Videos
Flame Lyrics

Little kids in the hood ain't got no money or no clothes
Children growing up in underprivileged areas often lack basic necessities such as clothing and money

They look at videos and see a Bentley or a Rolls
When kids watch music videos, they see flashy cars such as Bentleys and Rolls Royces which they can never afford

Cats rock so much ice even got the children froze
Rappers wear so much jewelry that children are often mesmerized by these shiny objects

Glued to the tube with the screen touchin' they nose
Kids are so fixated on the television screen that they lean in with their noses almost touching the screen

See a throw back jersey, them new shoes and they want those
When kids see celebrities wearing throwback jerseys or new shoes, they desire those items for themselves

They see how you dance they in the mirror strikin' a pose
Kids watch music videos and try to emulate the dance moves and poses they see in the mirror

Little girls see how women dance and start takin' off clothes
Young girls watch music videos and see women dancing in provocative clothing, leading them to believe that this is how they should act as well

About 5 years old and this is all that she knows
At the young age of five, this is all that the girl knows and is exposed to

This is all that he knows because that's all that he sees
Boys growing up in impoverished areas are limited in their exposure to only what they see on TV

A new rap artist is 'bout all that he wanna be
Young boys idolize rap artists and aspire to be like them

Then you get cats like me that come to him talkin' bout Jesus
Flame uses his platform as a rapper to talk about Jesus to young boys who idolize rap artists

They so brain washed they look at me and be like please
Young boys are so fixated on the images they see on TV that they are brainwashed and easily influenced

You try to convince them Jesus would want to see them saved
Flame tries to convince young boys that Jesus wants to see them saved and protected from the harsh realities of their environment

But they rather ball, rather hit the mall and get paid
Young boys would rather emulate their favorite rap artists and focus on materialism such as money and shopping

About 16 now and homie is ready to drive
By the age of sixteen, boys in impoverished areas are often fixated on driving

He is ready for sex but he ain't ready for God
Young boys are often ready for sexual activity, but aren't ready for religious teachings or guidance

Videos, T.V. is the city of dreams
Music videos and TV shows present an idealized world of glamour and luxury to young kids growing up in underprivileged environments

And everything on the screen ain't always what it seems
What is seen on the screen is often a façade and doesn't represent reality

You might get fooled if you don't know the truth from lies
Without knowing the truth from the lies on screen, kids may be fooled into thinking the idealized world presented is real

That's why we bringin' you the truth of God
Flame is trying to bring the truth of God to young kids who might be fooled by the images they see on screen

Call it all fun and games and sometimes it is
Music videos can often be perceived as light-hearted entertainment, but this is not always the case

But other times got they mind in a quiz
Music videos also have a negative influence on young kids, putting them in a difficult position to question what they believe to be the right thing to do

Little homie skippin' classes
Young boys often skip classes in order to emulate their favorite rap artists and their materialistic mindset

Checked his ash tray for ashes
Young boys pick up bad habits such as smoking and drugs from the rap scene

Plus he threw away his glasses
Young boys sometimes believe that wearing glasses is not cool, leading to vision problems

If she don't look like the girls on the video she ain't cute
Young boys are influenced by the images they see on screen and often believe that girls need to look a certain way in order to be considered attractive

Now he think he need a gun and he stay in the suburbs
The glorification of gun violence in rap music makes young boys believe that they need guns in order to be protected, even if they live in safe neighborhoods.

Play any rap song and he know all the words
Young boys are heavily influenced by rap music and can recite the lyrics to their favorite songs

Ain't never seen a scale and he's talkin' bout movin' weight
Young boys imitate rap artists by talking about selling drugs, even though they have never seen or moved anything of the sort

Now he let his pants sag and he's tryin' to get high
Young boys adopt the dress style and drug use habits of their favorite rap artists

Ain't never had a fight talkin' about "thug til I die"
Young boys start to talk tough and act like they are experienced in fights, even though they have never been in one

Ain't never felt held the heat, ain't never felt the heat
Young boys talk about guns and gun violence, even though they have never been in proximity to either

Now he's tryin' to go to jail so he can say he from the streets
Young boys try to emulate the tough background of their favorite rappers, including going to jail

Now this is what he sees and they call it entertainment
The negative images and behaviors portrayed in rap music videos are seen as entertainment, leading to a harmful influence on young minds

Mentally he's in chains some of the blame goes to the videos
Young boys are held captive by the images and messages presented in rap music videos, leading to a limited world view and a fixation on materialistic desires

Videos don't show how it is gettin' beat
Music videos don't show the harsh realities of physical abuse that some children experience

Or feelin' so dumb in school that you feel you gotta cheat
Young boys don't realize the importance of education and often cheat in school because they feel inadequate

Videos don't show mamma jugglin' money
Music videos don't show the challenges that single mothers face in providing for their children

Nor do they hear you when you say mamma I'm hungry
Children growing up in underprivileged areas often struggle with hunger and lack of resources, but this is not portrayed in music videos

All they do is tease you with a Benz that's so plush
Music videos portray an image of luxury and materialism which is unattainable for many children in underprivileged areas

But mom ain't got no ends her and her friends on the bus
Many mothers in underprivileged areas are unable to afford cars and have to rely on public transportation

All they do is show you all cats on a yacht
Music videos present an idealized world of luxury and extravagance, leading to unrealistic expectations for young viewers

While daddy's in the streets after 3 smokin' rocks
Young boys' fathers are often addicted to drugs and living on the streets

They don't show you baby mammas baby daddies bout to bang
Music videos don't portray the struggles of single mothers and fathers living in underprivileged areas

They sell you this world that exists outside of pain
Music videos present an unrealistic world that is devoid of the pain and suffering that many children growing up in underprivileged areas experience

All them cars lookin' good all them cribs lookin' good
The flashy cars and houses portrayed in music videos are highly desirable to young viewers, despite being unattainable for many

But unfortunately that ain't how it is in the hood
The reality of living in underprivileged areas is far different than what is portrayed in music videos

Real things goin' down, real guns bustin' rounds
The violence and danger that is present in underprivileged areas is not portrayed in music videos

Real tears bein' shed, real cats and the feds
There is a constant presence of violence, crime, and police intervention in underprivileged areas, but this is not shown in music videos

Real people that need Jesus to save them from they sins
The people living in underprivileged areas often need guidance and support, but the portrayal in music videos does not show this

To show them discipline then to die and rise again
Flame believes that the message of Jesus can provide discipline and guidance for young people growing up in underprivileged areas

They show you lies on videos
The images presented in rap music videos are often untrue and an inaccurate portrayal of the realities of living in underprivileged areas