don't cry
Army of the Pharaohs Lyrics

The first time I heard rap I was so gased
I was really excited when I first heard rap music

'Cause back then, you could make an album with no cash
In the past, it was possible to create an album without spending a lot of money

But nowadays everybody is so cool
Nowadays, everyone is trying to be cool

You got niggas dropping out of school to learn Pro Tools
People are leaving school to learn how to use audio production software like Pro Tools

And this is all facts
What I am saying is true

I had to learn how to fall back
I had to learn how to step back and not be so involved in negative situations

And stop wasting my time with small cats
I needed to stop spending time with unimportant people

They'll have you caught up in beef that you'll get killed for
Being associated with them can lead to dangerous situations

Or caught up in the current, my nigga, that you ain't built for
Getting involved in the lifestyle they lead can be detrimental if you are not built for it

And young jewels, getting loose with the cooch
Young girls being promiscuous without understanding how their actions can affect their life

Not understanding everything in this life started with you but
They do not realize that their actions have consequences and can set them up for success or failure

I know this life is getting kind scarey
I understand that life can be scary sometimes

When you only here you secondary
When you are not at the forefront of people's minds, you are not as important to them

Man, you most necessary
However, you are actually very important

And AOTP family is too strong
Our group, Army of the Pharaohs, is very close-knit and supportive

We hold our head high
We are proud and confident

'Cause it's been down for too long
Because we have struggled for a long time

And once you get it, don't get it and boast
If you achieve success, do not brag about it

Just do the knowledge, the greater the trial the greater the growth
Instead, learn from your experiences, even the difficult ones, as they can help you grow

Man up
Be strong and courageous

Don't cry when the struggle aproches
Do not become emotional when faced with difficult times

Keep your self at arms reach
Distance yourself from negativity and harmful influences

Away from haters and jokers
Stay away from people who do not support you or who try to make a joke out of serious situations

When it's time to be a man
When it is necessary to be responsible and mature

Make your plan and face it
Create a plan and face the challenge head on

Things are gonna get better
Believe that things will improve with time and effort

Once you get out of the basement
Once you overcome your struggles and move on from difficult times

The struggle only gonna sit(?), It lasts if you let it
The difficulties will stay with you if you do not actively try to overcome them

The only way to overcome it
The only way to successfully deal with difficult things

Is to shuffle through the negatives
Is to sort through the bad things and focus on the positive

It's the positives that allow you to proceed promptly
Positivity is what enables you to move forward quickly

To react on impulses
To take action based on your instincts and intuition

And show your results calmly
And demonstrate your achievements in a calm and collected manner

Take it from a man that'll do for his family
Listen to me, someone who will do anything for his family

More Vinnie do for Celph,(the line is: More then he do for (him)self)
I do more for my family than I do for myself

Who else could understand me
Who else would be able to empathize with me

The streets are watching so the option is yours
People are watching you, so it is up to you to make good choices

The only way to make an effect
The only way to make a difference

Is ride for the cause my nigga
Is to fight for what you believe in, my friend

We gotta hang on, shorties is giving up,
We need to hold on, young people are losing hope

The hoods broke, 'cause the government don't give a fuck
Our communities are struggling because the government is not providing support or help

Don't waste your whole life trying to get chedder
Do not spend your entire life chasing money

Hold your head high and don't cry, shortie it gets better
Be confident and do not let setbacks bring you down, things will improve

Don't live everyday rain and hand's help
Do not rely solely on others for help and support

This is grown man shit, put in work for your damn self
This is a situation where you need to take responsibility and work hard for yourself

I'm come from a broken home
I grew up in a family that was not functioning well

Bloody tears, no cameras
I have experienced a lot of pain and suffering without anyone noticing

No footage of dad fucking with grandma
There is no record of the abuse my grandfather inflicted on my grandmother

And now my daughter get larger by the minute
My daughter is growing up quickly

Asking question like "where my daddy?" I tell her
She asks where her father is, and I have to explain to her that he is not in the picture

Baby, in this life we live, theres a life to give
I tell her that even though life can be hard, there is still value in giving back

To a upperhand, maybe pretty soon you'll understand that
To people who are less fortunate, and she will understand this soon

I took a sip of your Bacardi my nigga (Oops)
I accidentally drank some of your Bacardi, my friend

I was 12, you were mad, look, I'm sorry my nigga
I realize now that what I did was not okay, and I apologize for it

And thanks for the party my nigga,
Thank you for throwing me a party on my birthday, my friend

You threw for my birthday at parks
The party took place in a park

Nothing with ever break us apart
We will always be close friends and nothing will come between us

Now I'm much bigger, life is much clearer
Now that I am older, life makes more sense

Perks have been abused dumbing zanis in my syrup
I have been using drugs like Percocet and Xanax in my drinks

'Till I've been in the grammys with a Shakira look-alike
But despite my struggles, I have still achieved success and been to the Grammys with a beautiful woman

Hopes shes right, I don't wanna be a crip tonight...
I hope she is trustworthy, and I do not want to have any problems or conflicts tonight

Nope, hope a major label looks tonight
Instead, I hope that a big music company will be interested in working with me

'Cause I don't wanna have to strong arm you and get booked tonight
Because I do not want to have to resort to using physical force or getting in trouble with the law

Call it the hood a gutter,
Referring to the impoverished neighborhoods as a place that is dirty and dangerous

'Cause all they looking for is a good mother
Because all people want is someone who will care for them and love them

But it ain't none of them left,
Unfortunately, there are not many good mothers left in these neighborhoods

They took the good from 'em
The difficult living conditions and lack of resources have made it hard for people to be good parents

It ain't safe no more, the street is Vietnam
The streets have become very dangerous

The older guards on the dean
The more experienced people are trying to keep things peaceful

Trying to keep it calm
Trying to maintain order and prevent violence

The streets rought out here, it's tought out here
The streets are rough and life is difficult in these neighborhoods

And young boys they don't give a fuck out here (Damn)
Younger kids do not care about the consequences of their actions and engage in risky behaviors

But the government the one who put the crack in hoods
The government is responsible for the drug epidemic in these neighborhoods

We gonna start a revolution, take it back for good
We are going to fight back and try to make things better

And I don't give a mothafuck about the police
I do not care about the police and their authority

They the reason every single ghetto having no peace
They are the reason why there is so much unrest and tension in these neighborhoods

They putting poison in the water
They are putting harmful things in the water supply

I don't know why
I do not understand the reasoning behind this

This is for the little shorties
This message is for the younger kids

Hold your head and don't cry
Be strong and do not let difficult times bring you down