[Hook]
They say hip hop is dead
Livin’ by the lead
Put it to their head (whoa, whoa, whoa)
So I’m in my bed
Rhymes in my head
All I can say is (Yo, Yo, Yo)
Try to live life
Gettin’ my studies right
So I can be in the (know, know, know)
If I don’t blow
On to the next one, makin’ moves, so I gotta (Go, Go, Go)
[Verse One]
In the streets, where it’s gritty, with tar-colored skin
Lungs full of narcotics and souls full of sin
The hopeful blow money on the scratch and wins
And when they get their hopes up disappointed again
Gun smoke in the wind, crack pipes for the kids
Chillin’ in the darkness gettin’ high with a grin
With not but a hair on they chinny-chin-chin
Glorifyin’ every nigga rockin’ chrome spinnin’ rims
Meanwhile, the parents workin’ tryna make their lives better
Sacrifices for the kids who don’t know any better
Single mama, three jobs for that cheddar
Kids victims of the streets, tried to cry, pride wouldn’t let her
Daddy’s a hustler, product of his environment
Son followed suit, product in the environment
Tryna help his momma so she can chill in retirement
Glock under his jeans, he ain’t afraid to dyin’, then
If at first you don’t succeed, homie, try again
Won’t be too long ‘til you move to the higher end
Yes, sir, guaranteed to be smilin’, then
And they’ll call you “Sire” then
[Hook]
They say hip hop is dead
Livin’ by the lead
Put it to their head (whoa, whoa, whoa)
So I’m in my bed
Rhymes in my head
All I can say is (Yo, Yo, Yo)
Try to live life
Gettin’ my studies right
So I can be in the (know, know, know)
If I don’t blow
On to the next one, makin’ moves, so I gotta (Go, Go, Go)
[Verse Two]
You say you so ‘hood, tell me what is it you’re glorifyin’?
Niggas killin’ cops, everywhere somebody dyin’?
Bottom of the barrel, sun don’t shine
Sex, liquor, narcotics to distract the mind?
Shorties posted on the block tryna get a fella
Handlin’ the money she could be a bank teller
Workin’ for that purple suit, call ‘em skank sellers
Make her grind it and ride it ‘til she make cheddar
Lost dreams, spillin’ liquor for the lost ones
Late nights, smoke spliffs for the lost sons
Pops ex, necessary that she got some
Every new screw kills the spirit if she got one
It was all so different like a week ago
Time changed her from a woman to freakin’ ho
New slavery, all the money that she owes
Don’t forget the broken nose
[Hook]
They say hip hop is dead
Livin’ by the lead
Put it to their head (whoa, whoa, whoa)
So I’m in my bed
Rhymes in my head
All I can say is (Yo, Yo, Yo)
Try to live life
Gettin’ my studies right
So I can be in the (know, know, know)
If I don’t blow
On to the next one, makin’ moves, so I gotta (Go, Go, Go)
[Bridge]
I said I
Know I can’t make it right
I’m just tryin’ to live my life
But I can’t run away
From my destiny
It keeps huntin’ me
I
Know I can’t make it right
I’m just tryin’ to live my life
But if you come for me
Then I won’t run from thee
Keep on huntin’, G
[Verse Three]
Devil knockin’ on the door, we just let him in
Funny how we make a joke out of like every sin
Light in the tunnel suddenly is very dim
Pro’ly due to the scotch, bourbon, sherry, gin
Tell me what is it, the messages we send to kids?
We tell ‘em no, but they see the bullshit we did
They grow up and figure that’s how they supposed to live
Circle of life, rinse, lather, and repeat, ya dig?
I ain’t lyin’, homie, open up ya eyes
Read a book, watch the news, nigga, open up ya mind
You’re feedin’ the achivement gap, don’t be left behind
Need to raise your awareness of present-day times
I can’t live my, I, I can’t live my
Life this way, so it’s time to change
I won’t forget next time I step in the booth
That it’s time for The Ugly Truth
[Hook]
They say hip hop is dead
Livin’ by the lead
Put it to their head (whoa, whoa, whoa)
So I’m in my bed
Rhymes in my head
All I can say is (Yo, Yo, Yo)
Try to live life
Gettin’ my studies right
So I can be in the (know, know, know)
If I don’t blow
On to the next one, makin’ moves, so I gotta (Go, Go, Go)
