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1. |
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Reminiscing
When it all made sense
When all you needed was
A dream and common sense
You live
To learn
And love
To live
Got to go back to
When I was young
(Being a Black youth)
Verse 1
Being a black youth
I was skinny like the bamboo
So sweet I had a bad tooth
Chocolate and Candy
Cereal and Kool-Aid
Cola’s and Fast Food
My black youth
MJ
Thriller
Beat it
Bad dude
jacket with the zippers and the dance moves
White glove glittered on his hand too
Being a black youth
Name Brand shoes
A.ll D.ay I. D.ream A.bout S.ome
new pair of kicks
I’m into rap too
Run DMC
Cool J was bad too
Remember Eazy had a Jerri Curl
and Pac had Juice
Listened to Black Moon
Wu Tang
Cash Rules
We went to School throwin bones in the bathroom
I got in trouble passin notes in the classroom
Girls callin me on three-way
yeah that’s cute
They on my cashews
But jealous cats who
smile in ya face
turn around and back-stab you
Ya blood drip in a bucket
you know how Crabs do
don’t let’em grab you
it’s time for me to make that move
Being a black youth
rebel with a tatoo
The cutest girls went to church
I would flirt on the back pew
the preacher in the podium
verses from Matthew
I heard'em but the peer-pressure worked like a vacuum
My black youth
House parties with the B.Y.O.B. drinkin’
thinkin’ that’s cool
Ugly girls used to hate us cuz we did act cruel
Prank calls
Practical jokes
we did act fools
Thinking back
where you’re from
where you’re at
and what you have too
Can make a difference in ya path, True!
But you might be suprised
if you Think you can
Do what you have to
It’s nothing that you can’t do
Being a Black youth
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2. |
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Just Imagine
My words kinda vivid
Now if you close your eyes,
you can see this while you listen
Experience
at different Periods
how I was living
Was it about the Choices
or the Options I was given?
Growin' up
I didn't have it bad as other children
but we lived in the same hood
lame school system
plus we had television
My mother had wisdom
but I ran wit the rebels
I could here the Devil's whisssper
The Teachers couldn't hold my attention
I was distant
I focused on the posters on my wall
caught a vision
now my words fall in Rhythm
HIP HOP made a difference
making albums ain't the mission
I'm just sayin' what I'm feelin'
My uncle's life in prison
at times
I would visit
I made bad decisions
almost had to do it with him
My moms found a weapon in my dresser
and you know it ain't impress her
so the rest is His-story
I got evicted
IN THE SUNSHINE
this is my life, my life
IN THE SUNSHINE
My life my life
IN THE SUNSHINE
This is my life, my life
IN THE SUNSHINE
My life, my life
IN THE SUNSHINE
My life, my life
IN THE SUNSHINE
My life, my life
Aaaaah Haaah
She said
"You gon' end up JUST like your Uncle
Locked up
or maybe shot up
a lot of trouble"
The only man at home
I said "I'm just trynna hustle"
"I know you gettin grown"
she said, "I'm just trynna love you"
The man,
Seventeen is plenty
drinkin' Henny
Her words prophetic
I'm headed for Three to Twenty
Behind Bars
Closing my eyes
I see the City
FREEDOM!
But is it really?
Is it really???
Trynna make it today,
JOBS make you a slave
The free man,
Ordered to pay
Forced to behave
Police man and soldiers obey
War is the way
Now the P.O.W.'s sit at home
It's no escape,
This is Life
IN THE SUNSHINE
this is my life, my life
IN THE SUNSHINE
My life my life
IN THE SUNSHINE
This is my life, my life
IN THE SUNSHINE
My life, my life
IN THE SUNSHINE
My life, my life
IN THE SUNSHINE
My life, my life
Aaaaah Haaah
Some of my People died by the pistol
I know this dude from Lebanon,
his people died by the Missile
A white boy I know,
his brother died sniffin' crystal
Different mothers
and different colors
That ain't the Issue
I got a sister
Same mother
Different fathers
Same last name like Dwayne
"Different Worlds"
In the same Houses
I got a brother
Same father
Different mothers
Same song
Different feelings
Damn shame
Daddy didn't Love him
He loved to party when the kids was younger
Now every bodies older
The parties over
Outside is colder
but I forgive him
Allah made a difference
making albums ain't the mission
I'm just sayin' what I'm feelin'
LISTEN
So long in the dark of the night
Your eyes must adjust to the light
Held close in its warm embrace
Awakens what time has erased
The cold in your soul melts away
And tears evaporate
Ignore the approaching clouds
It may rain today
But it’s not right now
IN THE SUNSHINE
this is my life, my life
IN THE SUNSHINE
My life my life
IN THE SUNSHINE
This is my life, my life
IN THE SUNSHINE
My life, my life
IN THE SUNSHINE
My life, my life
IN THE SUNSHINE
Awwww Huuuh
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3. |
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Living in the city so heavy
Hustler man
Momma said
What you gonna’ do in the city?
What you gonna’ do about money?
Easy to get wrapped up in a life of sin and shame
(I be on the block hustling, counting my stack)
What you gonna’ do in the city?
What you gonna’ do about money?
Easy to get wrapped up in a life of sin and shame
(I be on the block hustling, counting my stack)
(Verse 1)
I feel like a fish in the water
But the
fish, stuck in a bowl
Same as the residents
But trynna change my element
Similar to Midas
When his finger
tips touch the gold
I puffed the O’s
Blowing ideas up in smoke
Time bomb ticking fast
Brain still running slow
Pitching pennies in the well
Wishing that I wasn’t broke
F#c% what you buy
And wanna flash like a thunderbolt
What you own
What you sold
Everything but your soul
Without the money
Ain’t a
damn thing
funny joke
Trynna lift hearts
But they numb and cold
Just like
Your hands
when you shovel snow
But you say it wasn’t dope
Pigs undercover so
Negus snitching under oath
Politics and governments
Filled with corruptables
You need more than campaigns
to get us to vote
I was thinking just the same thang
as some gutter folks
Saying “That’s a Muth@f#c%in shame“
What you cussin’ for?
Money makes the West world spin
And diamonds are a girls best friend
You could ask Miss Wonderful
Trynna get married
Have kids
Live comfortable
The Bills Cliff Huxtable
But Cops still f#c% with you
(chorus)
What you gonna’ do in the city?
What you gonna’ do about money?
Easy to get wrapped up in a life of sin and shame
(I be on the block hustling, counting my stack)
What you gonna’ do in the city?
What you gonna’ do about money?
Easy to get wrapped up in a life of sin and shame
(I be on the block hustling, counting my stack)
Verse 2
(R-O-C)
See the
City got love
The city got pain
They be throwing heavy metal
Every ghettos the same
Some Negus pop Negus
Spend they’re life in the bing
Other Negus on the streets doing the trifle-list things to friends
They say money is the root of all evil
They will Desert Eagle people for the ice and the chain
Got muslims killing muslims
Afterlife in the hellfire
Tell me why they’re not using their brain
(I don’t know)
I tell you what though
I’m using my brain
I’m trynna get a couple dollars
without using the stainless steel
But all that chillin’ don’t pay the bills
Most of my Negus knee deep in the game
A few of my Negus they left in a hearse
While I was writin’ this verse
My close friend got slain
It’s f#c%ed up
Me and One Be Lo
Humble doe
We live the struggle
Came to bring y’all the pain
Come on
chorus
What you gonna’ do in the city?
What you gonna’ do about money?
Easy to get wrapped up in a life of sin and shame
(I be on the block hustling, counting my stack)
What you gonna’ do in the city?
What you gonna’ do about money?
Easy to get wrapped up in a life of sin and shame
(I be on the block hustling, counting my stack)
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4. |
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Verse 1
Way before the science exam
My man knew an ounce weighed around
Twenty eight grams
Sixteen of those a pound
had to weigh it himself
Homework everyday
he kept the scale on the shelf
Peers wonder how he’s acing the test
He aint a damn fool
Barely came to school
teacher saving her breath
Though he never heard her teach it before
If she asked the class clown "What’s a thou?"
He could tell her "Thats a kilo!”
Zero's in math class
he got all E's
But knew more about numbers
than brothers working at Wall Street
Only kid to flunk Phys Ed
Playing hookie
Running game with the bookie
at the gym instead
Never carried backpacks, books or pencil lead
He pack
in the small of his back
gats wit lead
He point it at your head
No more food fights
That's blood stains
not ketchup
You might lose your life
He ditched his English class
to run with some Mexicans
Now he’s writing essays/Ese’s
Police just arrested them
No College doe for he
lawyer fees
But he earned a full scholarship at D.O.C.
He earned a full scholarship at D.O.C.
He earned a full scholarship at D.O.C.
verse 2
She was a Tomboy
not really cute
Really tall
really skinny
really popular
cool
Tenth grader
varsity player
and props on the hoop
had another older brother
say he taught her to shoot
Scholarships she was offered a few
All she gotta do is get that diploma
then a College recruit
She’s intelligent
talented
and confident too
Her boyfriend love and support her
he’s proud of his boo
Everything sound sweet
kinda hard to be true
You aint gotta get the pudding
but you gotta get proof
Here it is
there he is when she’s down with the Flu
Outta the blue
for two days
she’s not in the school
Vomit her food
she need to get a doctor’s excuse
Approximately
Two o'clock
in his office 'll do
But the note didn’t say she had a stomach virus
But she did have something in her stomach hiding
She missed her class period
her last period
a new life could end her life
it's that serious
She don't wanna let her coach and her team down
She don't wanna lose her hopes and her dreams now
The children are the future
I do believe
but if this child has a future
She lose degrees
(she could lose degrees)
And she could lose prestige
(she could lost prestige)
And she could lose the league
(The league, out of the question. Everybody trynna get her to do the right thing. Do what’s best for her.)
Wo wo woOoooo
I rise up each day
Thinking all those problems that surround my way
Some hide away
But I don’t wait for nothing
Immo find my way
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5. |
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verse 1
No fear,
The real shit is here
Peace to the fans
How we keep it raw?
freezer bag
Wrap beef in Saran
Season veterans
Competition feeding you bland
This Militia like the A team in the van
I roll to the studio
ink and a pad
Ever since the Little Boy dropped
BOOM
Hiroshima Japan
Groundbreaking
The wise man built the foundation
on a rock solid surface
yours sinking in Sand
We terrorize the game
like the Germany Olympics
Surprised
acting like you never heard of me spittin’
It's the OneManArmy
Master the pen weapons
I hit harder than Bonds
after the injections
You can't impress me with them Dracula impressions
No reflection of self
You biting’ on the next/Necks one
You aint a Nemesis clone
for original lyricists
Alone
One Be Lo
holding down the premises
Verse 2
Even if you had an oven with logs in it
committed Arson
One Be Lo flow so chill
nothing defrost him
Even when I'm rugged and raw
stuck in a coffin
My cd's repeat
like Bill Russel in Boston
No need to say
these puppets are talking
Put your money where ya mouth is
Kids
double your losses
Critics
What’s the problem?
Spit it nothing but flawless
Haters terminated
get Shwartzenegers in office
Huddle your offense
tell'em humble your optics
See this superstar?
You need a hubble
I’m cosmic
Shine like the Batman sign
above the Gotham
Enemies can't riddle me silly
we come and solve'em
Customers calling
I hustle til the muscles exhausted
The dollars double and bubble like aqua
Pens mightier than your swords
I'm still marching
Left, Right,
front line
battle between the margins
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6. |
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Work Hard come home looking like a slob
On the weekend whole crew gotta mobb
having a good time, that's really not a prob
When haters wanna come in ya face, say get a job ninja
Verse 1
See back in them tape days
I used to dub
Steal what I used to love
Out of record stores
favorite artists never seen a crumb
I wasn't thinking how the artist ain't supported
by the five finger discount
I did it cuz I can't afford it
Don't wanna take food off your plate homie
We’ in the same sailboat
getting paid slowly
I got a budget for a 5 pack of blank Sony’s
My Boy copped the albums
usually made the tapes for me
Your biggest fan tho
I'm in the club wild’in on the dance floor
push the record to whoever
everywhere I can yo
Inspired me with microphones no doubt
I'm in the studio
I'm trynna put my own shit out
Build a fanbase
tour on different landscapes
I bring it home and put the meals on the fam plates
Now a days,
they download me at a fast pace
leave me with a bad taste
Hate to say I can relate
verse 3
How can I explain this
I'm living the life of entertainment
Far from the rich and the famous
But I aint complaining
And I aint complacent
That's why I'm doing my thing
down in this basement
So cool,
so fresh
The difference between
Grapes and Raisins
Can't be caged
I'm the difference between
apes and Cain
Now tears and blood stain the pages
And the skills are amazing
Got a lot of bills
I need to pay quick
So money I need to make quick
But beware
cuz greed is contagious
Yeah
we know how the game is
You give'm yourself
they wanna change it
Give'em the truth
they won't embrace it
Give'em your soul
they won't exchange it
Take down names
but who the blame is?
(You!)
Looking in the mirror when I say this
Gotta have faith in this equation
Gotta have patience
They keep a n#gg@ waiting
Through all the joy and the pain
the sunshine the rain
the loss and the gain
be prepared for situations
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7. |
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Chorus
War makes soldiers out of our babies
No one know why they fight
Battling for freedom outta feel right
But this ain’t right
It just ain’t right
War makes killers out of our babies
Sacrificing they’re lives
Struggling to tell the truth for the lies
But this ain’t right
It just ain’t right
Verse one
They say I couldn't go to College
cuz my grades never seen top scores
Maybe the cemetery
Maybe the C-block four
Before the age of Twenty One
can't let'em see my corpse
too many haters wanna see my loss
If need, by force
They all up in your business
gotta be 'bout yours
You need a Family in the Streets I cross
I got a Uncle
Who got a Hustle
You got some Muscle
He got more
.
He told me when I need some work
He could be my Boss
Easy for cats who wanna be hardcore
but this is fam
and He say He got a plan to help me feed my poor
Put me on his team
travel like Emcee's on tour
I heard all around the world
He got some Beef I'm sure
But I'm all about the Peace not War
I asked momma
what she thought about his drama
said, She not sure
I'm thinking
what I don't know behind these closed doors
Could never Hurt
so I proceed my Course
now check it out y’all
Chorus
War makes soldiers out of our babies
No one know why they fight
Battling for freedom outta feel right
But this ain’t right
It just ain’t right
War makes killers out of our babies
Sacrificing they’re lives
Struggling to tell the truth for the lies
But this ain’t right
It just ain’t right
verse 2
I used to struggle to get cream
But now I'm on his team
It's more like a regime
We’re doing some BIG things
We roll up on the scene
in them Big Trucks
Pushed to the Extreme
YOU F#ck#n' with the best
Everybody respect these
Or fear these
Drop to ya knee's
He trained wit the weapons that squeeze
No veteran was Better than He
He even got a few connects over seas
You aint a threat- Please
Bow to the King
you a Pawn in this Chess thing
Could be his Bishop or Queen
He call you his chess piece
Any traitor get bullets
put'em all in your chest/chess piece
I jump, when I'm told or they check me
Sometimes I hear
the screams in my dreams
at Eightteen I regret sleep
And this ain't what I signed up for
I thought my Uncle had my back
but he lied once more
My grand daddy said he worked for him back in the day
I can't believe the fam could act this way
now check it out y’all
Chorus
War makes soldiers out of our babies
No one know why they fight
Battling for freedom outta feel right
But this ain’t right
It just ain’t right
War makes killers out of our babies
Sacrificing they’re lives
Struggling to tell the truth for the lies
But this ain’t right
It just ain’t right
verse 3
It's gettin deep
I got a order to serve combat
I asked myself,
“Should I let him run my life, or turn my back?"
If I return to the block
I prolly serve mo' crack
I would do it
but it don't sound good
On my record
trynna get a good job
after discharge
with dishonor
So now I'm off to Iraq
You know I miss momma
She’s so afraid I'll get attacked by the Islamics
I wrote a letter, said "I'll be home in Six, promise"
But mo’ drama
Osama
They’re holdin' a press conference
but no comments
My family wanna know about the poor progress
My Uncle only talk about the war process
Six months turned to eighteen fast
Last thing I remembered was a roadside blast
Same night
Momma seen it on her tv set
The next day she got a flag
and a relief check
From UNCLE SAM y’all
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8. |
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When I told'em I was putting out my own shit
People giggle giggle
funny bone shit
I must be on some grown shit
Serious
no time
for silly games or jokes kid
You aint gotta gimme shit
I'm always on that go get
Don't stop
Don’t quit
All around the clock
‘til it don't tick
tick
tick
simlilar to glow stick
Every line shine
over beats me and Compoze did
All over the globe spin
now they’ on that Oh shit!
Bars so clean
You could leave'em on a soap dish
Keep the fans cooking
make'em think I had the stove lit
Pot handles and all
Chickens on that Rotisserie
yessiree
Signatures in bold script
Case you didn't notice
One Be Lo flow is the coldest
and I'm hot
Fever sniff
Nose Drip
cough cough
So sick
Any given moment
I can get into the zone quick
Focus
mo' hits
Coming off that slow pitch
R
A
W
come without a Trojan
Strokin'
Motion
let's take'em to the Ocean
Lyrics like a killer whale
devour ya whole shit
Why you telling shark tales?
You are just a goldfish
Too many Piranhas that bite
be on that clone shit
First they’re on that Pac cock
Now they on that Hov d#ck
I be on my own my own sh#t
Some be making illusions
and Hokus
Pokus
God set us a part
like Moses
chosen
One Be Lo the spokesmen
Don't switch
I'm giving hope to the hopeless
You be selling pipe dreams
baking soda
coke mix
Haters never liked me
f#ck is what I don't give
They pray I fall
Amen
I'm thinking Omen
My old shit
still rocking today
like in Stone Hedge
When I spit that new shit
you can see my growth like
Samson with the fro picked
Never seen at Bo Rics
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9. |
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verse 1
Now I cant say that I remember
but i'm still gonna try to paint a picture
What happened on the day I was delivered
My daddy wasn't there with a cigar
But granny she was there with a camera
and she still got the pictures
Cried so much
she could prolly make a river
The first grandson of the litter
wipe his spit up
The greatest babysitter
A lover not a fighter
not a taker but a giver
ABC's say it with him
Some say it's wisdom
Not an alchemist
Couldn't turn nothin gold
but she could make it glitter
Silence is gold
and her words like Silver
Every Sunday morning
she engaged in the scriptures
Warm smile on her face
you can feel it
Sunday afternoon
she could bake or use the skillet
And me I couldn't wait for the visit
She kept something sweet
but you gotta come and get it
come and kiss her
Chorus
La la la laaa
La la la la
She used to call it Sugar
like Ray with the fist
La la la laaa
La la la la
The one who helped change
when your diapers fulla ish
La la la laaa
La la la la
I know you’re getting grown
but you’re never too big
La la la laaa
La la la la
Cuz if it wasn't for her
you wouldn't exist
La
Laaa
verse 2
I used to keep a drool
But not now i'm eating food
And now i'm thinking in school
And now I think I'm cool
And now me and my friends started hanging
started riding BMX's
Thinking
We’ the ones
We’ the young
We’ the restless
Used to play that Tic Tac Toe
with the pencil
Now i'm on the Sega Genesis
and Nintendo
Sports with the fashion
Shorties with the fat butts
Homies in the handcuffs
Need to pull their pants up
Didn't know it all
but we did know enough
How to roll a blunt
How to get some guts
How to throw a punch
when the going get tough
Pick a side or get back
get fronted
get bucks
Older people getting old
We’re just growing up
The generation gap
wasn't open for discuss
We didn't really speak
in the middle of the week
But I seen her every Sunday
better kiss her on the cheek
Chorus
La la la laaa
La la la la
She used to call it Sugar
like Ray with the fist
La la la laaa
La la la la
The one who helped change
when your diapers fulla ish
La la la laaa
La la la la
I know you’re getting grown
but you’re never too big
La la la laaa
La la la la
Cuz if it wasn't for her
you wouldn't exist
La
Laaa
verse 3
We got one still with us on my Mammy side
The only time I seen my step daddy cry
is when my granny died
All the times she was going to the hospital
Took it all for granted
didn't know her death was possible
Was it her health or her stress?
Some members in your family
they can make you worry yourself to death
I know I wasn't the worse
but far from the best
But she showed us all love
biggest heart up in her chest
I'm sitting at her funeral
feeling unusual
She’s laying there sleeping
looking peaceful and beautiful
Natural
outside, I look cool casual
Inside, EMOTIONS you could type in all capitals
Deeply missed
by her kin and her friends
I felt tears on my cheek
yo I couldn't pretend
Gave her one for the road
I know that this is the end
But if I make it up to heaven
immo kiss her again
Chorus
She used to call it Sugar
like Ray with the fist
She used to call it Sugar
like Ray with the fist
She used to call it Sugar
like Ray with the fist
She used to call it Sugar
like Ray with the fist
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10. |
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Back when all the Light-Skinned dudes was gettin’
so much attention
I was no competition
I was so young and different
The Pretty lil girls
used to blow Bubbalicious
No love for a black cat
They’re so superstitious
More like a black sheep
wooly fro when you pick it
Jerri Curl had a victim
I could show you some pictures
But still I had a little bit a confidence
Alpha male dominance
Bright smile
Light brown eyes
my accomplice
Cruel jokes might distract'em from the compliments but
I'm soo cool
she attracted to the opposite
I didn't know about the Power of Black people
cuz Christopher Columbus was a textbook hero
He was a textbook hero
and We know
I shoulda knew more about Malcolm
but we only read a chapter
and pictures of the Africans in National Geographic
was makin’ me embarrased
Other kids had laughter
From savage to a slave
Inferior to a Master
My teacher didn't say it
but from what I had gathered
The Europeans had the biggest impact
on world matters
Money, Power, Respect!
we heard about the characters
All about the Franklins
Not about the Bannekers
I guess you could say
The Benjamins
like Kim and them
Blond hair
Blue eyes
Nose Jobs
Resemble them
Really wish Mike could take it
back to Ben again
He said,
“It didn't matter if Black or White, the skin you in"
See I agree
if you keep it in context
But Jesus painted White
gave my people the complex
and still we’re eager for progress
even though The Man
shot King in the process
Yo
I'm older now
maybe fourteen
fifteen
Started learning Black History
from Emcee's
Portier
Cosby
and Colon Powell
were nice dudes
But I relate more to
Rakim and Ice Cube
And other rappers had African medallions
I didn't know the meaning
but I knew I had to have one
And so I grabbed one
and put it
It’s on like
It’s like
It’s like Black y’all
I say it loud
cuz I'm proud to be Dat y'all
My People do great things
and that's a fact y'all
And we can do more than Rap
and play basketball
now check it
I ain’t teaching y'all to hate White
‘cuz thinking one color’s better than another
Yo that ain't right
I'm just trynna shed some daylight
Larry Bird had a J
But Mike taught me how to take flight
Now Black kids wanna pay mo' price
To stay way mo’ fly
but it's way mo' to life
You can even ask the Asian kid who made Lo’s Nikes
Workin in a sweatshop
As the day go by
Knowledge
Will give you way more Power than say Austin
Them textbooks you’re readin' in schools
just take caution
No offense
to Mark Twain
and all them
Shakespeare plays today
Remain awesome
But what about Langston Hughes
James Baldwin
Alex Haley watered the Roots
Became a forest
And now I'm embarrassed
to say I was embarrassed
of them Africans
Standing in a beautiful portrait
They say “The Blacker the Berry the Sweeter the Juice”
I had to Love my self
So I could even love You
You
You
You
You
You
You
You
You
You
You
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11. |
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Verse 3
I be sitting here,
trynna have a wonderful day
It's sunshine
but sometimes
it's nothing but rain
And it's nothing but pain
Feels like I got nothing to lose
but many feel like it's nothing to gain
Say it's nothing new
under the shade
New day
same rock
cover the snake
And nothing is changed
So a lot of hands bumming for change
There's not enough in the bank
There's not a crumb on your plate
Some can relate
We grew up in the States
Of you grew up in a place
Where the bombs and body parts
blew up in ya face
Where the youth get in trouble
tossin' rubble at tanks
No escape
no where to hide
you run and get chased
By the police
Quick to point a gun in ya face
And bust triggers
But they aint really bustin' no grapes
Now he's a Killer
The judge say it wasn't the case
Call us a Nigguh
But don't forget the W-A
Can't understand
we‘re a hundred miles running
away
But if you really had a heart
you would love what I say
Some girs love diamonds
that fund a brigade
Now who gets lost in the shuffle?
The Clubs and the Spades
Whaat?
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12. |
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Verse 4
Being a Black, Brown, White youth
Never the less
Schools integrated
Everybody kept to their self
Teachers barely got paid
adding stress to their health
A lot of students failed
dropped out
dead or in jail
Smoked out
turned out
Young
Pregnant as well
I knew a girl who got molested
where her relatives dwell
But nobody helped
thinking she invented the tale
Now she’s feelin' hella regret
Resented her self
My momma waitin' on them Child-Support
checks in the mail
WIC coupons
Juice, eggs
Cheddar and milk
but let me guess
they tell us we’re blessed
with nothin' we can measure on scales
We’re jealous of the Reverends wealth
We used to read about Heaven and Hell
Sittin' in Church
with blind faith
Prolly shooda read it in Braille
A prodigal son
Instead I rebelled
I met the Devil Himself
So now I'm laughin' at the threat of a belt
I seen my momma dreams
of me being a top scholar
Starting to fade
when my grades started sinkin'
Rock bottom
It's hard to look her in her face
Leakin' salt water
She tried to plead her case
when she seen the cops got us
Most likely the Army recruiting
the High School students
Our role models
in films, movies
and gyms hoopin’
Pumpin' our fist to it
We listened to real music
But they sayin' Hip Hop had a negative influence
on Black youth
Brown youth
White youth
Yellow youth
Red youth
Tell the truth
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13. |
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verse 1
Grew up black and poor
in the Yak for short
Just trynna give and get something
never had before
Played a lot of B ball
never rapped for sport
Cuz I'm the man with the plan
I over stand the law
You can consume the rumors
you can ask the source
It's hard to make it out the bucket
when the crabs galore
Back then
labels fronted on my track records
Cuz they was
Rip Van Winkle
on the mattress snore
No deals
no love
lack of support
Now I make'em pay
like the Baby daddies
dragged in court
While you alcoholics
pass the Don
That's right
I’m the workaholic all night
pass the Dawn
Spit a rhyme like
Cassius talk
"It's the greatest all time"
punch lines
hooks
jab ya jaw
Knock ya glasses off
Bully snatch ya cross
Smoking Joe's like Frazier
Butt the ashes off
You rappers really don't wanna clash at war
That's like George Bush Junior
shooting at Iraqi force
One Thing about my crew
fantastic four
You aint running with my team
with ya Asthma huuuh
Blast off
back and forth
packing for tours
They’re canceling yours
Samurai shame
hand you a sword
Wet you haters like the Baptist John
If you aint a fan
after this song
what planet you on?
Come on
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14. |
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Warm weather
Make the people feel better
We can all get together
Do whatever
Heey!
(All day long)
When the sunshine
Have a good time
We can take outside
Look alive
Hey!
(In the Summertime)
Another summer time anthem
Live at the barbecue
Posing for the camera
Now every body having fun
When its all said and done
Looking forward to the next one
(In the Summer time)
VERSE 1 (One Be Lo)
Ayo I’m lemonade sippin’
In the shade sittin’ on some green
Come alive Spring
Summertime visions
Cool breeze or maybe the A/C chillin’
Ice cream
Watermelon
Barbecue grillin’
Hopscotch children
Drop tops whippin’ out the car wash
Drippin’ with the boom bass system
Dark clouds rinse and the flowers get bigger
Clear skies wishin’ on the star, Big Dipper
Rhymes I deliver at the mailman’s pace
With mace by the waist so ya dogs cant sic’em
Or bow wow, yippee yo, the dogs chase kitten
Maybe cuz, ladies love like I’m Cool J Smiffin
Wesson Eastside competition
North and Southside opposition
Got the block hot as friction
Catch me in the lab with the ill composition
Runnin’ straight to the park where the DJ spinnin’
(In the Summertime)
CHORUS (One Be Lo/Melanie Rutherford/DJ Abilities)
Warm weather
Make the people feel better
We can all get together
Do whatever
Heey!
When the sunshine
Have a good time
We can take outside
Look alive
Hey!
(In the Summertime)
Another summer time anthem
Live at the barbecue
Posing for the camera
Now every body having fun
When its all said and done
Looking forward to the next one
(In the Summer time)
VERSE 2 (Zumbi)
Finally the sun same came
Son sippin’ St. Ides
Trippin’ off the heat
Countin’ sheep
The day fly
We wanna stay high
Breathe in the light breeze
Shorty lookin’ right
Smellin’ juicy
I might squeeze
Outside festival
Wing look delectable
Barbecue and hot sauce
Now I need some vegetable
Pass me the cold one
Pour something out
Fo’ I put it to my mouth
Givin’ thanks to the old ones
Family, Friends we littered through the streets
Nothin’ on my mind ‘cept, flowin’ over beats
Concrete too constricted
Vamos to the beach
Nature’s a gift
The lessons she can teach
The seasons a reason
Chill and relax
It’s the summer of our lives
We can’t take it back
Make it endless
It gets mo’betta
Mama said good memories live forever
BRIDGE (Melanie Rutherford)
Remember when (Remember when)
We used to eat snow cones
Hustlin’ all day long
Although we know it was wrong (we knew it baby)
Thats what we did all day long
(All day long)
In the summer time
VERSE 3 (Devin the Dude)
Get together and chill
It’s a must
We gotta do it
Try to cool out
Even though its hot and humid out here
Got beer, got drinks for the ladies
Nice breeze coming through
The spot’s kinda shady
Let the kids play
Let the women talk
Me and the fellas yep, we finna walk
So follow your nose all of those who smoke
We ‘bout to go and come back with our eyes kinda low
Gotta be cautious
Police on horses
Hit it and pause it
Don’t try to force it
They move closer and closer but we good
They smell nothin’ but the mesquite wood
As the stakes turn
(That smell good right there)
The grates burn
Smoke some of yours, you smoke some of mine
Treat everyday like it was Summertime
BRIDGE (Melanie Rutherford)
In the Summertime
In the Summer time
In the Summer time
In the Summer time
(In the Summertime)
OUTRO (Devin the Dude)
In the Summertime
When the sun come out
When the barbecue grills and the blunts come out
And them cadillac grills make the ladies come out
They wanna see what the commotion is all about
(In the Summertime)
In the Summertime
When the sun come out
When the barbecue grills and the blunts come out
And them cadillac grills make the ladies come out
They wanna see what the commotion is all about
(In the Summertime)
TALKING (One Be Lo)
Yeah
We all lookin forward to it
Summer vacation
Family and friends comin’ from out of town
(You know what im sayin’)
To spend time with us
Kids running around the park
Barbecues
Everybody taking pictures
(Haha)
We gon’ remember this one right here
In the Summertime
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15. |
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Whoa!
You know exactly how I'm coming
Cool with the J
and the Ladies all Love him
In malls, schools and church,
they flock by the hundreds
Girls four to one
you should walk away with something
At least get her name and her number
Players in the game know the play
when we leave from the huddle
My offense
turned defense
All of a sudden
It's a group of full backs
you can tell they're all cousins
On one to ten scales
they're nines
and nothing under
I never was shy
come time for a discussion
At first I was thinking 'bout
working undercovers
Now i'm trynna stop playing
and work her in the budget
You know the kind
pull a brother mind out the gutter
I did a little time
and she never passed judgement
The cards got shuffled
Dealt me a piece that was missing from the puzzle
She a diamond in the roughage
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16. |
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Verse 1
I was sent
to the three-fourths of water
covered Earth
Spittin' fire
but i'm cool like the Element of wind
Negative exist
'til you develop the pic
It was One
to the Nine
to the Seven
to the Six
Jazz and Soul music for-
ever getting spins
But these days, a disco
record was the sh#t
And welcome back Kotter was a
television hit
But four years, and Reagan was a
presidential pick
We pitched pennies in wells
but never get a sip
Like ice water in hell
The devil with a grin
The rich feeding themselves
Forever til the end
Now my destiny is felon in the pin
Cuz the Melanin is dwellin in my skin
F it to the pigs
My attitude, Ice Cube
Yella, Eazy, Ren
No innocence
We’re guilty of the same ignorance
Muslim oils, came to my sense
I never did it sense
Verse 2
Now don't get it twisted like a fellow with a wrench
Suicide was never meant
But malnourishment
from Drugs and alcohol in my system in a sense
It's the same when a blade severe veins in ya wrist
Connected to a raised hand
rebel with a fist
In a trench with a weapon
seeking heaven in the end
Since Binary began,
this how I represent
You can run and tell a friend
Or sell it to a kid
It's too many fake smiles
that stretch over the chin
Haters wanna take a mile
so I never give an inch
No disrespect
I know my elders feel a bit
When they ask me about life
I tell'em it's a Bitch
And when I say Bitch
I ain't talking 'bout no estrogen and tits
I'm talking 'bout experiences testing me to quit
I'm wrestling within
knowing winners never did
Verse 3
But haters do exist
like treble in the mix
I bass in their face
like decibels of ten
We aint the same level, same style
you could try to walk a mile
you could never do it stepping in my kicks
And if you ever fix ya lips
to discuss One Be Lo
You can say
he was a legend with the pen
once again
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released November 7, 2020
PRODUCERS: Eric G, One Be Lo
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS: Aaron Angus, Jonas Siegel
ALL BEATS PRODUCED BY: Eric G (Soul Council)
CO PRODUCED BY: OneManArmy
ALL ADDITIONAL INSTRUMENTATION BY: Jonas Siegel
ALL SCRATCHES. BY: DJ Abilities
ALL SONGS SEQUENCED BY: OneManArmy
ALL ARRANGEMENTS: OneManArmy
RECORDED/MIXED BY: Aaron Angus
MASTERING BY: D Sane
EXÉCUTIVE PRODUCER: Nahshid Sulaiman
COVER ART BY: Caleb Haifley