Say
The Non-Commissioned Officers Lyrics

Yo.. three-hundred and sixty-five days a year
365 days a year, we are preoccupied with finding meaning in our lives.

We preoccupy self to find life's true meaning
We are consumed with the quest to find purpose and significance in our existence.

We indulge irrelevant contradiction
We engage in meaningless arguments and conflicts.

Contradiction which steps up growth
But these disagreements can lead to personal and societal growth.

Live life each day like it could be your last
We should approach every day with a sense of urgency and appreciation for life.

Yo.. I'm from a place where some mothers sell they babies for crack
The singer is from a neighborhood where desperate individuals sometimes resort to selling their own children to support their drug habits.

Where young cats buy gats, shoot and never look back
In this community, young people frequently purchase guns and use them to commit violent crimes without remorse.

Where the whites live with the whites, and the blacks live with the blacks
Racial segregation is a common occurrence in this area, with people of different races tending to live in separate parts of the neighborhood.

But somehow we unite, through the culture of rap
Despite these differences, the community is brought together by a shared love of rap music.

I'm from Brooklyn, word to the Dodgers, Russian massages
The artist is specifically from the Brooklyn area of New York, and references local icons like the Dodgers baseball team and the practice of Russian massages.

Where thugs bust guns, and sons are raised without they fathers
In this neighborhood, violence is common and many children are raised in single-parent households without their fathers.

We do away with has-beens, rock the latest fashion
The people in this community are trendsetters, always adopting the newest styles while ignoring and leaving behind outdated fads.

The rule's never rat - what you want to know, or who's askin
The community values loyalty above all else, and snitching on someone is considered a cardinal sin.

Just some habits of highly effective MC's
These values are upheld and promoted by successful rappers and other members of the community.

y'all is pussy rap, my speech made you weak in the knees
The singer considers his own rapping style to be superior to others, capable of impressing and even intimidating his listeners.

But talk's cheap, I'm straight from the streets
However, the artist knows that words alone are not enough to prove oneself, as he is from the same rough surroundings as his peers.

I'm action-oriented when I'm screamin KILL CORRUPT POLICE
The artist is an advocate for change and is motivated to take action to combat police corruption and abuse of power.

I read books, reap intelligence to compromise my bad looks
The singer values education and seeks to expand his knowledge, even if it means sacrificing time he could spend on his physical appearance.

I roam with God-bodies and crooks
The singer associates with a variety of individuals, including those who are religious and morally upstanding, as well as those who engage in criminal behavior.

But when I rest my head at night, I'm just happy that I made it
Despite the hardships he has faced, the artist is grateful to have survived another day.

Cause someone could take your life, be it my friends or my neighbors
The artist is keenly aware of the potential dangers in his community, and knows that someone he knows could be responsible for taking his life at any moment.

It's either me or you in this world cause I be tryin to cope
The artist feels like he is in direct competition with everyone else in the world, as they are all struggling to get by and survive.

I'm lookin for answers, but still I'm comin up broke
Despite his efforts, the singer has not yet found the solutions to the problems he faces and is still struggling.

They supply the (?) tops, smack, the guns and the coke
He believes that the root of many of these problems can be traced back to the suppliers who distribute drugs and weapons throughout the neighborhood.

Who shot Lennon and Malcolm X, one in his throat
The singer is still grappling with major historical events that have had a significant impact on his life and community, specifically the assassinations of John Lennon and Malcolm X.

I'm an old soul that hold but probably young as the Pope
The singer feels that he is wise beyond his years, but acknowledges that he is still young and has much to learn.

Reincarnated as a prophet through a symbol of hope
He sees himself as a leader and a voice of hope for his community, who can help guide them towards a better future.

I move through the projects, lights, rhythm and smoke
Despite the difficulties he faces, the artist still finds beauty in the world around him, such as the lights, music, and energy of his surroundings.

Somebody said religion's a joke
There are those in the community who do not believe in religion or its ability to provide answers or guidance.

Buried my man at 18, the cancer took him in months
The singer has experienced the pain and loss of seeing a close friend die young from a devastating illness.

He died before he lived, but once gone I felt touched
Despite the heartbreak of losing his friend, the singer was moved by the brief but meaningful impact that he had on his life.

My old earth followed in '91, 6 months apart
The artist's mother passed away in 1991, only six months after his friend died.

Project stress, blackouts, and walks in the park
The artist has vivid memories of the struggles and hardships he faced growing up in the projects, including power outages and walks in the park to clear his mind.

People change, cause when I look back I feel strange
Over time, people and circumstances change, and when the artist reflects on his past, he can hardly believe how different things are now.

Goin through old flicks, our days numbered, turnin the page
While looking through photos from the past, the singer realizes how fleeting and precious life is, and that it is time to move on and embrace the present.

We learn to live with hate and respect
Despite the conflicts and differences that exist between people, it is possible to coexist and find a balance between hate and respect.

A tale from the heart prevail through the pain and regret
Even in the face of adversity and regret, the singer believes that authentic stories and experiences can be a powerful force for good.

Whether, you police or a thug on the streets
Regardless of whether you are law enforcement or a criminal, everyone is subject to the unpredictability of life.

Whether, you look for beef or you livin in peace
Regardless of whether you are always seeking conflict or seeking peace, no one knows what the future holds.

Whether, you back down or you stand strong bold
Regardless of whether you are willing to fight for what you believe in or not, life is full of unexpected challenges.

Yo we never know what tomorrow gon' hold
The artist reminds us that life is unpredictable and that we cannot know for sure what the future may bring.