From Then Till Now )
Killah Priest Lyrics

Guns, shootouts and crack sales
The streets are dangerous, with rampant drug use and violence.

Black males who pack jails, trapped in hell
Many black men are incarcerated, stuck in a cycle of poverty and desperation.

No peace, cold streets, surrounded by po-lice
There is little sense of safety or security, with authorities viewed as a threat.

This whole week, buildings with no heats
Living conditions are harsh, with people struggling to stay warm.

No lights, the gas pipes the snow leaks
Poor maintenance causes infrastructure problems, worsening the living situation.

Dog fights and lowlife throw dice the whole night
Illegal activities and gambling are common, further adding to the chaos.

Thieves, creepin
Crime is rampant, with theft and burglary a constant threat.

In the midnight evenings, saw through the misty regions
Darkness and obscurity add to the sense of danger.

Go to your house, take a vial for the demons
People turn to substance abuse to cope with the harsh realities of their circumstances.

Moon in, the lunar eclipse
The passage of time is marked, but it is not always auspicious.

Prophets stand in the midst of the seven candlesticks
Those with spiritual insight can see through the darkness and offer hope.

I can't take it, beauty that was once sacred
The degradation of once-beautiful things is painful to see.

Is now gettin facelifts, fake tits, and fake lips
Artificiality is replacing authentic beauty, which is a lamentable state of affairs.

Memory erases, from the slaveships
The trauma of the past is still felt and can be difficult to confront.

My princess, I used to spot her from a distance
Love once existed, but it has grown distant and harder to find.

Holdin my infant, burnin incense
A simpler time in life, with family and traditions intact.

Now we step in pre-sents, for your ebony prince
The next generation has emerged, and there is hope for their future.

How is gold turned to bronze, and shhh
The decline of civilization is a mystery that can lead to silence.

We was the wisest and the richest, now we turn to snitches
Former greatness has devolved into treachery and betrayal.

Women turn to bitches, in the time of harvest
Even women, who were once held in high esteem, are turning to negative behavior.

We was the smarteest, worshipped Wisdom like the Goddess
Once upon a time, knowledge and wisdom were highly valued and respected.

Listening to Bob Marley, before the devils robbed me
Music was once a source of joy and inspiration, until life became more difficult.

Chasin us through the African safaris
Even in Africa, there is little refuge from the consequences of social problems.

Singin holy anthems, lampin with all
Religion and spirituality remain an important aspect of coping with hardship.

My handsome grandsons, hair long as Sampson
Family remains a source of pride and love, even as times are tough.

Inside my gold mansion, they used to wear purple Pampers
Once upon a time, wealth and prosperity were more attainable.

But now we Black Panthers, some are actors and dancers
Resistance and revolution is still alive, but some have dropped out or found other paths.

It's funny how the dollar bill have my seeds holler for meals
Money has become the primary driver of survival and success, with negative consequences.

Mother swallow a pill, roads seem hollow but still
Even family members are struggling to cope with the challenges of living.

Grab a bottle to heal, it's like a noose
Substances have become both a coping mechanism and a damaging influence on life.

Of seventh seal over Brownsville
There is a sense of foreboding and threatening danger in the air.

What's the difference between the ghetto and death row?
The level of danger and oppression is so extreme that there is little difference between living in poverty and being sentenced to death.

I'm trapped up with cleptos, the tec blow
Dysfunction and criminal behavior are a trap, with no easy way out.

I'm left in seft low, where the cries echo
Sadness and suffering are pervasive, leading to a sense of hopelessness and despair.

From the Crystal City, near Getti
There are still glimmers of beauty and hope, even in the midst of the challenges.

Children used to grow on lillies, now they roll up Phillies
Growing up has become harder and less innocent, with negative influences all around.

But the pyramids of Cheops, is my weed spot
Even in a bleak world, there are places of beauty and connection to history and tradition.

Sometimes I eavesdrop in the books of Enoch
Education and knowledge can still offer solace and inspiration, even if the situation is bleak.

We went from studying epistles of Paul
Education and scholarship were once a priority, even in challenging circumstances.

Beneath a waterfall, rubbin crystal balls
Even in times of leisure, there was a focus on spirituality and mysticism.

But now we spray paint initials on the wall
Artistic expression and creativity are still present, even if not always channeled in positive ways.

From Then Till Now
The song is looking at the evolution of people's experiences over time.

What goes up must come down
Trends and situations are not always sustainable and can decline over time.

Where it all began, began, began, began
The song is reflecting on the origins and history of the social problems it is describing.