Pretty Black Future
Cyne Lyrics

Check it out call'em lil' Black Tarzan
Hey, take a look at those young Black boys, swinging around like Tarzan and having fun.

Swing boy sing not mommy but amen
The boys are having so much fun that they're singing out loud and thanking God for this joyful moment.

Hurry up dress up clean shirt go
Now, it's time to get ready and put on a nice, clean shirt because something special is happening.

Button up show time wait shine your shoe off
Button up your shirt, be patient and wait for your turn to shine. Make sure to shine your shoes so they look nice and new.

Bring it back god don’t love nappy hair
There's a belief that having nappy hair is an unattractive thing, but that's not true. It's just a man-made concept that people believe in.

My shit broke the pick though
My hair is so nappy that even the comb has broken while trying to detangle it.

Mama I ain’t happy here
Mother, I'm not feeling happy being in this place that doesn't value me for who I am.

And can’t remember quotes
I'm not good at remembering quotes from the Bible or other famous people, but that doesn't make me any less intelligent or capable.

To Paul, David, and Matthew I just woke
I'm not very religious, but I remember hearing about some important people in the Bible: Paul, David, and Matthew.

Right before the missionary came
I learned about these people before a missionary came to my community to try and convert us to their religion.

To target my back for visionary game
The missionary is interested in my community because they see us as an opportunity to gain new followers and expand their religion.

You see I was missing when they came
When the missionary came to my community, I wasn't there to hear their message.

The snake in the grassroot hissing at a dame like
The missionary may seem nice on the surface, but they have ulterior motives and may not have our best interests at heart.

Everybody wanna talk my blues can’t walk my shoes
Other people may think they understand my struggles, but they don't because they haven't lived my experiences.

My pretty black future
Despite all the challenges I face as a Black person, I believe in a bright future for myself and my community.

Got grey and I bottle up hate say
However, sometimes I still feel angry and resentful towards a society that treats me unfairly.

Jesus new to the game you loser
People who claim to speak for Jesus, but use his teachings to spread hate and bigotry are really the ones losing at life.

So yeah I rock Circa but no I ain’t no skater
I may wear a brand of shoes that's popular with skaters, but that doesn't mean I'm actually part of that subculture.

I see you cop Jordans but no you ain’t no player
Similarly, wearing expensive Jordans doesn't make you a basketball player, and it doesn't make you superior to others who can't afford them.

For me what I do is mine define dmajor
What I choose to do with my life is my decision, and I won't let anyone else define me or my path to success.

Never was a thug but hon I stay laser
I may not fit into society's stereotypes of what a Black man should be (a thug), but I'm still focused and determined to succeed.

Dabble in some good rock
I like to listen to different kinds of music, including rock, which isn't seen as a stereotypically 'Black' genre.

For each to his own I zone to where the beat stop
Everyone has their own preferences, and I enjoy music that speaks to me and makes me feel good, regardless of what other people may think.

Yes I am a black man living within a white world
As a Black person, I constantly have to navigate a society that is designed to benefit white people, which can make me feel out of place or marginalized at times.

I got my education but no don’t date no white girls
Even though I've had opportunities for an education, I still face discrimination, so I choose not to date white women to avoid additional scrutiny or backlash.

Never said I wouldn’t but only for right reasons
This doesn't mean that I'm not open to dating white women, but I have to make sure that I'm doing it for the right reasons, not just to prove something to society or others.

Easy to get caught up and then its hunting season
If I let myself get too wrapped up in trying to impress others or fit into a certain mold, it can become dangerous and put a target on my back.

Get you in a setup and trying to take your freedom
People in power will often try to set up Black people for failure or even criminal charges so that they can maintain their power and control over us.

Ass ain’t getting me down gimme Lakisha
I won't let these obstacles bring me down, and I'll instead rely on my community and support system, like my friend Lakisha, to lift me up.

Pretty Black Future winners are called losers
Even when Black people succeed, society will still try to dismiss or belittle our accomplishments, calling us 'losers' or finding other ways to diminish our achievements.

But we still striving against those who use us
Despite these challenges, Black people continue to work hard and make progress, fighting against those who would exploit or oppress us.

We still define ourselves by our abusers
However, sometimes we get so caught up in fighting against oppression, that we allow our abusers to define us or control our actions and beliefs.

Quit doing that s*** we’ll reach heaven sooner
To truly succeed and reach a better place, we must break free from the cycle of abuse and oppression by refusing to let our abusers define us or influence our behavior.

My money my plight my fight my life my mics my s*** my future
All of my struggles, hard work, and aspirations are reflected in my money, my music, and my future.

Take that from me and I’ll shoot ya
If anyone tries to take away my money, my voice, or my dreams for the future, I'll do whatever it takes to protect myself and my community.

Yeah and paint a pretty black tomorrow
My goal is to create a better and brighter future for Black people, even when society actively tries to hold us back.

With fear in a chokehold move immortal
Despite facing fear and oppression, we must remain strong and resilient, always striving towards immortality (i.e. creating a lasting legacy) for ourselves and our community.

My team first down bound no time to cuddle
We have to prioritize working together as a team in order to overcome the obstacles in our way, and there's no time to slow down or become complacent.

Hello mean mug frown this is how we get down
In this tough and oppressive society, we have to constantly remain on guard and maintain a tough exterior attitude to protect ourselves and our community.

How does it feel to be one of the beautiful?
As a successful and accomplished Black person, how does it feel to be one of the few who can break through society's barriers and succeed?

How does it feel to be one of the beautiful?
Even though society may undervalue or belittle our accomplishments, we know how valuable and important they really are.

So um Jesse Jackson we need some real action
We need leaders like Jesse Jackson who can take concrete action to fight against systemic oppression and racism in our society.

Let’s move these buffoons f*** the jive turkey tacts
We need to reject the fake and ineffectual tactics used by many leaders and instead focus on taking real and concrete action against oppression.

I say it yes freedom yes land
Our fight is for true freedom and self-determination, the right to own land and property and to control our own destinies.

No more warmonger president
We need leaders who reject war and violence as a solution and instead focus on diplomacy and peace.

And yes we speak change but don’t do a damn thing
However, too often, our leaders speak about change and revolution, but do nothing to actually make it happen, leaving us stuck in the same cycle of oppression and struggle.

Everyday’s the same
Despite our hope for change and forward progress, we still face the same struggles and injustices every single day.

Bullshit still remains
The same lies and propaganda that have been used to oppress us for generations still remain in place, making it difficult to enact real change.

Discover new world and true I’m Marcus
Despite these challenges, we must continue to push forward and discover new ways to succeed in a society that's constantly trying to push us down. This line is a reference to Marcus Garvey, a Jamaican political leader who advocated for Black nationalism and Pan-Africanism.

Uh yes I do it for the pretty black
Above all, my fight and my work is for the pretty Black people out there, who deserve every opportunity and success that white people have enjoyed for too long.

Yeah I do it for the future
And my work today is not just for myself, but for the generations of Black people who will come after me, who deserve a better future than we have seen so far.