[00:01.66] Dear Lord [00:03.45] As we down here, struggle for as long as we know [00:06.16] In search of a paradise to touch (my nigga Johnny J) [00:10.12] Dreams are dreams, and reality seems to be the only place to go [00:14.45] The only place for us [00:16.03] I know, try to make the best of bad situations [00:19.82] Seems to be my life's story [00:23.14] Ain't no glory in pain, a soldier's story in vain [00:27.10] And can't nobody live this life for me [00:28.90] It's a ride y'all, a long hard ride [00:32.11] Somebody wake me I'm dreamin, I started as a seed the semen [00:35.42] Swimmin upstream, planted in the womb while screamin [00:38.03] On the top, was my pops, my momma screamin stop [00:40.89] From a single drop, this is what they got [00:43.18] Not to disrespect my peoples but my poppa was a loser [00:45.67] Only plan he had for momma was to fuck her and abuse her [00:48.95] Even as a little seed, I could see his plan for me [00:51.20] Stranded on welfare, another broken family [00:54.33] Now what was I to be? A product of this heated passion [00:57.24] Momma got pregnant and Poppa got a piece of ass [00:59.86] Look how it began, nobody gave a fuck about me [01:02.39] Pistol in my hand, this cruel world can do without me [01:05.39] How can I survive? Got me askin white Jesus [01:07.40] "Will a nigga live or die?" cause the Lord can't see us [01:10.29] In the deep dark clouds of the projects, ain't no sunshine [01:14.26] No sunny days and we only play sometimes [01:16.95] When everybody's sleepin [01:18.50] I open my window jump to the streets and get to creepin [01:21.59] I can live or die, hope I get some money 'fore I'm gone [01:24.03] I'm only 19, I'm tryna hustle on my own [01:26.90] On the spot where everybody and they pops tryna slang rocks [01:30.06] I'd rather go to college, but this is where the game stops [01:32.69] Don't get it wrong cause it's always on, from dusk to dawn [01:35.77] You can buy rocks, Glocks or a herringbone [01:38.29] You can ask my man he's a mind reader, keep my nine heater [01:41.24] All the time this is how we grind [01:43.30] Meet up at the cemetery then get smoked out, pass the weed nigga [01:46.91] That Hennessey'll keep me keyed nigga [01:49.19] Everywhere I go niggas holla at me, "Keep it real G" [01:52.31] And my reply til they kill me: "Act up if you feel me!" [01:55.72] I was born not to make it but I did [01:58.20] The tribulations of a ghetto kid, still I rise [02:00.73] Still I (still I) I rise (I rise) [02:03.25] Please give me to the sky (the sky) [02:06.00] And if (and if) I die (I die) [02:08.72] I don't want you to cry [02:11.02] I stay sharp as always [02:12.26] Runnin ya bricks with blitz, through ya project hallways [02:14.72] Dumpin crews like two's, nigga all day [02:16.96] Secrets of war prepare me for the worst [02:18.80] A life that's lavish full of cabbage or a life that's in a hearse [02:21.49] But now my dreams it seeems though, be placin triple beams and things bro [02:25.05] Diamond pinkie ring got the loot poppin out my jeans [02:27.58] Now I plan to keep my Glock cocked [02:28.59] If trouble was searchin for me then why not? [02:31.05] Show em what I'm made of plus raised on, on my block [02:32.94] Chancellor Ave, where many turn to the street, thugs snatchin bags [02:36.34] We out for power, makin cash it wasn't fast it'll make me mad [02:38.95] I'm just like, pimpin [02:40.44] My homey on the corner with his gat tucked, in [02:42.78] Youngest they buckin somethin the life he leads [02:44.74] The life he don't need, don't we all know [02:47.01] He tryin to rise up and we just go doe, still he rise [02:50.17] Dreams of lost hope [02:50.52] I hit the strip broke where the fiends get coke [02:53.42] And still I rise now I float cowards ghost [02:55.94] Whenever we come around, I'm runnin down [02:58.56] Clutchin a pound, live as sirens, duckin the sound [03:01.37] I used to hustle with my moms til the sun came [03:04.09] My homey Harm doin time from this drug game [03:06.68] Stolen cars, war scars, born a Outlaw [03:09.32] Behind bars, go to sleep just to see the stars [03:12.02] Freedom is ours, though we trapped on a firm block [03:14.78] Crackheads only ten learn to duck cops [03:17.58] In '96 my Glock's my plastic, passion for blastin bastards [03:19.80] No faces for open caskets, peelin ya cap backwards [03:22.90] Ya cowards ain't prepared for pistol practice, I send my missiles through your mattress, leavin holes in your body like a cactus [03:28.46] While me and my crew be boppin more greens than topic [03:30.83] And loot to keep the seams in my motherfuckin jeans poppin [03:33.96] Leavin ya spleen to pick up [03:35.42] Half of you niggas is softer than a Snicker [03:37.45] Let's go to war and see who draw quicker [03:39.85] And still I rise, and still I rise... [03:42.48] Still I (still I) I rise (I rise) [03:47.87] Please give me to the sky (the sky) [03:50.06] And if (and if) I die (I die) [03:52.57] I don't want you to cry [03:55.86] Still I (still I) I rise (I rise) [03:58.22] Please give me to the sky (the sky) [04:01.11] And if (and if) I die (I die) [04:04.05] I don't want you to cry [04:08.74] Y'all niggas fake [04:12.48] All day everyday [04:14.85] So now I got roller blades, bitch [04:21.89] Thought you knew [04:25.22] Your mouth is rich [04:29.48] C'mon pops, let's go. [04:40.13]