Better Dayz
2Pac/Notorious B.I.G. Lyrics

Lookin' for these better days
Searching for a time when things were better

Time to question our lifestyle, look how we live
We need to evaluate our way of life and acknowledge its flaws

Smokin' weed like it ain't no thang, so even kids
Using drugs so casually that even children feel it's acceptable

Wanna try now, they lie down and get ran through
Young people who experiment with drugs can quickly become victimized

Nobody watches 'em clockin' the evil man do
No one is paying attention to the sinister actions of those who profit off drug addiction

Faced with the demons, addicted to hearin' victims screamin'
Addicted to the power that comes with victimizing others

Guess we was evil since birth, product of cursed semens
Some people are born with a predisposition towards evil and violence

'Cause even our birthdays is cursed days
Even the day we were born is associated with negativity

A born thug in the first place, the worst ways
Born into a world where violence and criminal behavior are the norm

I'd love to see the block in peace
I long for a time when my neighborhood is free from violence and corruption

With no more dealers and crooked cops, the only way to stop the beast
The only way to end the cycle of violence is by eliminating both drug dealers and corrupt law enforcement

And only we can change
We have the power to change our circumstances

It's up to us to clean up the streets, it ain't the same
The responsibility to create a better community falls on us, things cannot remain as they are

Too many murders, too many funerals and too many tears
We have lost too many loved ones to senseless violence and the grief is overwhelming

Pa**ed by his family, but what could I say?
I saw the pain of a family who has lost someone close and felt helpless to console them

Keep yo' head up and try to keep the faith
Encouraging someone to stay resilient in the face of hardship

Thinkin' back as an adolescent, who would've guessed
Reflecting on the naivety and innocence of youth

That in my future years, I'd be stressin'
Feeling overwhelmed by the pressures of adulthood

The ghetto's sick and corrupted
The poverty-stricken areas of the city are plagued by moral decay

Plus my P.O. won't let me hang with the brothers I grew up with
Being prevented from spending time with longtime friends due to an authority figure's restrictions

So I'm solo and so broke
Having to navigate life alone in financial hardship

Savin' up for some Jordan's, 'cause they dope
The desire for material possessions in a world where financial security is difficult to attain

I got a girl and I love her but she broke too, and so am I
Being in a relationship with someone who is also struggling to make ends meet

I can't take her to the place she wanna go to
Feeling unable to provide for a loved one's desires

So we argue and play fight, all day and night
Frequently arguing with each other due to the stress of our circumstances

Makin' pa**ionate love 'til the daylight
Using intimacy as a means of escape from our troubles

Guess it's time to see who really is yo' friend
Challenged to differentiate between true friends and acquaintances who only stick around during good times

Tell me you pregnant and I'm amazed
A moment of joy and hopefulness in the face of adversity

So many blessings while we stressin'
Feeling grateful for the good things in life even during difficult times

Now me and you was real cool
Remembering a time when a friendship was strong

Up in the gym, mess with me, gotta mess with him
Being protected by a loyal friend, who always has your back

Still dressin' like grown men when rollin'
Maintaining a sense of style and maturity, even when participating in questionable activities

Locked you up in the pen, and gave you three to ten
One of us ended up in prison, serving a lengthy sentence

I send you letters with naked flicks of old friends
Sending pictures of old friends to lift spirits and maintain a connection to the outside world

And wonder how we ever came to this
Reflecting on how the two of us ended up with such different paths in life

I miss the better days
Looking back with nostalgia and longing for a time when things were simpler and happier

I send this one out,
Dedicating this song to specific groups of people

To all the homeboys down in uh, Clinton lockdown
Addressing those who are currently incarcerated

All the peoples I met along the way
Recognizing the many individuals who have influenced and impacted life's journey

Better days is comin' homeboy, keep your head up
Encouraging a friend to remain positive and hopeful despite current circumstances