[ti:Still I Rise] [ar:2Pac] [al:] [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 nigga 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 semen [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 fuck 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 fuck 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 nigga live or die, cause the Lord can't see us [01:12.43]in the deep dark clouds of the projects, ain't no sunshine [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 weed nigga [01:48.08]That Hennessey'll keep me keyed nigga [01:50.21]Everywhere I go niggaz 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, nigga 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 cocked [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 motherfuckin jeans poppin [03:34.83]Leavin ya spleen to pick up [03:36.47]Half of you niggaz 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 niggaz fake [04:13.25]All day everyday [04:17.17]So now I got roller blades, bitch [04:23.83]Thought you knew [04:28.58]Your mouth is rich [04:32.12]C'mon pops, let's go..