[Verse 1]
I was born a lover raised a fighter
Sworn in a saint, turnt into a sinner
If I earn another stripe I be motherfucking tiger
Next kill for the loaf you fucking with a winner
Niggas going ham for a slice
Can’t knock the hustle working for their next meal
Wishing they could have a nigga life
Pigeons ain’t eating, I’m just throwing them the heels
Flipping you the bird while I’m flipping niggas bills
If I’m whipping in the whip, sit, bitch nigga, chill
Couldn’t tell the pedal from the motherfucking wheel
Niggas on my dick thinking that they on my heels
Image never tarnish, stainless like steel
Print the face real big on the bill with the emblem
If they start I’ma end them
No say no referendum
[Interlude]
Read my lips
Read my lips
Read my lips
Read my lips
Read my lips
[Verse 2]
Malcolm was a failure, more fame than lethal
Feeble, shot by his own people
Poignant the needle that feeds his blood
Violent loops, last hoop he will leap through (Read my lips)
But its strong to be militant like it’s smart to be ignorant
Just to sell all this nigga shit
'Cause they only buying nigga shit (God damn, read my lips)
Supply and demand
They demand, I supply though surprised that I am
I didn’t take a stand, money over matter, matter fact over fam
I know that through experience
Ain’t that right triple X?
You feeling this (Read my lips)
I know that through experience
Ain’t that right triple X?
I was born three seeds in my palm
Papa don’t preach, black quiet storm
Speak with his first we recite his Psalms
Raised a fighter though I had my qualms
Gave two to the body another two to the jaw
His little lip bleeding but my heart got scarred (Read my lips)
Pull the fire alarm
Adolescent immolation, I protest these laws
Born a lover, full lips soft hands
Old head said it went against my brand
Brand new stance, iron-fisted jab
Gift that gab and I whoop that ass
People don’t change, they just do new task
Another tool in the box another trip to the shed
Men make men made men like pawns
'Til we follow Islam to the Boko Haram
[Verse 3]
In all empathy I sing with sympathy
Simply not we spot our true enemy
But all empathy I sing with sympathy
Simply not we spot our true enemy
But we are who we company
If it's health then we healthy
If it's wealth then we wealthy
If it's filth then we filthy
Without saying if it’s guilt then we guilty
I was born a lover, raised a fighter
Papa said that’s how you raise a real nigga
And he should know he should know
Dead or in jail, nigga
I’m a look who still here, nigga
Hell yeah, hell yeah, yeah
Look who still here, nigga
Look who still here, nigga
Man, man, ain’t here no more man
Man, man, ain’t here
[Bridge]
And it’s hard on my psyche
He suppose to be just like me
Or me just like him
He suppose to be my best friend
Made excuses for him, said it was society
Thug charm man had the whitest teeth
Even in our music, even in the TV
Even in the news, gave it to him easy
But they hard on a nigga like me, man
They hard on a nigga like me
They hard on a nigga like me, man
Never seen no nigga like me
They want me to be one of them
But I ain’t one of them I ain’t even one of them
I start drifting when I think of him
See a cold wind when I think of him
I drift so far from shore
Don’t they know niggas can’t swim
[Verse 4]
Now Martin waiting on his harvest
Debating if the state gon' be coarse or modest
Fought as a pacifist accomplished
More than all them Harlem niggas, pen his accomplice
Fresh out of jail, suit still pressed the sharpest
Look who the law for we going break laws regardless
Outlaw nigga from the south
Boys talking down got them diamonds in my mouth
Every farmer when they plant their seed
Dreams of sweet fruit with the greenest leaves
From the strong branch of the tallest tree
But never promised to taste what's reaped
Both portraits hanging over the couch
Martin on the left, Malcolm on the right
As if still debate, still choice in route
Some might understand what I’m taking about
Born a lover raised a fighter
Drawn to the air thrown to fire
Only one heir to the highest
If I told you that I cared I’m a motherfucking liar
No shares, no compliance
Every action got its opposite
Know your fucking science
Learned about David from Goliath
Now my whole hood know how to defeat the giants
