Hold On Be Strong
2Pac ft. Stretch Lyrics

Hold on
Don't give up hope.

Yeah it's gonna be alright, don't trip baby
Things will get better so don't worry.

It'll get better
The future is bright.

Ay do this Thug style main, Thug style
Let's handle it like a Thug, confidently.

When this whole beat drop we just gon' run it to em bet
When we get our chance, let's make the most of it.

It's all good, uhh
Everything is alright.

I never had much, ran with a bad bunch
I grew up in a tough situation, surrounded by negative influences.

Little skinny kid sneakin weed in my bag lunch
I used to sneak drugs into school.

And all through Junior High, we was just gettin by
Life was a struggle for me even in my youth.

And drivebys robbed my homies of their young lives
My friends died young in violent shootings.

I never did cry, and even though I had pain in my heart, I was hopeless from the start
I faced adversity with a strong front, but I felt lost.

They couldn't tell me nothin, they all tried to help to help me
Despite people trying to help me, I wouldn't listen.

The marijuana had my mind gone it wasn't healthy
I used drugs to escape my problems, but it was damaging to my mental health.

I travelled places, caught cases, what a ill year
I got involved in crime and faced the consequences.

I felt the pain and the rain but I'm still here
I've faced hardships but managed to survive.

Never did like the police, let the whole world know
I had negative experiences with law enforcement and shared these opinions publicly.

Now I gets no peace, cause they chasin me down
I am being constantly pursued by the authorities.

And facin me now, what do I do?
I am facing challenges and unsure how to proceed.

These thangs that a Thug goes through
These are the struggles experienced by someone living the Thug lifestyle.

And still I rise so keep ya head up, and make ya mind strong
Despite the challenges, I remain resilient and encourage others to maintain strong mental fortitude.

It's a struggle every day but you gotta hold on
Life can be difficult, but it's important to persevere.

There's, never a good day, cause in my hood they let they AK's pump strays where the kids play
Violence is a constant in my community, even affecting children.

And every Halloween, check out the murder scene
Halloween has become associated with violence and crime in my neighborhood.

Can't help but duplicate the violence seen on the screen
Media representation of violence contributes to its perpetuation.

My homies dyin 'fore they get to see they birthdays
My friends are dying young, before they can truly experience life.

These is the worst days, sometimes it hurts to pray
These are the darkest times, making it hard to find hope.

And even God turned his back on the ghetto youth
The disadvantaged and poor are often forgotten by society, including religious institutions.

I know that ain't the truth, sometimes I look for proof
Despite my doubts, I strive to find evidence of a better future.

I wonder if heaven got a ghetto, and if it does
I wonder if even the afterlife is free from the hardships of the ghetto.

Does it matter if you blood or you cuz
Do family ties matter in the face of adversity?

Remember how it was, the picnics and the parties in the projects
I have fond memories of community events despite difficult circumstances.

Small time drinkin gettin high with them armies
I found solace in substance abuse with my friends.

Just another knucklehead kid from the gutter
I came from nothing and was not expected to amount to anything.

I'm dealin with the madness, raised by a single mother
I am struggling with life, despite being raised by a hardworking single mother.

I'm tryin to tell you when it's on
I'm telling you from experience.

You gotta keep your head to the sky and be strong, most of all hold on
Maintain a positive outlook and persevere through tough times.

Hold on, be strong
Don't give up hope and stay strong in the face of adversity.

I know them ain't tears comin down your face
I know you're not crying.

Wipe your eyes
Don't be discouraged.

In this world
In the world we live in.

Only the strong survive y'know
Only those who persevere make it through.

Hmm, I know it's hard out there
I know things are difficult.

Welfare
Government-provided financial assistance.

AIDS, earthquakes
Natural disasters and incurable diseases.

Muggings, carjackings
Varieties of violent crime.

Yeah we got problems
We are facing a lot of issues as a society.

But believe me when I tell you, things always get better
Despite the problems, the future holds promise and hope.

God don't like ugly
God does not condone bad behavior.

And God don't like no quitters
God values perseverance and determination.

You know what Billie Holiday said bay-bee
Quoting the musician Billie Holiday to suggest a message of hope.

God bless the child that can hold his own
God helps those who can overcome adversity.

Y'know?
Do you understand?

You got to stand strong
Maintain strength in the face of adversity.

And when these bustas try to knock you out your place
When others try to take your position.

You stand there to they face
You stand your ground and face them directly.

Tell em hold on, and be strong
Encouraging others to persevere.

The game don't stop
Life never stops moving forward.

Hmmm
A sound of contemplation.

This here is black main
I am speaking on behalf of the black community.

If you don't never leave nothin, learn one thing
If you don't accomplish anything else in life, learn this lesson.

It don't stop, til the casket drop
Life is a continual process that only ends with death.

Thug, for life feel me?
I live the Thug lifestyle daily, can you relate?

All my homeboys and my homegirls, stay strong
Encouraging my friends to persevere through tough times.

When things get bad, especially come the first and the fifteenth
When finances are tight at the beginning and middle of the month.

Stay strong, and stay ballin, hold on
Remain resilient and maintain wealth, don't give up hope.

I'll catch y'all at the next life, we in traffic
I'll see you on the other side when we pass away.