Ab-Soul's Outro
Kendrick Lamar Lyrics

What's your life about, enlighten me
Tell me about the meaning and purpose of your life

Is you gonna live on your knees, or die on your feet
Will you submit to oppression or fight for your freedom?

Fire in the street, fire in my swisher
There is violence in the neighborhood and in the rapper's joint

Fire in between the two legs of your little sister
There is sexual energy and danger surrounding young women

Just get a sip of this elixir
Take some of this drink, it will make you feel good

Before they crop us out the picture
Before they exclude us from society and history

I've never seen a crop circle
The rapper has not seen a crop circle phenomenon

But I've seen a cop circled the block
The rapper has seen police officers patrolling the neighborhood

I puff squares, but I swear one day I'ma stop my nerves itch
The rapper smokes cigarettes, but he plans to quit because he is anxious

On the brink of my career
The rapper is about to become successful in his profession

While my peers struggle for employment
His colleagues are having a hard time finding jobs

Can you hear the screams (Uncle Sam ain’t no kin to me)
The rapper can hear the pain and injustice of his people

One two, three four grams and a fifth of Hennessy
The rapper is consuming drugs and alcohol

A bad bitch, fuck the penitentiary
The rapper does not want to go to jail and prefers attractive women

Section 80’s babies, blame Ronald Reagan, we raising hell
The generation who grew up in the 80s and blame the president for their problems, are rebelling against the system

Lord forbid
God forbid

The homie got wet, so we trying to soak it in
A friend has died, and they are trying to cope with the tragedy

The president is black, but you can't vote for skin
The color of the president's skin does not matter, you should vote for the best candidate

You vote for the better man
One should vote for the candidate with better qualifications and values

Come to our show you can see the diversity
The rapper's concert will showcase a variety of people

Unified people they going to peep it universally
People from different backgrounds will appreciate the show

We might not change the world
Their music may not have a significant impact on the world

But we going to manipulate it
They will use their music to influence people's attitudes and behaviors

I hope you participating
The rapper hopes that people are engaging with his message

Ayo Dot, won't you let these cats know
The rapper is addressing his friend, asking him to spread the word

We knew we'd be here, like back in 04'
The rapper and his friends predicted their success years ago

Started hiiipower because our generation
The rapper and his friends created a rap concept called 'hiiipower' to represent their generation

Needed a generator and a system, meant to disintegrate us
They wanted a platform and a culture that would not oppress and divide them

And all we do is assist them
However, they are still under the influence of the system they are against

We're not victors, we're victims
They do not feel triumphant, but oppressed and helpless

The bigger picture hasn't developed yet
They do not see the ultimate goal or the solution for their struggle

Like what if Keisha were celibate
The rapper is questioning what if his friend changed her behavior

What if Tammy came across a real man
He is wondering what if his other friend found a better partner

Who didn't play games like children
He is looking for mature, responsible adults to be role models

My nigga cheated on his girlfriend with his girlfriend's girlfriend
His male friend had an affair with his girlfriend's female friend

Let the world end
The rapper is frustrated and apathetic about the chaotic world

And everybody tripping off 2012
Many people are concerned about the predicted end of the world

And the extraterrestrial presence as well (Our Future's odd)
There are also rumors about aliens visiting Earth

But our future is not, that Martial law shit dropped
Despite the uncertainties, they are preparing for the possibility of martial law

We gonna all get got
They think that everybody will be affected by the government's action

So keep that question mark on your face
The rapper advises everyone to stay skeptical and curious

Eat that fast food, and use that flouride toothpaste
The rapper points out the unhealthy habits of many people

Hide your feelings from the public
He argues that people pretend to be different from who they truly are

Work a long nine to five, don't forget to pay your tithes
He encourages people to work hard and donate to their religious institution

And to thank God you're alive (Hiiipower)
He reminds people to be grateful for their life and their opportunities

And on another note
Now, changing the subject

We focused like the Hubble Telescope, Soul
The rapper and his friend are committed and determined to succeed

Life is a traffic jam (Life is a traffic jam)
The rapper sees life as a slow and frustrating journey

I wrote this because I was ordered to
The rapper wrote this rap because his record label asked him to

People say I speak for generation Y
Many people believe that the rapper's style and message appeal to Millennials

Why lie, I do, Section 80
The rapper admits that his music represents his generation

Your son will play me if the radio won't
Parents will introduce their children to the rapper's music if it is not played on the radio

Daughters that just turn one to twenty one listen to Kendrick
The rapper's music appeals to young women who are 21 or younger

For instance
As an example

Is you gonna plead the fifth, or sound the horn
Will you remain silent and let things happen, or stand up and resist?

See a lot of ya'll don't understand Kendrick Lamar
The rapper feels misunderstood by many of his listeners

Because you wonder how I could talk about money
People question how he can switch topics between money and other issues

Hoes, clothes, god and history all in the same sentence
His songs cover different themes in the same verse or chorus

You know what all the things have in common
The rapper sees a connection between these topics

Only half of the truth, if you tell it
The rapper believes that the media and society only share a part of the truth

See I've spent twenty three years on the earth searching for answers
The rapper has been trying to learn about himself and the world for his entire life

Til' one day I realized I had to come up with my own
Eventually, he discovered that he had to rely on his own judgement and beliefs

I'm not on the outside looking in
The rapper does not feel excluded or alienated from society

I'm not on the inside looking out
Neither is he trying to be part of the establishment or the mainstream

I'm in the dead fucking center, looking around
The rapper sees himself at the center of all things and events, observing them objectively

You've ever seen a newborn baby kill a grown man
The rapper uses a metaphor to describe the overwhelming feeling of powerlessness and anger he feels towards the world

That's an analogy for the way the world make me react
He compares his frustration to the hypothetical scenario he just described

My innocence been dead
The rapper has lost his naive and optimistic view of the world

So the next time I talk about money, hoes, clothes, god and history all in the same sentence
He defends his mixed messages by saying it reflects his complexity and humanity

Just know I meant it, and you felt it
He assures his listeners that his words and emotions are genuine and powerful

Because you too are searching for answers
The rapper believes that his listeners are also looking for truth and meaning in life

I'm not the next pop star
He does not want to be a superficial, trendy celebrity

I'm not the next socially aware rapper
He does not want to be labeled or compared to other conscious rappers

I am a human motherfucking being, over dope ass instrumentation
He is proud to be his own unique self, supported by great music

Kendrick Lamar
The rapper reveals his name and identity

Now fuck em' up Terrace (Soul!)
He encourages his friend to perform and entertain the audience