How you know where I’m at when you haven’t been where I’ve been?
Understand where I’m coming from?
Tag Archives: wisdom
I know the feelin, when you feelin like a villain,
You be havin good thoughts but the evils be revealin’.
And the stresses of life can take you off the right path,
Jealousy and envy tends to infiltrate your staff…
We gotta hold it down so we can move on past
All adversities, so we can get through fast.
The snake, the rat, the cat, the dog…
How you gonna see ‘em if you livin’ in the fog?
My days getting shorter, my nights getting longer,
My cell getting smaller, my son getting taller.
I exercise my mind, my body getting stronger,
But my blood getting colder, heart getting harder.
My chances for appeal getting slimmer,
My skin getting brighter, my hair getting thinner.
See, when you stressed out, you could age fast in here,
I done seen weak niggas not last a year.
So before lights out, I write my kids every night,
Kiss the stamp on the kite,
And say a prayer…I hope it lands safe in these flights,
I pray they sleep safe through the night.
Try to teach my son right, give him some jewels,
But it’s hard to raise my boy from this visiting room.
Many cells turned to prisoner’s tombs,
I just pray I don’t die in here,
And last night I almost cried a tear.
When I get involved, I give it my heart,
I mean my mind, my soul, my body: I mean every part.
But if it doesn’t work out, yo, it just doesn’t.
It wasn’t meant to be, you know, it just wasn’t.
Others tell like it is, while I tell it how I would like it to be.
The mind is a terrible thing to waste.
I show love cause it’s a terrible thing to hate.
To all the seeds that follow me,
Protect your essence.
Born with less, but you still precious,
Just smile for me now.
Life can change your directions, even when you ain’t planned it.
All you can do is handle it, worst thing you can do is panic.
I got mouths to feed,
Unnecessary beef is more cows to breed.
In time, you’ll see a thin line between friend and rival.
Between you and me: stupidity and men’s bravado.
If you love someone, you should say it often,
You never know when they’ll be layin’ in a coffin.
Wake up, it’s important that you know that
No one on Earth is promised tomorrow.
Everything will eventually come to an end,
So try to savor the moment, cause time flies, don’t it?
The beauty of life, you gotta make it last for the better,
Cause nothin’ lasts forever.
How you picture tomorrow with the wrong frame of mind?
How you picture love, if you were blind?
In this life ain’t no happy endings;
Only pure beginnings followed by years of sinning and fake repentance.
Inhale deep like the words of my breath,
I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death.
Actions have reactions, don’t be quick to judge,
You may not know the hardships people don’t speak of.
It’s best to step back, and observe with couth,
For we all must meet our Moment of Truth.
God’s the seamstress that tailor-fitted my pain.
You know them days you just got the blues,
All stressed and depressed from just watchin’ the news?
No matter what good you do, it seems you always get screwed.
Got you caught up in your feelings, now you off in the mood.
Shake that attitude and do what you can,
Set a couple goals, follow through with your plans.
Time waits for no man and tomorrow’s not promised,
So if she’s still alive, shoot a call to your mama.
Cause the fighting and the drama, it’s just not worth it,
Nobody’s perfect, ain’t none of us worthless.
We all got a place, and we all got a purpose.
…Shorty’s laugh was cold-blooded as he spoke so foul,
Only twelve tryin to tell me that he liked my style.
Then I rose, wiping the blunt’s ash from my clothes,
Then froze, only to blow the herb smoke through my nose.
My sense of self and my mental health
Is much more powerful than any hint of wealth.
Now I’m not the type that gets upset,
Try to disrespect folks just to earn respect.
But learn this fact: whether white or black,
I can’t be conquered in my style of rap.
For jealousy and envy are dumb ones’ tools,
So Ricky says nothing, he keeps his cool.
Revenge is not a mission that the Ruler’s on,
Just forgiveness required for the wrong that’s done.
All we want in this life is peace, prosperity and a little paper.
Just because no one can understand how you speak,
Don’t necessarily mean that what you be sayin is deep.
We got to stay awake for all these lizards and snakes;
Some of them come as friends, some of them come as Jakes.
Props is a true thug’s wife.
In my world, even sure bets are not certain;
‘Cause you’ll get the picture, then find out it’s the cropped version.
It’s weak to speak and blame somebody else
…When you destroy yourself.
Let bygones be bygones…but where I’m from,
We buy guns and more guns, to give to the young.
There’s a million ways to live on this thing called a planet,
I’mma live everyday, I ain’t takin’ nothing for granted.
You can’t fool all the people all of the time,
But if you fool the right ones, the rest will fall behind.
Next time you see a brother down
Stop and pick him up,
Cause you might be the next one stuck.
Never become so involved with something that it blinds you.
Never forget where you from; someone will remind you.
This generation lacks true knowledge of how the past has trapped you with psychological lassos over Adam’s apples.
A simple right or left can mean life or death,
Epic fail or nice success,
Days of pleasure or nights of stress.
You know the wisdom is reflected in the knowledge when it’s manifested;
If not fed in due time, the mind is anorexic.
So lovers of life, don’t keep your hopes up high.
Why? Cause it’s just a matter of time before it’s your turn to die.
But until then, when you stop breathin’,
It’s time to stand up and fight for what you believe in!
Laugh now, cry later: this is the karma.
Hip-hop never died, it’s just sick of the drama.
Lookin’ out at the world through my window pane,
Every day has many colors ‘cause the glass is stained.
Everything has changed but remains the same,
So once again the mirror raised.
And I see myself as clear as day,
And I am goin’ to the limits of my ultimate destiny,
Feeling as though somebody somewhere is testin’ me.
He who sees the end from the beginning of time
Looking forward through all the ages:
Is, was, and always shall be.
I don’t respect killers, I respect O.G. knowledge,
Codes of the streets got new rules, but no guidance.
Lessons, detrimental to a young disciple;
Folks, take care of your brothers, niggas do as I do.
Keep your enemies close, where they can see you.
It’s not your enemy who get you, it’s always your own people.
We can’t complain for this borrowed time;
So don’t misuse yours, cause you can’t borrow mine.
Yo, where the teachers went, with all that pro-black shit?
Where all the conscious niggas, who used to chat like this?
See, I remember yesterday when y’all was Gods and Earths,
Egyptians and metaphysicists on the verge of giving birth
To Understanding, and planting seeds that grow.
Now everybody’s on that bullshit about killing and so.
I was always taught my do’s and don’ts:
For do’s I did, and for don’ts, I said I won’t.
A prejudiced man is of a devil mentality.
These are words of a wise man, wisdom;
Take a taste and erase the racism.
Truth had me up against the ropes
And semi-conscious without no boxing skills.
They say the good die young, so the bad die old.
Guess we somewhere in the middle, so just pray for my soul.
…I’ve never had a dream in my life,
Because a dream is what you wanna do, but still haven’t pursued.
I knew what I wanted, and did it till it was done.
So I’ve been the dream I wanted to be since Day One.
God damn! Drug dealers dealin’ to the kiddies,
Livin’ in the city ain’t no pity on the itty-bitty.
We try to cry, but still they all die,
I try to speak to the youth, and the truth is: they all high.
Pull down the shades on the windows of your soul,
And gaze into your mind and watch the wisdom unfold…
You would rather have a Lexus, or justice?
A dream, or some substance?
A Beamer, a necklace, or freedom?
In this lifetime, you got two things:
Bad and good, and ain’t nothin’ in between.
Keepin’ this effervescent street ghetto essence inside us
Cause it provides us with the proper insight to guide us
So many programs you watch on the sofa,
But the real program sit on top of your shoulders.
Life is a blast when you know what you’re doin’,
Best to know what you’re doin’ ‘fore your life get ruined.
Life is a thrill when your skill is developed,
If you ain’t got a skill or trade, then shut the hell up.
Only in America could you find a way to make a healthy buck,
And still keep your attitude on self-destruct.
Nothin’ taken for granted, just learn from my mistakes.
My will too strong, my spirit’s somethin’ they can’t take.
There comes a time in every man’s life when he’s gotta handle up on his own.
Can’t depend on friends to help you in a squeeze,
Please…they got problems of their own.
We all seem to stumble, planning our own demise,
Getting the big picture, and making it wallet-sized.
Fuck jewels: I think my soul glows bright enough.
And fuck whips: I learn more when I ride the bus.
And fuck, it’s bad enough that we fight for bucks.
And fuck hoes: cause in the end I need a wife to love.
Hate a liar more than I hate a thief.
A thief is only after my salary,
A liar is after my reality.
And to the shorties on the block, tryin’ to twist 40 tops,
Get your act together, do some carpentry with a Black & Decker,
And stop speedin like a Kawasaki…
Life is a gamble, we scramble for money,
I might crack a smile, but ain’t a damn thing funny.
Stro Rockets • “From Me” • 2017
I think we all motherfuckin’ hypocrites,
Asking God for life and we ain’t even livin’ it.
Stro Rockets, “From Me,” Grade A Frequencies EP, 2017
Leave it up to me while I be livin’ proof,
To kick the truth to the young black youth.
Imagine peace on this earth when there’s no grief,
Imagine grief on this earth when there’s no peace.
You never question when you get the blessings,
So don’t get vexed when your life is stressed.
Be grateful for blessings,
Don’t ever change, keep your essence.
The power is in the people and politics we address.
Erick Sermon (EPMD) • “You’re a Customer” • Strictly Business • 1988
I have a strong point of view on the way things run:
Just shut up, and listen, and learn, my son.
Erick Sermon, “You’re a Customer,” from EPMD’s Strictly Business, 1988
MC Lyte • “Search 4 The Lyte” • Act Like You Know • 1991
Some type of grief you must experience
In order to appreciate happiness.
‘Cause if you are always satisfied,
Life will just pass by; you would’ve never tried.
MC Lyte, “Search 4 The Lyte,” Act Like You Know, 1991
Mr. Man (Da Bush Babees) • “Gravity” • 1996
It’s time to invent the future, cause there ain’t nobody else
Who can make it happen right, so make it happen for yourself.
Mr. Man, “Gravity,” from Da Bush Babees’ Gravity, 1996
Lauryn Hill (The Fugees) • “Doo Wop (That Thing)” • 1998
How you gonna win when you ain’t right within?
Lauryn Hill, “Doo Wop (That Thing),” The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, 1998
Juju (The Beatnuts) • Peace Akki • 1996
Reality’s really the individual’s mentality;
Some seek eternal life, while others seek fatality.
Juju, “Peace Akki,” from Al’ Tariq’s God Connections, 1996
Ghostface Killah (Wu-Tang Clan) • “Food” • 2015
To increase your life line, strengthen your heart.
Eat fish…that brain food will get you smart.
Yoga…deep meditational tactics,
You no good? Then just practice, cause practice makes perfect.
Stop burying your lies, and bring the truth to the surface.
Ghostface Killah, “Food,” from BADBADNOTGOOD & Ghostface Killah’s Sour Soul, 2015
Black Thoughts (The Roots) • “I Remember” • 2011
It’s only human to express the way you really feel,
But that same humanity is my Achilles’ heel.
A leopard can’t change his spots and never will;
So I’m forever ill…now I can never chill.
– Black Thought, “I Remember,” from The Roots’ undun, 2011
Lauryn Hill • “Doo Wop (That Thing)” • 1998
Let me break it down for you again,
You know I only say it because I’m truly genuine:
Don’t be a hard rock when you really are a gem.
Lauryn Hill, “Doo Wop (That Thing),” The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, 1998
Aceyalone • “The Guidelines” • 1998
I’d rather stimulate your mind than emulate your purpose.
– Aceyalone, “The Guidelines,” A Book of Human Language, 1998
Masta Ace • “Young Black Intelligent (Y.B.I.)” • 2016
Penny for your thoughts, a nickel for your dreams
A dime for your goals and a quarter in your jeans
Trying to make a dollar outta forty-one cents
Caught up in the barbed wire, shorty on the fence
– Masta Ace, “Young Black Intelligent (Y.B.I.),” The Falling Season, 2016
B-Real (Cypress Hill) • “Bitter” • 2001
I lost my innocence at birth but I make no excuses
For the trivial things and the pain life induces.
– B-Real, “Bitter,” from Cypress Hill’s Stoned Raiders, 2001
King Los • “God Money War” • 2015
God, money, war…
If heaven free, what we kill for money for?
They say, “When it rains it pours,” but it rain on the poor;
So you ain’t really rich if what’s rich ain’t in your core.
– King Los, “God Money War,” God, Money, War, 2015
Slug • “Arthur’s Song” • 2014
Sippin’ on that brown stuff
Got you feeling like you found love,
Or maybe it was just luck.
But honestly…it’s probably none of the above.
– Slug, “Arthur’s Song” from Atmosphere’s Southsiders, 2014.
Nas • “I Do It for Hip-Hop” • 2008
They say I’m so low key, I’m socially awkward,
Only those that really know me are the ones that I talk with.
They smile in the light, hate in the dark,
You call it beef, to me it’s just a fuckin’ walk in the park.
– Nas, “I Do It for Hip-Hop,” from Ludacris’ Theater of the Mind, 2008
Jay-Z • “Izzo (H.O.V.A.)” • 2001
To try and to fail:
The two things I hate.
Succeed, and this rap game:
The two things that’s great.
– Jay-Z, “Izzo (H.O.V.A.),” The Blueprint, 2001.
Guru (Gang Starr) • “No Shame in My Game” • 1992
Life’s a bitch, who are we to judge each other?
I know I got faults, I ain’t the only muthafucka.
– Guru, “No Shame in my Game,” from Gang Starr’s Daily Operation, 1992
To everyone out there who’s a little different:
I say, “Damn a magazine, these is God’s fingerprints.”
You can call me ugly, but can’t take nothing from me;
I am what I am, doctor, you ain’t gotta love me.
I just want to innovate and stimulate minds,
Travel the world and penetrate the times,
Escape through rhythms,
In search of peace and wisdom.
Battle physically, conquer mentally.
Stay far from timid.
Only make moves when your heart is in it.
And live the phrase ‘Sky’s the Limit.’
If you can’t live, you dying,
You give or you buy in.
Keep it real or keep it moving,
Keep grinding, keep shining.
The thing that men and women need to do is stick together,
Progressions can’t be made if we’re separate forever.
The greatest lesson ever learned has yet to be taught.
I guess nobody told you a little knowledge is dangerous,
It can’t be mixed, diluted, it can’t be changed or switched.
Here’s a lesson if you’re guessing and borrowing:
Hurry, hurry step right up and keep following the leader.
You say you wanna be my leader?
I think you wanna be my God.
You say you on the side of the righteous?
I say I’m gonna hang with the wrong.
There’s truth where the filth is,
There’s lies in the law.
You want a whore with a white dress,
I want a wife in a thong.
Talk…well I heard talk is cheap.
But like beauty, talk is just skin deep.
And when you lie and you talk a lot,
People tell you to step off a lot.
Now hear this mixture: where Hip Hop meets scripture,
Develop a negative into a positive picture.
It’s the message in the song that makes you rock on,
Some people go to places where they don’t belong.
Whether wrong or right, a lot of people fight,
But I’m here to bless this mic, aight?
In my heart, though, I do believe:
If you put out more love than you receive,
It’s bound to come back around, eventually.
The moral of the story is: Keep your mouth shut.
Cause everybody’s listenin’; speak and you fucked up.
I tell you like them old cats say:
Get what you get, and get your ass out the way.
Cause greed’ll get you 35 tight,
You 27…that’s the rest of your life, right?
Platinum don’t mean shit
When you’re perpetrating someone else’s life,
And they life ain’t legit.
You won’t get a harvest if you don’t sow seeds,
Ill-gained wealth brings stress from dirty deeds.
The choices that you make will fulfill your needs,
But the shit you go through will be hard to believe.