Truth Is
Pete Rock Lyrics

Hey yo
Introducing Pete Rock's message and catching the listener's attention.

When you look at me and my brothers what's your first impression
Asking the listener how they perceive people from the inner city and if they understand the struggles they face.

Does the sight of us leave you guessin or do you understand the stressin
Questioning if people are ignorant or empathetic towards the hardships that people of the inner city face.

The aggression, the look of no hope on me and my niggaz faces
Highlighting the distress and despair visible on the faces of people living in the inner city.

Like the lord overlooked us when he handed down his graces
Expressing the feeling of being forgotten by society and overlooked by a higher power.

You see embraces, fall short on the numb tips of street entrepreneur fingers
Suggesting that support and aid fails to reach those that need it the most.

Still stuck in the walls of the project halls where the coke smell still lingers
Depicting the reality of living in the projects where the drug trade is prevalent and the stench of drugs is present.

External blingers is all we can be cause on the inside we been given nothin to shine on
Stating that people have to resort to material goods to convey status, as there is no internal validation of worth.

And a record deal's harder to get than coke, so my niggaz get they grind on
Comparing the difficulty of getting a record deal to the challenges of the drug trade and emphasizing the hard work people put in.

Cause the TV tells us, aim high nigga, make all goals lateral
Suggesting that mainstream media dilutes the aspirations of people from the inner city and creates artificial goals.

But see that takes paper that we don't have so, niggaz put they souls up as collateral
Implying that people have to make sacrifices and put themselves in danger to achieve their goals.

Now, some niggaz reclaim 'em, some blame 'em, make an excuse to sell 'em
Describing how people either bounce back from their sacrifices, or alternatively succumb to a self-destructive path.

But when a nigga goes from not doin to doin, what can you tell him?
Posing the rhetorical question that anyone who has succeeded from difficult circumstances understands.

Not to be a nigga? Shit I gots to be a nigga, that's how I pay the bills
Acknowledging the systemic oppression people of color face and sarcastically questioning how they could change their identity to succeed.

And I'ma do that whether I got to sling this coke or exploit these rhyme skills
Asserting that people will do anything necessary to survive and succeed.

See America makes you an opportunist, and at the same time they institutionalize you
Illustrating how it is difficult to succeed without resorting to opportunistic behavior, while at the same time being trapped by the system.

So the fact that niggaz get, big record deals Big money and go to jail shouldn't surprise you
Highlighting how the music industry, while promising opportunities, comes with the risk of getting caught up in criminal activity and subsequently arrested.

That's what lies do, you see most of these guys Do have raw talent just an infinitile education
Suggesting that many inner city kids have talent, but lack access to proper education.

So the business feed you all the weed and ecstasy And a little bit of paper to provide some pacification
Identifying the music industry's role in supplying artists with drugs and money to keep them complacent and under control.

From all the bullshit frustration they serve you Meanwhile they corrupt your perception of what the real is
Arguing that the industry manipulates artists and consumes their raw talent for profit, while convincing them of distorted perceptions of success and reality.

See they takin all our businessmen, and givin 'em the mindsets of drug dealers
Claiming that the industry is stealing potential businessmen, and programming them to think like drug dealers in order to control them.

Took all our messengers, made 'em rappers Just flappin they jaws afraid to admit their treason
Depicting how musicians have been reduced to instruments of propaganda, and are too scared to buck the system.

Took all our soldiers for the cause, made 'em killers for no reason
Referring to how inner city youth are often fed into the criminal justice system, and subsequently end up in jail without actually having committed any serious crime.

And bein fucked up, well that's in this season
Observing how destructive lifestyles have become normalized and are now commonly accepted.

So, if you're negative you're positive, and if you're positive you're called a hater
Highlighting the irony of how a negative attitude is celebrated in the music industry, while a positive perspective is met with criticism and judgment.

But I maintain control of my soul cause I know it gets greater later
Affirming how controlling one's own destiny is ultimately possible, and the hope of a better future is real.

And I told y'all the last show shit, a nigga no hater, I just know what the truth is
Reiterating that the message is not one of hate or negativity, but rather an honest reflection of the realities of society.

Been intertwined in this puddin for 'bout a year now so I know where the proof is
Reassuring the listener that the message is informed and based on empirical knowledge and experience.

See, it lines these midtown Manhattan skyscrapers Where former hustlers like myself sign papers
Describing the irony of the fact that the music industry is run by people who have made money in the illegal drug trade.

And pull off fucked capers like, 16 infamous stars of the time They got us choppin and, baggin and Servin that shit to niggaz 16 bars at a time now
Identifying the clever ways industry execs take advantage of artists, using them as commodities to churn out content and generate profits.

The crime is undetectable by the feds Cause in heads of our kids is where the track is
Pointing out the cycle of exploitation and how the industry manipulates young people into perpetuating negative stereotypes and criminal behavior.

And music is potent it's straight to the soul So it's much more addictive than crack is
Stating how music has the power to influence and shape people's attitudes, opinions and behaviors, more than any drug or substance.

Now, the high is just an illusion all lies and confusion But to feel that rush just once, my young bucks'll go through it
Warning about the dangers of the illusion of success and how people are often hooked on the hope of making it big, even if it is unlikely or unrealistic.

So in essence, they still floodin the streets with the thugs, drugs and the killing They just usin these record labels to do it
Concluding how record labels perpetuate negative cycles of violence, addiction and crime that are already present in the inner city.

Takin our hearts off demos, puttin us in limos Tryin to fuck up divine direction
Arguing that the industry tries to redirect people from their true calling, just for profit and control.

But, young black men have been trained to chase money And pussy, so we fall victim to our own erection
Describing the distraction of materialism and carnal desires, and how this keeps people from focusing on their true potential or calling.

And begin to convince ourselves we're on our way somewhere where we're not goin But ignorance is bliss and niggaz love this so, niggaz take pride in not knowin
Observing how people often deceive themselves, reject the truth and are satisfied with their ignorance

We not growin, nigga I give a fuck how slick you flowin If you ain't showin nuttin to these kids or addin nuttin positive to the earth Black Ice been destined to touch the world ever since I was born To be real, fuck a record deal, God gives me what I'm worth
Challenging artists to be accountable and make music that contributes to positive change, rather than solely for their own gain. He expresses that worth cannot be bought or gained from the industry, as it is divinely given.