Letter To Obama
Joell Ortiz Lyrics

Yaa Waa,
Introduction of the artist's name and alias

What's up future president my name is Joell Ortiz
Artist's introduction and addressing Obama

And I'm the voice of the underdogs in the hood so
Artist's self-proclaimed position

I wanted to write this letter to you, to see what u thought
Reason for writing the letter

Dear future president
Introduction of the letter's content

I grew up with no brothers and sisters
Artist's childhood upbringing

And my moms was on public assistance
Artist's mother's financial status

And her husband was missing
Artist's father's absence

She developed this disguisting addiction that had her on Some of the ugliest missions
Artist's mother's addiction and its consequences

So she missed some appointments
Artist's mother's neglected responsibilities

She was supposed to keep my coverage consistant
Artist's medical coverage dependency over his mother

I was a chronic asthmatic
Artist's medical condition

Huffin, puffin and whistling
Artist's symptomatic breathing

Can't get a breath, I wished for death
Artist's despair over his condition

It hurt my chest when I coughed
Artist's pain while coughing

Ooh yeah, I'm from the projects of New York
Artist's hometown

We love baketball
Artist's community's love for basketball

But last summer my boy got left on the court
Artist's friend's tragic incident

Some kid reached next to his shorts and put some lead in his thoughts
Artist's friend's murder

And the murder's moms, she jetted from court
Reaction of the murderer's mother

Her only son had 18 years in the street he livin the rest up north
Consequence of the murderer's actions against the victim and his family

My other homie sellin crack, he always tell me it's wack
Artist's friend's involvement in drug dealing

Everyday he filling out apps but they don't call him back
Artist's friend's job search struggles

Backround check spotted his felony, but that aighnt fair
Artist's friend's conviction's hindrance on his job search

You make a mistake, you can't fix it man this world don't care
Artist's criticism of society's view on convicts

That's how he feel and he got bills so he movin them krills
Artist's friend's desperation to make money to pay for his bills

Livin life over his shoulder, boys in blue on his heels
Artist's friend's cautiousness around the police

His little sister, man she grown, she done threw on dem heels
Artist's reference to his friend's sister's adulthood

Exotic dancing on a pole look what she do for a bill
Artist's friend's sister's job as a stripper

Took one of them little boys backstage persuing a thrill
Artist's reference to his friend's sister's controversial actions

Caught that thing now everyday she wake up doing them pills
Artist's friend's sister's drug addiction

I get mad when I see what other artists do with a mil
Artist's frustration over other successful artists' actions, despite their wealth

With a couple g's I bought my p's a few computers for real
Artist's boast of providing computers for his family

Ya'll done forgot where ya came from, have you no honor?
Artist's criticism of successful artists who forget their roots

Only thing that change do is causing you more drama
Artist's opinion on the effects of change

Here's a couple wise words from the dude that go Yaa Waa
Artist's introduction to his concluding statement

It's time for a change and that change is Obama
Artist's support for Obama's presidential bid

Dear future president
Reiteration of the letter's content

I hope you heard this letter and do some things to make sure the next one I'm writing is better
Artist's hope for Obama's presidency to improve the future for underdogs

Peace!
Closing statement of the letter

It's been a story of survival
Introduction of the following speaker

Poverty and sorrow
Speaker's description of the artist's background

And the question is;
Speaker's inquiry

Can you hold on till tommorow(can you hold on)
Speaker's challenge to continue enduring

And when tomorrow comes won't it be much better?
Speaker's hopeful suggestion for the future

So Mr. Future President please open up this letter
Speaker's request for Obama to have heard the letter