Better Dayz
2Pac & Mr. Biggs Lyrics

Lookin' for these better days
Searching and longing for a brighter future

Got me thinkin' bout better days
Contemplating and reflecting on what could be better

Better days, heyy! Better days
An optimistic and hopeful outlook for the future

Time to question our lifestyle, look how we live
It is necessary to reflect on and evaluate our way of life

Smokin' weed like it ain't no thang, so even kids
Casually using drugs and setting a bad example for children

Wanna try now, they lie down and get ran through
Young people are influenced to experiment with drugs and become vulnerable to exploitation and harm

Nobody watches 'em clockin' the evil man do
No one is paying attention to the destructive actions of those in power

Faced with the demons, addicted to hearin' victims screamin'
Confronted with personal demons and addiction to the pain of others

Guess we was evil since birth, product of cursed semens
Perhaps we were born with inherent evil due to a legacy of negative influences

'Cause even our birthdays is cursed days
Our very existence is marked by misfortune and negativity

A born thug in the first place, the worst ways
Born into a life of crime and violence with no positive alternatives

I'd love to see the block in peace
Desiring a sense of community and harmony in the neighborhood

With no more dealers and crooked cops, the only way to stop the beast
Eliminating drug dealers and corrupt law enforcement is necessary to stop the cycle of violence

And only we can change
It is solely our responsibility to enact change and make things better

It's up to us to clean up the streets, it ain't the same
We must take initiative to improve the conditions of our communities

Too many murders, too many funerals and too many tears
The prevalence of violence and death is overwhelming and has affected many

Just seen another brother buried plus I knew him for years
Witnessing yet another funeral of someone close to him

Pa**ed by his family, but what could I say?
Feeling powerless to say or do anything to ease the pain of the family left behind

Keep yo' head up and try to keep the faith
Encouragement to stay positive and hopeful in the face of adversity

Thinkin' back as an adolescent, who would've guessed
Reflecting on the past and how things have turned out

That in my future years, I'd be stressin'
Feeling overwhelmed and distressed in the present

Some say the ghetto's sick and corrupted
People believe that the conditions of the ghetto are unhealthy and corrupt

Plus my P.O. won't let me hang with the brothers I grew up with
Being unable to associate with friends from the past due to legal restrictions

Tryin' to keep my head up and stay strong
Working to maintain a strong and positive mindset

All my homies slangin' llello all day long, but they wrong
His friends are involved in drug dealing, which he does not condone

So I'm solo and so broke
Being alone and financially struggling

Savin' up for some Jordan's, 'cause they dope
Attempting to save money for a material item deemed valuable in the community

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 financially

I can't take her to the place she wanna go to
Being unable to provide for his partner's wants and needs

So we argue and play fight, all day and night
Frequently having disagreements and conflicts with his partner

Makin' pa**ionate love 'til the daylight
Despite the hardships, they still find love and intimacy in each other

Plus we about to get evicted, can't pay the rent
Facing the possibility of becoming homeless due to financial struggles

Guess it's time to see who really is yo' friend
Realizing who is truly there for you in times of need

Tell me you pregnant and I'm amazed
Being surprised and amazed at the news of a pregnancy

So many blessings while we stressin'
Despite the struggles, there are still positive things happening in his life

Now me and you was real cool, hell on them square fools
Reminiscing on a close friendship with someone who shared similar experiences

Since back in high school, we was true, me and you
A friendship that has persisted since adolescence

Hardly parted or seperated, we stayed faded
Rarely being apart and frequently using drugs together

Affiliated with gangbangers and still made it
Being around gang members but somehow still persevering

Up in the gym, mess with me, gotta mess with him
Protecting and standing up for each other in tough situations

Still dressin' like grown men when rollin'
Maintaining a sense of style and maturity while engaging in risky behaviors

I went to dark, smokin Newports, gamin' marks
Spending time in the dark engaging in negative activities like smoking and gambling

Got a place in my heart, homey stay smart
Being emotionally connected to this friend and wishing him well

Locked you up in the pen, and gave you three to ten
His friend was incarcerated and received a long sentence

I send you letters with naked flicks of old friends
Trying to keep his friend's spirits up by sending explicit pictures of mutual acquaintances

Hopin' you well, I know it's hell
Expressing empathy for his friend's difficult situation

Doin time in the cells, you need mail, when you in jail
Sending letters to a friend in jail to provide some level of emotional support

And me I'm doin' cool
Despite his friend's incarceration and his own struggles, he is doing alright

I settled down, had a family, workin' in night school
Having a stable family life and pursuing further education at night

Every once in a while, I reminisce
Occasionally looking back at the past with nostalgia

And wonder how we ever came to this
Questioning how their lives have turned out the way they have

I miss the better days
Feeling a sense of longing for a better time in the past

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

To all the homeboys down in uh, Clinton lockdown
Sending love and support to those incarcerated in Clinton

Rikers Island, all them dudes I was uh locked up with, E Block, F Block, lower H
Shouting out to those who he was formerly incarcerated with at Rikers Island

N-I-C in Rikers Island,
A reference to the North Infirmary Command located within Rikers Island

Downstate
A reference to Downstate Correctional Facility in New York

All the peoples I met along the way
Acknowledging the people he has encountered throughout his life

Better days is comin' homeboy, keep your head up
Encouraging and uplifting message to those going through tough times