Still I Rise (feat. Ta'He)

Dear Lord As we down here, struggle for as long as we know In search of a paradise to touch (Johnny J) Dreams are dreams, and reality seems to be the only place to go The only place for us I know, try to 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 Somebody break 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 momma screamin' stop From a single drop, this is what they got Not to disrespect my peoples but my poppa was a loser Only plan he had for momma was to f- 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 Momma got pregnant, and poppa got a piece of a- Look how it began, nobody gave a f- about me Pi- 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 19, I'm tryin' to hustle on my own On the spot where everybody and they pops tryin' to 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 r- You can ask my man Ishmael Reed Keep my .9 heated all the time this is how we grind Meet up at the cemetery then get sm- out, pass the w- nigga That Hennessey'll keep me keyed Everywhere I go n- 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" Still I (still I) I rise (I rise) Please give me to the sky (the sky) And if (and if) I die (I die) I don't want you to cry I stay sharp as always Runnin' ya bricks with bl-, through ya project hallways Dumpin' crews like two's, nigga all day Secrets of war prepare me for the worst So 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 Till my- 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 We out for power, makin' cash it wasn't fast it'll make me mad I'm just like, pimpin' My homey on the corner with his gat tucked, in Youngest they buckin' somethin' the life he leads The life he don't need, don't we all know He tryin' to rise up and we just go doe, still he rise Dreams of lost hope I hit the strip broke where the fiends get c- And still I rise now I float cowards ghost Whenever we come around, I'm runnin' down Clutchin' a p-, live as sirens, duckin' the sound I used to hustle with my moms 'til the sun came My hommy Harm doin' time from this drug game Stolen cars, war scars, born a Outlaw Behind bars, go to sleep just to see the stars Freedom is ours, though we trapped on a firm block Ten only ten learn to duck cops In '96 my gl- my plastic, passion for blastin' bas- No faces for open caskets, peelin' ya cap backwards You cowards ain't prepared for pistol practice I send my mi- through your mattress Leavin' between your body like a cactus While me and my crew be boppin' more greens than topic And loot to keep the seams in my mother-n' jeans poppin' Leavin' ya spleen to pick up Half of you n- is softer than a Snicker So, let's go to war and see who draw quicker And still I rise, and still I rise Still I (still I) I rise (I rise) Please give me to the sky (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 (the sky) And if (and if) I die (I die) I don't want you to cry Y'all niggas be fake All day, everyday Now I got roller blades, bitch Thought you knew Your mouth is rich