Survival of the Fittest
Baba Brinkman Lyrics

We livin' this 'til the day that we die
Life is a struggle that continues until death, with only the strong surviving.

Survival of the fit, only the strong survive
Only those who are fit to survive and strong enough to endure the challenges of life will make it through.

There's a war goin' on outside no man is safe from
Life is a constant battle for survival, with no one being completely safe.

You can run but you can't hide forever
Avoiding the struggle of life is not a long-term solution; it will catch up to you eventually.

If you come to my block, you'll see some territoriality
In areas with high crime rates, people are protective of their territory and may resort to violence to defend it.

A place where kill or be killed is the mentality
In some areas, the mindset is that you must be willing to use deadly force to protect yourself and your territory.

But get it straight, it's just a necessary strategy
Violence may be seen as a necessary strategy for survival in certain environments.

You gotta play the hand you're dealt; you can't magically
You must deal with the circumstances you are given in life and cannot change them magically.

Escape from the habitat that you was born in
It is difficult, if not impossible, to escape the environment in which you were born and raised.

Three homicides in my neighbourhood this mornin'
High crime rates, including murder, are a daily reality in some areas.

If you're thinkin' the criminal mind is just vacant
Contrary to popular belief, criminals are not mindless; their actions are calculated and often necessary for survival in their environment.

We're livin' in a situation with a low
In areas with high crime rates and low life expectancy, people may resort to criminal activity as a necessary means of survival.

And a major discrepancy
There is a significant gap between the wealthy and the poor, which can contribute to crime and other social problems.

Between the haves and have-nots, and you wonder
The divide between the rich and the poor can be a major contributing factor to social unrest and criminal activity.

Why the padlock on every cash box is smashed off
Crime may be a means for the less fortunate to obtain the resources they need to survive.

C'mon, you can't call it "pathological"
Criminal behavior is not necessarily a result of a psychological disorder or mental illness.

But you can't stop it though, not unless you address
The root causes of crime must be addressed in order to reduce it.

The root causes, the conscious and unconscious
The reasons for criminal behavior are complex and may be influenced by factors that are not fully understood.

C'mon, it's obvious – the beat keeps bouncing
The cycle of crime and violence can be self-perpetuating.

The homicide rate keeps mounting, which leads
As crime rates continue to rise, so does the rate of violent crime, including murder.

To steep discounting, and a lot of violence
Violence is a common occurrence in areas with high crime rates and can become normalized.

But it's not a virus; it's a rational response
Criminal behavior may be seen as a rational response to the difficult circumstances faced by those living in high crime areas.

To high risk environments and short time horizons
People living in dangerous areas with low life expectancy may have a shorter time horizon and need to take risks to survive.

With high stakes and highly visible prizes
The rewards for criminal activity, such as money and status, can be highly visible and desirable.

And you wonder why we're criminal-minded
People living in high crime areas may be more likely to engage in criminal activity as a means of survival.

When the only job that pays is casket-makin'
Limited employment opportunities in high crime areas can lead people to resort to criminal activity as a means of income.

And death is the ultimate plan cancellation
The high mortality rate in dangerous areas can put an end to plans for the future.

So check the facts and recent data releasin'
In order to understand the root causes of crime, it is important to look at the available data and facts.

You'll see a pattern of increasin' competition
Limited resources and opportunities can lead to increased competition and conflict.

A bunch of young guys all stugglin' and status seekin'
Young men in high crime areas may be struggling to achieve social status and resort to criminal activity as a means of achieving it.

And causin' the crimes that make the social fabric weaken
Criminal activity can weaken the social fabric and make it more difficult for people to come together and address community issues.

And life expectancy also predicts teen pregnancy
Areas with low life expectancy may have higher rates of teen pregnancy, as people may seek to leave a genetic legacy before they die.

The need to leave a legacy genetically
The desire to pass on one's genes and leave a legacy can be a powerful motivator, particularly in areas with high mortality rates.

Will never be completely controlled contraceptively
Even with access to contraception, the desire to leave a genetic legacy may still be a powerful motivator for some.

This is not about ethical justifications
The root causes of criminal behavior are not about ethical justifications, but rather evolutionary psychology and survival.

It's evolutionary psych, and it's just the basics
The reasons for criminal behavior can be traced back to evolutionary psychology and the basic human desire to survive and reproduce.

And still people call this behaviour "maladaptive"
Despite its evolutionary basis, criminal behavior is often seen as maladaptive because of the negative consequences it can have for individuals and communities.

Because of our reaction when violence happens
The violent nature of criminal behavior often elicits a strong emotional reaction from society, leading to calls for harsh punishment and other measures.

But if we really want to change the outcome
In order to reduce crime, we need to address the root causes of it, such as poverty and inequality.

Then maybe we should just start questioning how it's adaptive
Instead of seeing criminal behavior as maladaptive, we should question how it might be adaptive in certain environments and circumstances.

And the bottom line is that inequity and life
Inequality and low life expectancy are two major factors that contribute to high crime rates.

Expectancy are the ultimate causes of crime
Low life expectancy and inequity are the underlying causes of high crime rates.

And the results of crime; to me that's true
The negative consequences of crime, such as violence and fear, are clear to see and can have lasting impacts on individuals and communities.

The two combine together in a feedback loop
Crime and its negative consequences can create a cycle of violence and social unrest that is difficult to break free from.

But I got some moves to make, so I'll be back soon
The struggle for survival continues, and the artist must also take action to survive.

Just don't ask me what I'm about to do
The struggle for survival can require actions that others may not understand or accept.

'Cause I can't say, so it's left to untold fact
Survival sometimes requires secrecy and actions that may never be known or understood by others.

Until my death, my ghost will stay alive
Even after death, the legacy of survival can live on through one's offspring and the impact they have on the world.

Survival of the fit, only the strong survive
Ultimately, life is a struggle for survival, with only the fittest and strongest individuals surviving to pass on their genes and legacy.