Letter To The King
The Game feat. Nas Lyrics

(Way up high)
Feeling on top of the world

(Saw it all)
Reflecting on past experiences

(A whole new world outside this bubble)
Realizing there is a bigger picture beyond oneself

(I could fly)
Feeling invincible and capable of achieving anything

(I went over the wall)
Overcoming obstacles and breaking through barriers

Second floor of my hotel, I'm rollin' up, 'bout to blaze
Getting high in a hotel room

And zone out, to this Frankie Beverly and Maze
Listening to music to relax and escape reality

As I daze about the past, and them days in the past
Thinking about memories from the past

He set my mind free, so my mind free at last
Feeling liberated and enlightened by someone's teachings

So much that I don't even drink from a fuckin' glass
Valuing the teachings so much that even mundane things seem insignificant in comparison

I'd rather find the first fountain I can and do it fast
Seeking immediate spiritual fulfillment

Didn't understand the dream of a King, I do the math
Reflecting on the message of Martin Luther King Jr. and understanding its significance

Coincidentally, on your birthdays, I ditched the class
Acknowledging past ignorance and lack of respect for MLK Jr.'s legacy

'Cause the younger me, dumber me was chasin' the cash
Admitting to previous materialistic and shallow pursuits

Chasin' the ass, lowlife with his face in the grass
Describing a life filled with superficial pleasures and immoral behavior

Ridin' home from school, in front of the bus
Recalling a specific moment in time

Not even thinkin' 'bout how Rosa Parks done it for us
Realizing the sacrifices made by civil rights activists before them

How she stayed behind bars and she done it for us
Appreciating the bravery and determination of Rosa Parks

And she stayed behind bars 'til she won it for us
Recognizing the impact of her actions on society

Sometimes I wanna give up or at least take a break
Feeling overwhelmed and in need of rest

That's when I close my eyes and see Coretta Scott's face
Finding motivation from the memory of Coretta Scott King

Standin' at the pew, panoramic view of the seating and greeting
Painting a vivid picture of a specific scene

I've been meaning to do me some letter reading
Wanting to read letters from historical figures

To the King, he forever breathing, your message is never leavin'
Addressing a letter to MLK Jr. and expressing respect for his legacy

Some of your homies phonies, I should've said it when I see them
Admitting to missed opportunities to call out disingenuous allies of MLK Jr.

Them sleazy bastards, some greedy pastors, jerks
Criticizing those who exploit MLK Jr.'s legacy for personal gain

Should never be allowed at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta
Believing these individuals are not true representatives of MLK Jr.'s message

So people be patient, I know this ghetto grammar
Asking for understanding despite using nonstandard language

But I'm a street dude, normally I just speak rude
Admitting to a rough background and communication style

Martin Luther, the martyr, the trooper, hate killed him
Describing the tragedy of MLK Jr.'s death

Nobel Peace Prize winner, they duplicate your feelin'
Recognizing the influence of MLK Jr.'s message on society

As a kid I ain't relate, really
Feeling disconnected from MLK Jr.'s message as a child

I would say your dream speech jokingly, 'til your world awoke in me
Admitting to not taking MLK Jr.'s message seriously until later in life

First I thought you were passive, soft one who ass-kissed
Misunderstanding MLK Jr.'s message as weak or submissive

I was young, be honest, I was feelin' Muhammad
Admitting to previously idolizing Muhammad Ali over MLK Jr.

I ain't even know the strength you had to have to march
Realizing the physical and emotional strength required to lead the civil rights movement

You was more than just talk, you the first real Braveheart
Recognizing the courage and bravery of MLK Jr.

We miss you
Expressing sadness at the loss of MLK Jr.

The word nigger is nothin' like nigga
Drawing a distinction between the two words

Don't sound shit alike, like Game, like Jigga
Using slang and pop culture references to emphasize the difference between the words

One came before the other, like aim and pull the trigger
Explaining the historical context and negative connotation associated with the word nigger

One is slang for my brother, one is hang and take a picture
Highlighting the positive connotation and use of the word nigga in the African American community

The rope ain't tight enough, he still alive, go fix it
Describing a brutal and disturbing act of violence

Pour some gasoline on him, call his daughters black bitches
Describing the dehumanization and cruelty towards black people during the civil rights era

Make 'em pick cotton, while they mama cleanin' up the kitchen
Describing the oppressive and degrading treatment of black people during slavery

Same cotton in white tees, that's the cotton they was pickin'
Drawing a comparison between the cotton used in clothing and the cotton picked by slaves

If Dr. King marched today, would Bill Gates march?
Questioning the level of societal support for civil rights in current times

I know Obama would but would Hillary take part?
Questioning the true intentions of political figures and their commitment to social justice

Great minds think great thoughts
Expressing admiration for intellectual thinkers

The pictures I paint make the Mona Lisa look like fake art
Boasting about one's own artistic talent

I feel the pain of Nelson Mandela
Expressing empathy for the struggles of another civil rights hero

'Cause when it rains it pours, I need Rihanna's umbrella
Using a pop culture reference to describe a challenging situation

For Coretta Scott's tear drops, when she got the phone call
Recognizing the emotional pain and trauma experienced by MLK Jr.'s family after his death

That the future just took a fuckin' headshot
Using graphic language to describe the impact of MLK Jr.'s assassination

I wonder why Jesse Jackson ain't catch him before his body dropped
Questioning Jesse Jackson's role in preventing the assassination of MLK Jr.

Would he give me the answer? Probably not
Acknowledging that some questions may never be fully answered