Prince
Akinola Pedro Lyrics

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Lord please grant him health and all the safety make sure he reads and he pass to graduate
Lord please grant him health and all the safety make sure he reads and he pass to graduate

And Lord knows he’s a prince
Lord knows in this damn life can leave you really unsure
A bright child of an immigrant
His mother came here only to see her offspring sore
With flying colors youngest brother of three

Same story as me born and raised in DC, uh
I write my sixteens about a 16 aged boy
Whose story don’t taste so simply sweet
It ain’t the same as 1988, no murder capital
The POTUS is black but alienates, uh
The district city getting bleach on the casual
X-out communities deemed too incompatible
Like sour lemons, niggas squeeze on the daily
In the year of 2010 this shit’s been getting too crazy
And he’s scared plus his mom is scared too
Every night she prays her son is never pushing up daisies

Lord please grant him health and all the safety
Make sure he reads and he pass to graduate
This Burger King job she works just suffocates
She does her best to avoid the section 8

It’s been a while they live apart he’s getting frustrated
His mother is far away and Landover, where she stays
You do the math and show your work make sure to calculate
That 16 stops using DC subway, uh
The picture’s painted now let’s cut to the chase
Her son has been based in DYRS
Because of a murder that took place
Way back in the summer and I’m a prime witness in this case an uptown stunner run the streets with my crew
That I claim as my brothers
*Beep* killed a cracker on his bike in the middle of the night
I think I shot him twice
Three more times to make it five all for 60 bucks
Now the cops all on them and these opps still a problem
I shot at one of them niggas in broad day
I couldn’t let them bammas get away for killing-
That’s too much pain
I need revenge cold-hearted like a terrorist on a plane
A young nigga with a .38 bumping Chief Keef’s “bang”
Ready to blow a nigga‘s brains
Feds got this shit on a watch
They book him and his homies might due time like a clock (shit!)
The plot fever pitch got me closer to the pen
Like I’m on my third strike but I cannot be a snitch
Good cop, Bad cop
Them boys making deals just to get them all to break
Bitches do the talking
Between the whole crew moe, some keeps walking a thin line
Between breaking code and saving face
At my hearing I heard your name was brought up
As the one cooperating
Who nigga? You nigga! Not me?
You think I’m a fool nigga?
Now I’m denied bail cause shit that they can prove nigga

See that’s the thing, no one really knew
Someone left trails cops were still playing blue's clues
A week goes by and you think it’s all clear
But on the fifth Tuesday of November
Prince was chilling at the same spot in Sherman Circle
A man walked to him I can’t recall his name but he approached
And it seems he’s a friend of a friend
They both took a walk to the nearest corner block
The K&B Kwik-y stop with a few others
Just some black brothers that don’t really give a fuck
It's "kill a man or be killed" a dog eat dog world
And that’s when the sand in your hourglass begins to diminish
On last your last few grains not knowing that this pain
Will come swift like a damn thief out of midnight
When black turns burgundy the image ain't nice
The picture’s not pretty
This life is real gritty when you only living till you die
That’s what happened when prince got shot in the head two times

Oh oh oh oh ouh
Oh oh oh oh ouh
Oh oh oh oh!

Lord, please grant him health and all the safety
Make sure he reads and he pass to graduate
Lord, please grant him health and all the safety
Make sure he reads—

Halos halos halos

Watch this nigga, the boy that died, a king called Prince
Just like me but I got the chance to grow into AkinG
I was raised by two immigrant parents
By the name of Bosede and Ajibola Pedro
They had four beautiful black children
With hopes and dreams that they inherit the earth (earth)
But this story only follows one of these children
All my life I was deemed abrasive, angry and apathetic
I saw the world once and it may be xenophobic
I saw the world twice and it made me empathetic and aesthetic
It made me international
It made me know that you can’t wipe out or cancel
The black soul of me that still runs clean, 6 feet deep, proceed Halo halo halo (Spotless!)
It made me know that you can’t rub out or cancel
My heritage, you can’t cut my hair
As I attempt to grow this crown as long as my lineage
That traces back to the motherland of Lagos, Nigeria
To the slave ports of Salvador, Bahia
I am no longer a pessimist I am my parents' child
A child of an immigrant, a child of immigrants
Some of you know me as AkinG Kalld Pedro
My name is Akinola Pedro, I am Children I am you
I am a friend of a fr—

Hey Akin, It’s me! I’m calling to let you know that mommy's been trying to reach you. So just make sure you give her a callback

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Akinola Pedro's song "Prince" tell a complex and poignant story of a young boy named Prince and his struggles growing up in Washington, DC. The song begins with a plea to the Lord for health and safety for Prince, emphasizing the importance of education and him passing to graduate. The lyrics convey the uncertainty and challenges Prince faces in his life.

Prince is described as a bright child of an immigrant, and his mother came to the US with the hope of giving him a better life. However, the reality is that he and his mother are constantly fearful for their safety in a city where violence and crime are prevalent. The lyrics mention the changing dynamics of Washington, DC, with the city no longer being as dangerous as it once was but still facing its own set of problems.

The song takes a darker turn as it reveals that Prince's life has been impacted by a murder that took place in the summer. Akinola Pedro, who appears to be a witness to the crime, paints a vivid picture of the events leading up to the incident. There are intense emotions of anger and a desire for revenge, and it becomes clear that Prince's involvement in the situation has consequences. The lyrics touch on themes of loyalty and the code of the streets, highlighting the internal conflicts that arise in these circumstances.

Tragically, Prince meets a violent end when he is shot in the head two times, leaving behind a sense of loss and devastation. The chorus of the song repeats the plea to the Lord for health and safety for Prince, emphasizing the fragility of life and the uncertainty that exists in the world.

The final section of the song shifts the focus to Akinola Pedro himself, as he reflects on his own journey and identity as an immigrant child. He acknowledges his upbringing and the influence of his parents, celebrating his Nigerian heritage and the resilience of his black identity. Akinola Pedro highlights the importance of knowing and embracing one's heritage, recognizing the strength that lies within it.

The song concludes with a phone call, with someone informing Akinola Pedro that his mother has been trying to reach him. This provides a sense of connection and highlights the importance of family and communication in the midst of life's challenges.

Overall, the lyrics of "Prince" explore themes of violence, identity, family, and the pursuit of a better life. It offers a raw and vivid portrayal of the struggles faced by individuals growing up in challenging circumstances, while also emphasizing the power of resilience and connection to one's roots.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Akinola Pedro, Clarke Randolph, Dante Pope, Imonte' Ford, Kyaira Ware, Miles Brown, Vincent Mastin

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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