Survive
2Pac feat. Celly Cell Lyrics

Cuddies perved by the corner, stout, herb
Men are hanging out on the corner, smoking weed and drinking alcohol.

Got me twisted, mo' cold killin murders
I'm feeling paranoid because of all the recent violent crimes.

Them brothers gettin further
Other black men are becoming more successful.

Got my pencil for utensil, this'll keep they mind knownin
I use writing as a way to keep my mind sharp.

Spot some thugs at the club, and they got the nines showin
I see some dangerous men showing off their guns at the club.

Dirty pimpin g's, one of my dreams, player now listen
My dream is to become a successful gangster, but listen to what I have to say.

Lotta blacks locked down, but comin back around in '96
Many black people are currently in jail, but they will be released soon.

All the gals my six (what else?) my track crew and my mother
The people I take care of and look after are my girlfriends, my music crew, and my mother.

Make these police wonder: how is he so undercover?
The police are curious about how I manage to avoid getting caught for my illegal activities.

Never been a lover, but America had broke my heart
I have never been in love, but America has disappointed and betrayed me.

I was told to tear up out this before this tear me apart
I was advised to leave my troubled neighborhood before it destroys me.

Eat through scrap, black tracks, free milk and cheese
I survive by eating food from food banks that provide black people with basics like milk and cheese.

While the Japs stack scratch with the Vietnamese
Meanwhile, Asian communities are becoming financially successful by working together.

But I'm finna squeeze, stack cheese they left on a trap
I plan to use any opportunity to make money, even if it is dangerous.

A young playa mack, hit the bud', spit a rap
I am a young, successful player, who smokes marijuana and raps about my life.

It's just that feelin, that feelin that I have for children
I have a deep love and concern for children.

Are able to love us, but these crazy devils try to kill us
Children are innocent and love us, but racist people try to harm and kill us.

"I gotta survive, I try to stay alive, ho"
I must continue to survive and stay alive, no matter what.

"Smokin that dank to deal with the pain"
I smoke marijuana to cope with my emotional pain.

(My nigga Ray Luv, when'd you get up out the pen, man?)
I am asking my friend Ray Luv when he got released from prison.

Now the cops keep watch, cause they know that I rap
The police are suspicious of me because I am a rapper.

Tell the world that I'm a gangsta, cause I ride with a strap
The world sees me as a gangster because I carry a gun.

But I ain't yo gangsta, just a young nigga caught up in the struggle
I am not a gangster, just a young black man trying to survive.

Born hustler, goin for the jugular
I was born to be a hustler and succeed in life.

Out to take the beast down, piece down might be too late
I am trying to overcome the obstacles in my way, but it may be too late.

The funk is on, high, drunk off Thunderbird and Grape cool-Aid
I am enjoying life despite its difficulties, while under the influence of alcohol.

Would love to catch a playa slippin, take me down and book me
The police would love to catch me making a mistake and arrest me.

Guilty as charged, hit the switch and try to cook me
The police will accuse me of crimes and try to punish me.

Silence a nigga for the shit I'm spittin, I know I'm scarin ya
The government wants to silence me for speaking out about the issues affecting my community.

A poison you created in the veins of America
The government has created a dangerous and toxic environment due to its policies.

Miseducated, incarcerated, institutionalized
Black people are not given a proper education, are disproportionately put in jail, and are subject to institutionalized racism and discrimination.

That 3rd strike will have a gang of them rollers dyin
Many black people will suffer and die because of the government's harsh 3 strikes rule.

Ain't no love where I'm goin, no love where I'm comin from
There is no love for me in my current environment, and there was no love for me where I came from.

Remember me, that real-ass nigga you been runnin from
I want people to remember me as the honest and fearless person that they were too afraid to confront.

Got us sprung off the cocaine and the welfare
Black people are addicted to drugs and dependent on government assistance programs.

While the black babies die without health care
Black babies are dying due to lack of access to healthcare.

Now how could I pledge allegiance to a racist-ass flag
I cannot pledge allegiance to the American flag because it represents a country that is racist towards black people.

When the rollers at my do' with a .44 mag?
The police are coming to my door with a dangerous weapon.

Got my mother spittin drag 'bout I ain't home
My mother is worried about my safety because I am not at home.

Got a double homicide warrant on my dome
There is a warrant out for my arrest for two murders.

I hear em pushin in the do', I grab my Mac with two clips
I hear the police breaking into my house, so I grab my gun and ammunition.

Cut through the back window and like a g hit a fence
I escape through the back window and jump over a fence.

I'm thinkin 'bout my folks gettin sent for violation
I am worried about my loved ones being sent to jail for breaking the law.

Foes and punk police, them devils still at my do'
My enemies, including the police, are constantly after me.

I peep a group of ten tryina get information
I see a group of ten people who are trying to gather information about me.

I threw the clips in the Mac, start lettin off frustration
I put the ammunition into my gun and start shooting to vent my anger and frustration.

It's better than incarceration any day, we gonn' die anyway
I would rather die than be imprisoned for crimes I did not commit.

So if I go out blastin, call it my fate
If I die while fighting back against the police and my enemies, it is simply my destiny.

I got niggas in the pen like my cousin Bud
My cousin Bud is in prison, and I have other friends who are also incarcerated.

Lunatic Insane, and my partner T-Love
My friends Lunatic Insane and T-Love are also in jail.

Big Tom, Ray Ray, Killa Cuddy, Mac Dre
My friends Big Tom, Ray Ray, Killa Cuddy, and Mac Dre are all part of my crew.

Cleek, Jamal, Jinx and Bluebonic, man
Other members of my crew include Cleek, Jamal, Jinx, and Bluebonic.

Now I been called a crook, a killer, a thug
I have been labeled as a criminal and violent person.

A no-good dealer of drugs
People see me as someone who illegally sells drugs.

And Blood or 'cause, doesn't matter what set you was
Your gang affiliation is not important to me, as long as you are black and we are on the same side.

Cause where I'm at, if you black, we strapped
It is dangerous to be black in my neighborhood, so we carry weapons for protection.

As long as ki's make g's these thieves attack
As long as black people make money, they will be targeted by thieves and criminals.

And ain't no rules on the streets these days
There are no rules or laws that protect me on the dangerous streets.

Muthafuckas better watch they back and take it eazay
People should be careful and cautious to avoid getting hurt or killed.

I'm livin in the dangerzone
My life is constantly in danger because of where I live and the people around me.

And learnin lesson from the game, it's on
I am constantly learning from my experiences in the street life.

Niggas was gone when the frame was on
When there was trouble, many of my friends and allies abandoned me.

I'm gettin breaken them balls daily
My enemies are constantly trying to bring me down and ruin my life.

Is there a ghetto in heaven or do I go to hell?
I am questioning whether there will be a better place for me after I die, or if I will always suffer.

See, seems I was senteced to death, takin my steps with my head down
It feels like I am already sentenced to death and am walking with my head down in fear and sadness.

Why pour I liquor for my niggas, cause they dead now
I am pouring out alcohol as a tribute to my friends who have died.

My memory since I was a little seed
I have been aware of the poverty and struggle around me since I was a child.

Was a penitentiary full of niggas like me
My future seemed destined for prison or death because of my background and environment.

These cops can't terrorize us, they despise us
The police cannot scare us into submission, they hate us because of our skin color.

Plus everybody's searchin for a piece of the truth
Everyone is trying to understand and uncover the truth about our society.

And the youth turn the streets into a piece of Beirut
The young people are turning the streets into a dangerous and violent place, like Beirut during the war.

And the truth is
The reality is...