Stay Woke (feat. Miguel)

How I keep from goin' under?

It's like a jungle outside

Sometimes I wonder how I keep from goin' under

We scream, Black Lives Matter, but we still toting ladders

Watching our own brothers trying to get at us

Dreams get shattered when a scene full of crackers

And they charge you with some shit you ain't do

You like, what happened?

We go get lawyers to say shit, we don't know how to talk

They told us to hate each other before we learn how to walk

Mama taught you how to fight, fight, before she taught you how to write, right

And daddy locked down in the cell, can't kiss you night, night

Monsters under the bed every night, feel like it's fright night

Coke fumes in the air, mama holding on that pipe tight

And you catchin' contact, but never mind that

In a world where Black is wrong and white right, it's like a combat

We go to war for our freedom, they say we equal

I used to wanna play like Randall and be an Eagle

I used to play the quarterback, my dog would go receiver

That was till the ball got flat by a dope needle on the pavement

It's amazin', this environment we was raised in

On them papers, one mistake and I'm gettin' caged in

You gotta feel me, feel like the system tryna kill me

Got arrested and the charges F1 for popping wheelies, stay woke

It was designed for us to fail

We still prevail through the hell

Yeah, can you believe it? We're still undefeated

Though it was designed for us to lose

We'll still make it through, nothing's impossible

Can you believe it? We're still undefeated

Picture me ten years younger with some tats on my face

Takin' a bunch of Xannys with the strap on my waist

Pointin' it at the camera like mama ain't teach me manners

Tryna see mo' bills like I'm headed to Alabama, no, wait

I can't judge them, I'm just trying to understand them

'Cause I used to pop Percs, pourin' purple in my Fanta

Had me swerving in my Phantom like I'm runnin' from my dreams

I was headed for the slammer, I was plantin' all the seed

For them to bury me, I had my whole family mad at me

Fell deep in love with the game and it married me

Judge said: I'll give you a chance, just don't embarrass me

Motivatin' these little niggas is like a charity

Community service even though they knew we was workin'

They did this to me on purpose, 'cause I ain't movin' too perfect

I stay away from them clowns, watch how I move through the circus

'Cause they be weighing you down, even some of them dudes in your circle, stay woke

Though it's designed for us to fail, yeah

We still prevail through the hell, yeah

Can you believe it? We're still undefeated

Though it was designed for us to lose

Nothing, nothing, nothing's impossible, no

Can you believe it? We're still undefeated

How can I pledge allegiance to the flag

When they killin' all our sons, all our dads?

I come from a place, when you kill your own brother you can brag

Like he got bodies, but that's a fad, no, that's a fact

I'm screamin' out at your corner, nigga, that's a trap

Screamin' out at your homie, nigga, that's a rat

Catch a case with him, bet he crack

The odds against you and they double stacked, stay woke

Bought my mom a new crib, that's some gangster shit

Niece and nephews walking around wearing minks and shit

Kept the hood motivated, this the thanks I get?

Try to Ja Rule the kid on some Wanksta shit

But that's impossible 'cause I'm unstoppable

The label can't drop me, nigga, I'm too valuable

You thought I would lose but I won and that bothered you

Still movin' 'round in Philly just like the mobsters do

When I talked to Em and Hov, they said, I'm proud of you

You stood tall back when everyone doubted you

My reply is, I did what I gotta do

And I need that verse 'fore you retire too

Jumping all the obstacles, I'm way too wavy

Said I would lose boy you way too crazy

Pick and choose either fame or the money, fame will make you crazy

And the money will make them bad bitches say: Thank you, baby

You're welcome