Even though his voice rarely goes above casual speaking volume, when C-Murd… Read Full Bio ↴Even though his voice rarely goes above casual speaking volume, when C-Murder talks, he speaks volumes. Born Corey Miller and raised in New Orleans, a city known for both its good times and crimes, C-Murder adopted his provocative name seeing murders, amongst other ruthless activities. A product of the notorious Calliope Projects, C was able to escape being just another statistic by aligning with his entrepreneur brother Percy Miller, also known to the world as No Limit Record’s CEO and founder Master P. Throughout the mid to late 1990’s No Limit wreaked havoc on the music industry setting gold and platinum standards for almost every album they released. Before becoming one of the most popular solo artists on the label, C-Murder debuted as a member of TRU alongside his brothers P and Silkk The Shocker. The trio put themselves and their label on the national map with their 1995 album True which spurned the worldwide anthem “I’m Bout It, Bout It.” Following TRU’s groundbreaking 1997 album Tru 2 Da Game, C-Murder embarked on what would become a successful solo career. His first album, 1998’s Life Or Death proved to listeners that C was able to hold his own weight using a spectrum of influences ranging from Special Ed to Ice-T to 2Pac, showing that while he had a rough exterior to use in his favor, he had also had immense talent working for him too. His follow-ups, 1999’s Bossalinie, 2000’s Trapped In Crime and an appearance later that year on the 504 Boys’ smash “Wobble, Wobble” would only broaden his fanbase and cement his place in Southern Rap’s hierarchy. C-Murder would go on to follow his brother Master P’s entrepreneur footsteps by founding TRU Records and releasing two more albums 2001’s C-P-3.com and 2002’s Tru Dawgs—with controversy following each one. In 2001 C was indicted on an attempted murder charge for a shooting incident outside of a Baton Rouge nightclub. While out on bond, C-Murder was charged with second-degree murder over a shooting outside of another Louisiana nightclub. Facing two life-altering allegations simultaneously, C’s recording career came to a screeching halt. Sentenced to life for the latter charge, C decided to change his name to C-Miller. He went on to sign with Koch Records to put out some of his previously unreleased material but opted to go back to his original name by the time 2005’s Truest Shit I Ever Said hit shelves. “C-Murder is in my heart, I always knew in the back of my head what it was,” says C about his decision. “It’s never crossed my mind to change. Anyone who knows me knows I am who I am. I’ve been through a lot but I got heart with it too. To let the system take me down, I’ll be a failure.” Literally TRU to his word, the system did not take C-Murder down. Only serving a couple years of his life sentence, C’s second-degree murder conviction was overturned in favor of a retrial. Wasting no time C-Murder released his 2005 album in the form of The Tru Story: Continued with all new songs and offered fans an even bigger glimmer of hope and change with a guest appearance on Ludacris’ Release Therapy album on the song “Do Your Time” when he rapped alongside fellow ex-con emcees Beanie Sigel and Pimp C. Now, with that chapter of his life and even a novel, Death Around the Corner, behind him, C is looking forward to adding more pages to his storied career. The first entry is his TRU/Asylum Records debut Screamin’ 4 Vengeance. “This album is going to be very personal,” insists C. “Its gonna be an open book on my trials and tribulations. Current events, things I’ve been going through, letting the world get it raw.” He pauses to warn, “Everything ain’t gutter about the album though, because at the end of the day its got a message. It ain’t about go bang this and that, it’s just a raw album about life and what’s going on out here. At the end of the day, the end of the beat, you get the message that the streets ain’t what’s really popping.” Backed by a new team and a new attitude, Screamin’ 4 Vengeance is some of C-Murder’s best work to date. As a No Limit Soldier C often had to crank out music at an assembly line rate. But now that he’s calling his own shots and setting his own schedule, C is putting out a high-quality product of 5-star General caliber. “My lyrical content and subject matter on a another level,” says C in between mention in his new in-house production team, Deadly Soundz. “You can hear my confidence now, I can flow on any track now. Earlier in my career, it was easy to do two or three songs a day because I was saying the same things. But this time around its more universal, everything ain’t gonna be the same. I had time to really work on this album and perfect it.” The perfection can be heard in the diversity of songs on Screamin’ For Vengeance. Tracks like “My Set” produced by Baton Rouge underground legend C-Loc will remind hardcore C-Murder fans of what made them make each of his first three albums platinum. “Be Fresh” shows C in rare form actually appreciating the good things in life after a hard day’s work. “Mihita” reunites him with former label mate Mia X while “Gangstafied Lyrics” has C giving a sermon on street life. “I’m just trying to bring that 100% street element back to music,” says C. “You’re not gonna hear me talking about driving this whip with 22s or anything like that. You’re gonna hear real situations. This is my first studio album in a minute so I have to give it my all.” With Screamin’ 4 Vengeance being C-Murder’s first studio album in five years the veteran artist has more than enough to say and expose. With everything from rhymes to emotions being bottled up inside, the volatile contents finally get to explode out of the lyricist’s pen and into your ears. Sure to please both old and new fans alike, Screamin’ 4 Vengeance will reintroduce and reestablish C-Murder and his unique brand of music. “I’m the same C-Murder that you expected and saw on my first albums,” he urges. “It’s just C-Murder with open eyes that wants to give you a message and let you know the consequences of your choices.”

Been A Long Time
C-Murder Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Let me see them 3's, put 'em up
This for all my lil' soldiers out there stuck in the world
Or put in a situation (situation) where they didn't have a choice
(Fuck the world nigga you got a choice)
On whether they wanted to be there or not
In the ghetto it's kill or be killed, in a place called the street
(Ya heard me?)

[Chorus]
It's been a long time since a nigga showed me love
I'ma make it even if I have to spill a nigga blood
It's been a long time since a nigga showed me love
But I'ma make it even if I have to spill a nigga blood

I'm trapped in crime, I'm pushin' nickels and dimes
And will I lose my mind, or am I wastin' my time?
I'm breakin' bread, on the block, with them thugs no love
Fresh out of jail, hard to kill, took two shots and lived
It ain't my time, I asked the Lord, to put the reaper on hold
I know my soul is kinda cold, pops told me to be bold
And I'm a grown man, protected by my set and my weapon
Ain't no regrettin', earnin' stripes, from them niggaz I'm checkin'
Them 15's, layin' laws like the man, callin' shots
Holdin' meetings on the block a young nigga at the top
And will I make it, out the ghetto, fuck the future cause I'm usedta
Doin' what I'm doin' right now, and this shit will never stop

[Chorus]

Two years I'm locked up like a bitch I'm boxed up
Hard times got me trapped nigga, I shoulda been put them rocks up
But it's the code of the ghetto, hold your own take care of your moms
By any means stack yo' chips, if it's illegal nigga don't trip
They're dead, ya heard me nigga serve me don't be like no busta
These streets don't love ya and uhh I really don't trust ya
Make a move fool you choose, you gotta pay your own dues
And all them gold teeth and tattoos, them ain't nuttin' but clues nigga
I'ma menace to society, I slang dope, in varieties
Be like A.J., come take a ride, what you see is what you get nigga
You creep or you sleep, but me, I'm packin' my heat
'Cause real life ain't on TV nigga, real life is on the street beotch

[Chorus:x2]

It's been a long motherfuckin' time since a nigga showed me love
See-Murder, see-P-3-killer
Projects the cold hearted streets of New Orleans
The infamous ghetto, young niggaz, will age well
Streets got me crazy, will I die I don't know
It's war crimes baby, takin' over the world
Put in a situation, forced to, handle your business
Handle your own hold your own boy that's the code of the ghetto
Will I die I don't know baby
It ain't up to me it's up to that man upstairs
So I just say to all the young niggaz out there
Goin' through what I went through, there's a way out

So keep your head high
And keep your heat low, ya heard me?

Overall Meaning

The song "Been A Long Time" by C-Murder highlights the struggles and challenges faced by those who are raised in tough neighborhoods where violence and crime are a way of life. The song speaks to the reality that many young people find themselves in situations that are beyond their control, where they have to engage in criminal activities in order to survive or provide for their families. The lyrics aim to inspire young people to remain strong, keep pushing and never give up no matter how tough things get.

C-Murder's lyrics suggest that life in the ghetto is a battle to stay alive, and one must be willing to fight and kill in order to survive. The chorus "It's been a long time since a nigga showed me love. I'ma make it even if I have to spill a nigga blood," suggests that the artist has not received any support from his peers, and he is determined to succeed by any means necessary. He is willing to use his gun to protect himself and make things happen in life. The verse, “Make a move fool you choose, you gotta pay your own dues. And all them gold teeth and tattoos, them ain't nuttin' but clues nigga,” emphasizes the street code and the necessity to stay vigilant and do things his way rather than risking them getting caught up in false representations of street life.

In conclusion, the song "Been A Long Time" by C-Murder is a testament to the harsh realities of life in the ghetto where survival is not guaranteed, and everything can be taken away with one bad move. It highlights the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity, strength in the face of danger, and the need to stay true to oneself when everything is against them.

Line by Line Meaning

Let me see them 3's, put 'em up
Let me see your gang sign, throw it up in the air.

This for all my lil' soldiers out there stuck in the world
This is dedicated to all the young gang members that are trapped in the street life.

Or put in a situation (situation) where they didn't have a choice
Forced into a situation where they had no other choice but to be involved in criminal activities.

(Fuck the world nigga you got a choice)
Disregard societal norms and make your own choices, despite the consequences.

In the ghetto it's kill or be killed, in a place called the street
Violence is pervasive in the hood, where your survival depends on your ability to defend yourself.

(Ya heard me?)
Do you understand me? Are you listening?

It's been a long time since a nigga showed me love
It's been a while since someone has shown me kindness or respect.

I'ma make it even if I have to spill a nigga blood
I will succeed no matter the cost, even if it means resorting to violence and murder.

I'm trapped in crime, I'm pushin' nickels and dimes
I'm stuck in a life of crime, selling drugs in small quantities.

And will I lose my mind, or am I wastin' my time?
Am I going crazy or just wasting my life away?

I'm breakin' bread, on the block, with them thugs no love
I'm making money with dangerous people who don't care about me.

Fresh out of jail, hard to kill, took two shots and lived
Recently released from prison, I am tough and resilient, having survived an attempt on my life.

It ain't my time, I asked the Lord, to put the reaper on hold
I am not ready to die yet, so I pray to God to spare me from death for a little longer.

I know my soul is kinda cold, pops told me to be bold
I am desensitized to violence, but my father taught me to be brave.

And I'm a grown man, protected by my set and my weapon
As an adult, I am defended by my gang and my weapon.

Ain't no regrettin', earnin' stripes, from them niggaz I'm checkin'
I have no remorse for my actions, and I am gaining respect from my fellow gang members.

Them 15's, layin' laws like the man, callin' shots
My gang members have power and control, similar to those in authoritative positions.

Holdin' meetings on the block a young nigga at the top
We have meetings to discuss our gang's business, and I am seen as a leader.

And will I make it, out the ghetto, fuck the future cause I'm usedta
I am unsure if I will ever leave the ghetto, and I am resigned to the fact that this is my reality.

Doin' what I'm doin' right now, and this shit will never stop
I will continue to engage in criminal activities, and this lifestyle will never end.

Two years I'm locked up like a bitch I'm boxed up
I have been imprisoned for two years, and I feel helpless and trapped.

Hard times got me trapped nigga, I shoulda been put them rocks up
Difficult circumstances have forced me into this life of crime, and I should have pursued a different path.

But it's the code of the ghetto, hold your own take care of your moms
This is the norm in the ghetto - protect yourself and your family.

By any means stack yo' chips, if it's illegal nigga don't trip
Make money however you can, even if it's illegal, and don't worry about the consequences.

They're dead, ya heard me nigga serve me don't be like no busta
Those who defy me are as good as dead, so do as I say and don't be a coward.

These streets don't love ya and uhh I really don't trust ya
The streets are not kind, and I am reluctant to trust anyone.

Make a move fool you choose, you gotta pay your own dues
You're responsible for your actions and the consequences that come with them.

And all them gold teeth and tattoos, them ain't nuttin' but clues nigga
Your physical appearance can tell a lot about who you are and what you're involved in.

I'ma menace to society, I slang dope, in varieties
I am a danger to society because I sell drugs of different kinds.

Be like A.J., come take a ride, what you see is what you get nigga
Follow my example and join my gang, and you'll see that I am true to my word.

You creep or you sleep, but me, I'm packin' my heat
You either stay alert or stay dead, but I carry my weapon with me at all times.

'Cause real life ain't on TV nigga, real life is on the street beotch
The harsh reality of life is not like what you see on TV - it is brutal and unforgiving on the streets.

See-Murder, see-P-3-killer
Referring to himself as a murderer and a killer.

Projects the cold hearted streets of New Orleans
The housing developments in New Orleans are known for being a cruel and violent environment.

The infamous ghetto, young niggaz, will age well
The notorious ghetto is home to many young people who will grow up in this environment.

Streets got me crazy, will I die I don't know
The streets have driven me insane, and I am unsure if I will survive.

It's war crimes baby, takin' over the world
We are engaging in illegal and violent activity to dominate and control our surroundings.

Put in a situation, forced to, handle your business
I have been placed in a situation where I must take care of my own affairs.

Handle your own hold your own boy that's the code of the ghetto
Take care of yourself and stand your ground - that's the principle of the ghetto.

It ain't up to me it's up to that man upstairs
I do not have control over whether I live or die - God does.

So I just say to all the young niggaz out there Goin' through what I went through, there's a way out So keep your head high And keep your heat low, ya heard me?
To all the young gang members experiencing the same struggles I have, there is a way out of this life. Stay strong and be smart.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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