The Sho Story:

Raised in Cali, communicating a message as an artist … Read Full Bio ↴The Sho Story:

Raised in Cali, communicating a message as an artist has always been a part of who Sho is. Introduced to Hip Hop at a young age, he grew to love its content and attitude. Living in Southern California during the height of Gangsta Rap presented its challenges to many youth, as well as Sho. In high school Sho and some friends from his neighborhood formed a rap group that began touring with major recording artists. But his life took a different turn after the rap group fizzled, and close friends were killed and others incarcerated due to the gang life they led. The message of his life began to change.

He decided to heed his father's advice and apply to college, pursuing education instead of the streets. At the time, Christ was not a part of his life, but his older brother, his father, and a leader at his church, had always promoted education and having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Sho continued on to Tuskegee University, and it was there, that the seeds that they planted in him finally took root.

While in college, through the lives of some solid Christians on campus, the Lord rescued him and redeemed his heart. Sho's message changed from promoting himself and Hip Hop to promoting Christ, and now he wants the world to see the Lord at work in him. Our popular culture today elevates the lifestyles of rappers who promote ideas that only destroy our culture, but because of God's grace Sho has a different message: "Turn My Life Up"

What if the Programmed Culture could see the change Christ made in him and be transformed by God's Grace to impact lives and revolutionize our world? Not desiring fame or personal glory, Sho invites you to listen to his message and see how God can "Rebuild the Culture"

100
Sho Baraka Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

What I look like caring if the world don't feel us
I serve a God who died harder than Bruce Willis
man's born sick and he just gets ill'er
in our optimistic prime he could transform a killer
he could transform a dealer, ask Json
we were all born sinners, ask my mom
my nature's no better than Judas and that's the truth
without the spirit I'm a arrogant adulterous dude

so I keep accountability until I get old
Tedashii said, "Bring the heat cuz the world's so cold"
I gotta live 100 so my feet don't slip
I gotta live like Jacob more holy less hip
by His grace, Sho Baraka gon' spit the real
been doing that Reach life before I got the deal
called to make mini-me's til the day that I die
so on my tombstone say, "he didn't die, he multiply"

I gotta keep it (100)
My men keep it (100)
My ladies keep it (100)
We gotta keep it (100)

Back in the year of the 2 triple 0
this random thug tried to strong arm the Sho
me and my boys on the corner just sharing our faith
this cat staring at us like he got something to say
he began to size us up acting tough talking loud
I tried to ignore him but this fool attracted a crowd
I expected some resistance but this ain't what I wanted
I had 99 problems this made 100
he looked me in the face and said if you love that Christ,
you'll have no problem with me sending you to see him tonight
I'm thinking option number one is we can turn the other cheek
number 2 is we can stomp his loud mouth in the street
but that's what they want to see us fail when they test us,
talk a good game but then crack under pressure
so I prayed to GOD, if I have to take this L
I hope out of this you would get your glory as well
so this cat stared at us for a second or two
jumped at us and smirked like I'm playing with you
I have to represent the Lord even though they were stuntin
no matter what they do we gotta keep it 100

I gotta keep it (100)
My men keep it (100)
My ladies keep it (100)
We gotta keep it (100)

They move their lips but their words mean nothing
they think God got their back but them boys just frontin
they talk loud but we can drown out the sickest boys
we like Chicago, willing to make the ill'er noise
they want toys, fame, wealth, and health
everything good without being good themselves
they want things but it's Jesus they better get
cuz hell's their life sentence like a subject and a predicate
sometimes I see the wicked and I lust for their things
but then I see the Lord and I trust in the King
hung on the cross for hours while still in his prime
we don't call him heir for nothing, he showed us hang time
He is holy, He is perfect, He is God
God is like three in one, its so odd
because of all this your boy gotta keep running
99 wont do it gotta keep it 100

I gotta keep it (100)
My men keep it (100)

My ladies keep it (100)
We gotta keep it (100)

Overall Meaning

The song "100" by Sho Baraka takes the listener through various situations where he had to keep it real and stay true to his faith. He acknowledges that he serves a God who died harder than Bruce Willis and that without the help of the Holy Spirit he is just an arrogant and adulterous dude. The song talks about how the world can be cold and full of distractions that can lead one astray, but he has made a commitment to live his life in a way that honors God. Sho also shares a personal story of a confrontation with a thug who threatened to harm him and his friends if they did not renounce their faith, but he chose to stay true to his beliefs and trust that God would get the glory.

Throughout the song, the message is clear - to keep it 100, to stay true to oneself and one's beliefs, and to trust in God. The lyrics are delivered over a beat that is both soulful and hard-hitting, providing the perfect backdrop for this powerful message. Sho Baraka's flow is effortless and engaging, pulling the listener in and keeping them captivated throughout the song.

Overall, "100" is a powerful anthem that speaks to the struggles and triumphs of living a life of faith in a world that can be hostile to that belief. It encourages the listener to stay true to themselves, to be accountable to others, and to trust in God's plan for their life.

Line by Line Meaning

What I look like caring if the world don't feel us
I don't care about the world's approval because I serve God who is stronger than any man, even Bruce Willis.

man's born sick and he just gets ill'er
Humans are born as sinners and only become more sinful as they grow older.

in our optimistic prime he could transform a killer
God is powerful enough to transform even the worst sinner, such as a murderer.

he could transform a dealer, ask Json
God can change a drug dealer's life for the better, and Json is a witness to that transformation.

we were all born sinners, ask my mom
Everyone is born a sinner, including the artist's own mother.

my nature's no better than Judas and that's the truth
Just like Judas, the artist recognizes that he has a sinful nature that needs redemption.

without the spirit I'm a arrogant adulterous dude
Without God's spirit, the artist acknowledges that he would be a sinful and prideful person.

so I keep accountability until I get old
The artist recognizes the importance of holding himself accountable for his actions throughout his life.

Tedashii said, "Bring the heat cuz the world's so cold"
Tedashii encourages the artist to continue spreading God's truth in order to fight against the coldness and darkness in the world.

I gotta live 100 so my feet don't slip
The artist aims to live his life in a way that honors God and keeps him on the right path.

I gotta live like Jacob more holy less hip
The artist wants to live a life that is more focused on holiness and less interested in trends or popularity.

by His grace, Sho Baraka gon' spit the real
The artist is grateful for God's grace and mercy in his life and wants to speak truthfully through his music.

been doing that Reach life before I got the deal
The artist has been living and working for God even before his music career.

called to make mini-me's til the day that I die
The artist feels called to disciple and mentor others in a way that reflects God's love and teachings throughout his lifetime.

so on my tombstone say, "he didn't die, he multiply"
The artist wants to leave behind a legacy of impact and influence for God even after his death.

Back in the year of the 2 triple 0
The artist is referring to a past event in the year 2000.

this random thug tried to strong arm the Sho
A stranger attempted to intimidate and threaten the artist along with his friends.

me and my boys on the corner just sharing our faith
The artist and his friends were simply discussing their beliefs on a street corner.

he began to size us up acting tough talking loud
The stranger began to assess the artist and his friends in a confrontational and aggressive manner.

I had 99 problems this made 100
The situation with the stranger was an additional problem on top of other issues the artist was already facing.

if you love that Christ, you'll have no problem with me sending you to see him tonight
The stranger threatened the artist's life, mocking his belief in Christ and using it as a reason for the threat.

so I prayed to GOD, if I have to take this L
The artist turned to God in prayer before deciding how to handle the situation.

no matter what they do we gotta keep it 100
Even when faced with difficult situations or threats, the artist believes it's important to stay true to God's teachings.

they think God got their back but them boys just frontin
Some people believe that God will protect them without taking personal responsibility for their actions.

we like Chicago, willing to make the ill'er noise
The artist and his team are determined to make an impactful and meaningful difference in the world.

everything good without being good themselves
Some people desire material possessions and success without necessarily leading a moral and virtuous life.

they want things but it's Jesus they better get
The artist believes that true fulfillment and happiness can only be found through a relationship with Jesus.

cuz hell's their life sentence like a subject and a predicate
Those who reject God's love and teachings will face an eternity in hell as a result of their decisions.

sometimes I see the wicked and I lust for their things
The artist admits that he sometimes feels envious of those who have worldly success and possessions despite not being righteous.

but then I see the Lord and I trust in the King
The artist reminds himself to trust in God and put his faith in Him rather than the material things of this world.

we don't call him heir for nothing, he showed us hang time
God's sacrifice on the cross was a demonstration of His power and ability to overcome death.

because of all this your boy gotta keep running
The artist feels motivated to continue living for God because of all the blessings and teachings he has received from Him.

99 wont do it gotta keep it 100
The artist believes that anything less than full commitment to God's teachings is not enough.

Contributed by Christopher C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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