I came up from up under the muddy waters, that is, up until the time that I was old enough to understand that ,then "PIPE DREAMS" is a mothafuckah ,
growin up city life, then my area code bein 213, no role models in my life
only the weight on a young niggas shoulders
sometimes I wish that it was another way out
I see the streets in front off me
but I'm uncertain at best
shit ain't right for ME and MY BIG BROTHER TROUB
so I'm ah give these streets my very best
now off and running for the chase
NO FINISH LINE
for it's never really any winner's in the end
for death comes to us all
I've witnessed good solid niggas getin twisted for the greenbacks,
and blk-on-blk then equals flat line like 100'X over
and now it's 3 adult felonies ain't this a bitch
all apart of big brothers infamous plan to like keep on setin us back
now twisted and missing in action
out of state incarceration like up in this EVERGREEN STATE
10 yrs later in-retrospect
and I can still see the faces
the exact same ole once young niggas
is now older niggas
and are STILL doing the exact same ole shit
shame on them all, for GOD have mercy on their souls for they can't see
once man-child / now man
my life's lessons came way by exclusive like then the HARD KNOX teachings
the street's tested me
and niggas from the other side
then they stayed checkin for me
everyday police constantly arresting me
but all along,
then the penitentiary was calling out for me
while on the inside then defiance I contested
and my rebellion from within
all along then stemmed from a much darker seed
a hate then much greater than myself
in the system I was self-educated
and taught that then the first law of nature is SELF-PRESEVATION
I studied Islam
and was taught to speak ki-swahili
my culture I now know
my culture I now understand
my culture I now completely embrace
I had to learn to dechiper between illusion
and then that which was right there before me
discipline we learn quick about the DO'S and DONT'S
and then niggas who got it coming
they get moved on
but I'm ah stay soldier that is
until my sanity is once again set free
this stronghold has got the noose like wrapped tight around my black soul
but if nothing else then I'm ah be alright though
20 yrs later in-retrospect
and I can still see the faces ...
BY : ANTHONY GODFREY (#793624)
