[02:30.04]If trouble was searchin for me then why not?
[02:31.91]Show em what I'm made of plus raised on, on my block
[02:34.15]Chancellor Ave, where many turn to the street, thugs snatchin bags
[02:37.39]We out for power, makin cash it wasn't fast it'll make me mad
[02:39.73]I'm just like, pimpin
[02:41.31]My homey on the corner with his gat tucked, in
[02:43.71]Youngest they buckin somethin the life he leads
[02:46.40]the life he don't need, don't we all know
[02:49.19]He tryin to rise up and we just go doe, still he rise
[02:50.78]Dreams of lost hope
[02:52.11]I hit the strip broke where the fiends get coke
[02:54.60]and still I rise now I float cowards ghost
[02:56.89]Whenever we come around, I'm runnin down
[02:59.38]clutchin a pound, live as sirens, duckin the sound
[03:02.09]I used to hustle with my moms til the sun came
[03:04.49]My homey Harm doin time from this drug game
[03:07.72]Stolen cars, war scars, born a Outlaw
[03:10.15]Behind bars, go to sleep just to see the stars
[03:12.93]Freedom is ours, though we trapped on a firm block
[03:16.00]Crackheads only ten learn to duck cops
[03:18.19]In ninety-six my glock's my plastic, passion for blastin bastards
[03:20.78]No faces for open caskets, peelin ya cap backwards
[03:23.80]Ya cowards ain't prepared for pistol practice
[03:26.05]I send my missiles through your mattress
[03:27.67]Leavin holes in your body like a cactus
[03:29.53]While me and my crew be boppin more greens than topic
[03:31.88]and loot to keep the seams in my motherf****n jeans poppin
[03:34.83]Leavin ya spleen to pick up
[03:36.47]Half of you ****** is softer than a Snicker
[03:40.72]Let's go to war and see who draw quicker
[03:42.86]and still I rise, and still I rise...
[03:45.03]Still I (still I) I rise (I rise)
[03:48.11]Please give me to the sky (the sky)
[03:51.18]And if (and if) I die (I die)
[03:53.47]I don't want you to cry
[03:56.55]Still I (still I) I rise (I rise)
[03:59.05]Please give me to the sky (the sky)
[04:01.91]And if (and if) I die (I die)
[04:04.66]I don't want you to cry
[04:09.35]Y'all ****** fake
[04:13.25]All day everyday
[04:17.17]So now I got roller blades, *****
[04:23.83]Thought you knew
[04:28.58]Your mouth is rich
[04:32.12]C'mon pops, let's go..