One Day At A Time
2Pac Lyrics

Sometimes it's hard to wake up in the mornin'
Starting the day can be difficult

Mind full of demons, I don't wanna hear 'em anymore
Mental health can be a struggle when plagued by negative thoughts

Got me heartbroken, fine, so many babies screamin'
It's painful to see the innocent suffer

'Cause they seein' destruction 'fore they a see human bein'
Children witness too much devastation at a young age

So they start smokin' weed, we'll never get our day
Some turn to drugs as a coping mechanism

Until we learn to pray, keep our families in shape
Strengthening our faith and family values can lead to positive change

'Cause they all broke and why do ghetto birds die?
Poverty and violence are prevalent in marginalized communities

Before we learn to fly, somebody else's child caught in guns
Innocent lives are lost to gun violence too often

Smokin' weed, can all make a change
Using drugs won't solve the problems we face

So I'm told but I haven't seen the change unfold
Despite being told change is possible, the reality still looks grim

I keep hopin', please, if you prefer to breathe
Hope for a better future and societal progress

Communities in need of people that will lead
Leadership is necessary for change

Keep your eyes open now, can only say I'll try
Be aware of the issues, and work towards a solution

Until the day I die, I promise to be wise
Commitment to continuous growth and learning

With my heart open, greed brings only misery
Materialism won't bring lasting happiness or fulfillment

A way to tragedy, so I stay sucker free
Rejecting negativity and focus on positivity

Only a few chosen rise, my ghetto queens, rise
Success and upward mobility can be difficult in impoverished communities

Don't be afraid to try, too many of us die
Fear can hold us back from reaching our potential

For the door to open wide, my brothers be wise
Wisdom and intelligence can lead to progress and success

Stay focused on the prize, though everybody dies
Maintain a clear goal despite life's uncertainties

We can only learn to take our anger and our hate
Controlling negative emotions is crucial

Control our mental state, settle down and just set it straight
Mental health and emotional stability are key

Maybe we can learn to take a second to pump our brakes
Slow down and think before reacting impulsively

'Fore we said it, regret it later and let it escalate
Think before speaking or acting, to avoid negative consequences

'Cause by then it's too just late, there's so much we can take
When we reach our breaking point, it's often too late to undo the damage

And there's only so much someone can swallow and tolerate
Everyone has a limit to what they can handle

Up to the point that he just breaks, snaps and that's all it takes
Pushing someone past their limit can have disastrous consequences

You'd think that we was learnin' from other rappers mistakes
Artists in the music industry should learn from past mistakes

But we ain't
Unfortunately, many artists continue to make the same mistakes

It's plain to go against, with every artist
People often feel the need to compete and go against each other

Comes the image he portrays and a picture that he paints
Artists often present a carefully crafted persona to the public

But in the midst of all this anger and this angst
Despite negative emotions and stress, we need to stay positive

Never once did you hear me say I'm a gangster
Rejecting the glorification of gang culture and violence

And I ain't hear no complaints
No one has criticized me for rejecting gang culture

But I know that I will always continue to grow
Perpetual growth and self-improvement are important

As long as I lead and never follow no one else's shadow
Success comes from following your own path, not someone else's

There will never be another me and that I can guarantee
We are all unique and irreplaceable

To this day, the game will never be the same
The music industry is constantly evolving

No matter how much fame or success they attain
Even the most successful artists can't control the direction of the industry

There will never be another me and no matter what they do
No one can replicate our uniqueness

You can search but you'll never find
Our individuality can't be replicated or copied

You can try to rewind time
Despite nostalgia or attempts to recreate past successes, we can't go back in time

But in your hearts and your minds, we will never die
Our essence and impact can live on forever

We are forever alive and we continue growin' one day at a time
Our lives and our legacies can continue to grow and impact the world, one day at a time

Don't get caught in the publicity and caught in the hype
Avoiding the traps of the music industry

Rappers are regular people minus money and light
Artists are still human, despite their fame and wealth

Searchin' for fortune and fame and super stardom
Success and fame can be a driving force in the industry

All the jewelry, all the cars, whose crew is the hardest
Material possessions and status symbols are overemphasized in the industry

Now the hip hop police, the villains is watchin'
The music industry is often scrutinized by those outside of it

And the kids think beef is they only option
Conflict and competition are seen as the only means of success for many young artists

Outlawz born filthy, guilty as charged
Artists from marginalized communities often face unfair scrutiny and judgment

My memories they could die, but Makaveli lives on
Tupac's legacy and impact will continue to live on, despite his passing

You think the industry is fun and no pity with guns
The industry is often violent and dangerous

And when your money is up, that's when your enemies come
Success often attracts negativity and conflict

So if he died and came back, would he try to save rap?
What would Tupac do if he could see the state of rap today?

We needin' a change, the drama remains
There is a need for change in the industry, but the drama and negative aspects persist

I spent my whole life fightin' myself
Many of us struggle with self-doubt and negative self-talk

That I can't win, so I'm invitin' some help
Asking for help can be a powerful tool for personal growth

And every now and then I take rights from the left
Taking a different approach can lead to new perspectives and growth

I'm still just like a kid lookin' for stripes on my belt
The pursuit of personal achievements and growth is a lifelong journey

And that there is a fight in itself
The journey can be challenging in and of itself

So I just pray and hope God take a like to myself
Turning to faith for guidance and support

No matter how much, I try stay alive
The struggle to survive and thrive

I'm gonna die a man, still standin' and in love with my pride
Despite challenges and obstacles, maintaining self-respect and pride

My heart, frivolous beef, we past that
Rejecting petty conflicts and drama

I'm tryin' to keep some income comin' in and collect on my ASCAP
Maintaining financial stability is important

The rappers in the game ain't changed (hell nah)
Despite progress or evolution in the industry, some aspects remain the same

And I finally realized that we not in the same game
Tupac realizes that his values and priorities are different from others in the industry

The hatin' will never end, so I guess I'll deal with it
Negativity and hate will always be present, but it can be handled

Them 4-5 are cop killers, just some steel with it
Guns are dangerous and can have deadly consequences

The streets is military, you gotta be a soldier
Surviving in certain environments requires strength and resilience

Gotta stay leery and keep your eyes on the rollers
Being vigilant and aware of potential threats is important

They do what they gotta do to shackle and hold us
The system can be oppressive and restrictive

So we gotta do what we gotta do to keep rollin'
Despite adversity, we must continue moving forward

One way at a time, keep the faith in your mind
Taking things one step at a time, and maintaining faith and hope

And we continue growin' one day at a time, damn
Despite challenges, we can continue to grow and progress, one day at a time