I just keep moving on... (moving on...)
I just keep moving on... (moving on...)

time and time, a brother asks why
the rhyme is not laced with a gangsta touch
I said "Simply because I don't live that way
still kickin' them rhymes rugged and rough"
"But that won't sell,
cause you gotta keep it real
so that we can feel
where you're coming from
Because these streets is ill so if you ain't
killing niggas in rhymes
your whole sound's just bubble gum"
I said "I won't contribute to genocide;
I'd rather try to cultivate the inner side
and try to evolve the frustrated ghetto mind
The devil and his army never been a friend of mine"
"But niggas don't want to hear that shit" said the brother
who was obviously totally misled and yelled out
"murder murder, kill, murder" instilled in the influential (walks ?)
of our kids' heads

shallow days, you never want to
let a brother be a brother
fully inner to the outer
caught up in all them hollow nights
can't escape cause everywhere that I look
people front, and it just ain't right
(repeat)

I said "Don't you know the powers that be
are using people as pawns, devouring we
until they see us all gone and outta the scene"
and as I passed the chronic, he said "look at where I be,
I tried to get a job for real,
but all the homies (hit licks?) and rob and steal
and keep fat pockets caught in a rut to catch ground
this way's in, plus who could you trust?"
I said "I'm all about protecting mine,
but neglecting minds for getting left behind.
Why don't you change your environment?"
He said "This is all I know,
plus my fam's all that I got, I can't go"
I said "You gotta make it for the fams"
"Damn," he said "I didn't make the ghetto,
The ghetto made the man"
I said "You're more than just that,"
shook his hand, said "Damn, you gotta find a way
to break the devil's master plan, peace"

shallow days, you never want to
let a brother be a brother
fully inner to the outer
caught up in all them hollow nights
can't escape cause everywhere that I look
people front, and it just ain't right
(repeat)

The word "peace" is just an expression
used to say bye when it's time to jet
and them red black and green medallions
was all just part of the trend, I guess
Hardly ever them around brothers' necks no more
Instead of that gold (gats ?)
inspiring gangstas and macks
who at the young age of four
be seeing more drama than war veterans
instead of learning God's laws
and hip-hop is ((all the ways ?) till we enlist that ??)
to express how we be feeling about this and that
but music does reflect life
and kids look up to what you're portraying
and mimic what you act like
It's time for a new day
an era in rap, conscious styles,
makin' them aware of the happenings
but their ears seem more steered towards
self-annihilation so then they might laugh
and write this off, like I'm out here just
blowing wind, maybe label us soft or unreal,
something they just can't feel, while they yell
"murder murder murder, kill kill kill"

I just keep movin' on (moving on ...)
I just keep movin' on (moving on ...)

shallow days / hollow nights
(repeat)

Overall Meaning

The song "Shallow Days" by Blackalicious is a call to responsibility, consciousness, and self-awareness, especially for young black men in America. The first verse shows the frustration that Blackalicious has with the commercialization of hip hop, where violence and crime have become a necessary theme in order for a rapper to be considered "real." The singer's unwillingness to promote the glorification of violence and the prevention of the spreading of dangerous ideologies and practices present in society leads to him being accused of being soft by other rappers.

In the second verse, the singer challenges the idea that the ghetto is a trap into which black people are doomed to fall. He believes that the ghetto is not responsible for creating the man; instead, the man is active in shaping the ghetto. Throughout the song, the singer suggests that one can be a product of their environment, but they can also outgrow it. He decries people who are interested in preserving the status quo and celebrates those who seek to grow and change.

Line by Line Meaning

I just keep moving on... (moving on...)
The artist keeps moving forward despite criticism and pressure to conform to gangsta rap.

time and time, a brother asks why
The artist is asked repeatedly why he does not conform to gangsta rap.

the rhyme is not laced with a gangsta touch
The artist's music does not contain violent or gang-related themes.

"Simply because I don't live that way still kickin' them rhymes rugged and rough"
The artist's choice to avoid gangsta rap is due to his personal lifestyle.

"But that won't sell, cause you gotta keep it real so that we can feel where you're coming from Because these streets is ill so if you ain't killing niggas in rhymes your whole sound's just bubble gum"
The brother argues that gangsta rap is necessary to sell records and resonate with listeners.

"I won't contribute to genocide; I'd rather try to cultivate the inner side and try to evolve the frustrated ghetto mind The devil and his army never been a friend of mine"
The artist would rather focus on promoting positivity and self-improvement within his community.

"But niggas don't want to hear that shit" said the brother who was obviously totally misled and yelled out "murder murder, kill, murder" instilled in the influential (walks ?) of our kids' heads
The brother believes that the public only wants to hear violent music and that this perpetuates a negative influence on children.

shallow days, you never want to let a brother be a brother fully inner to the outer caught up in all them hollow nights can't escape cause everywhere that I look people front, and it just ain't right (repeat)
The chorus describes the shallow and disappointing aspects of a dangerous lifestyle.

"Don't you know the powers that be are using people as pawns, devouring we until they see us all gone and outta the scene"
The artist recognizes that those in power benefit from the perpetuation of gang violence in poorer communities.

"this way's in, plus who could you trust?"
The brother recognizes that gang involvement is common and it is hard to know who to trust.

"You gotta make it for the fams" "Damn," he said "I didn't make the ghetto, The ghetto made the man"
The artist encourages the brother to overcome his environment and provide for his family, but the brother feels stuck due to systemic oppression.

"You're more than just that," shook his hand, said "Damn, you gotta find a way to break the devil's master plan, peace"
The artist encourages the brother to break the cycle of violence and find peace.

The word "peace" is just an expression used to say bye when it's time to jet and them red black and green medallions was all just part of the trend, I guess Hardly ever them around brothers' necks no more Instead of that gold (gats ?) inspiring gangstas and macks who at the young age of four be seeing more drama than war veterans instead of learning God's laws and hip-hop is ((all the ways ?) till we enlist that ??) to express how we be feeling about this and that but music does reflect life and kids look up to what you're portraying and mimic what you act like It's time for a new day an era in rap, conscious styles, makin' them aware of the happenings but their ears seem more steered towards self-annihilation so then they might laugh and write this off, like I'm out here just blowing wind, maybe label us soft or unreal, something they just can't feel, while they yell "murder murder murder, kill kill kill"
The artist reflects on how the symbolism of peace is lost on those who promote gang culture and commit violent acts. He promotes conscious rap and critiques the glorification of violence in music and media, while acknowledging that such messages are more palatable than peaceful ones.

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: TIMOTHY JEROME PARKER, XAVIER LORENZO MOSLEY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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