Better Days
WC feat. Jon B. Lyrics

Nineteen-ninety-eight, damn I can't believe it
I am surprised that it is already 1998

Whoever thought, throughout the drama, we'd live to see it
Despite all the difficulties, we are still alive to witness this time

So many of us done lost lives to the streets
Many people we know have died due to violence in the streets

As we reminisce I'm pourin liquor for the deceased
As we look back on our memories, I am pouring alcohol in remembrance of those who have passed away

Thinkin bout the times that I spent with many of em
I am reflecting on the moments I shared with those who are no longer with us

Hopin that the Lord let me see the millenium
I hope to live to see the turn of the millennium

Trapped in this ghetto main, seekin better days
I am stuck in this low-income neighborhood, wishing for a better future

Fightin for my conscience, tryin to shake these wicked ways
I am struggling to overcome my bad habits and make better choices

I know it's wrong but it's hard to change
I understand my actions are wrong, but changing them is difficult

All my life, all I ever knew was hustle and game
My entire life has been centered around hustling and playing the game

Lookin for answers ever since I was a adolescent
Since I was a young adult, I have been searching for answers

Faced with rejection, early age stressin
I have dealt with rejection and stress from a very young age

But now ten years later with doodoo respect
Now, ten years later, I have earned a lot of respect

I'm bustin million dollar raps and six digit checks
I am now able to make a lot of money from my music

Showin love to my peeps and my love don't change
I still care for my people and my love for them remains the same

Here's a toast to you fakes, huh, here's to better days
Cheers to those who are fake, hoping for a better future

Touch a meal ticket, shake a spot for good
Securing a meal ticket and leaving town for good

Never, I still got love for the neighborhood
Despite leaving, I still have love for my old neighborhood

And even though now it's infested with gunplay
Although the neighborhood is now overrun by gun violence

On most days like Bootsy I can't stay away
Most days, I cannot resist returning to my old neighborhood like Bootsy Collins

Cause if I shook like y'all shook on me
If I left the neighborhood like everyone else left me behind

Then whose gon' stay and guide the way for the lil homies?
Who will remain to guide and provide an example for the younger generations in this neighborhood?

I can't turn my head on my folks
I cannot abandon the people of my old neighborhood

So I stay visible in these streets and try to give hope
I remain present in the neighborhood in order to provide hope for the people living there

Born in the ghetto, raised in the ghetto
I was born and raised in a low-income neighborhood

Got love for the ghetto, I can't forget the ghetto
I have love for my old neighborhood; I cannot forget where I came from

How come everytime we get some change in our can
Why do we always try to leave the neighborhood once we make some money?

We run away and try to move out as far as we can?
Why do we feel the need to escape and move as far away as possible?

I know that jealousy's the devil's greed but you worse
I understand that jealousy is like the devil's greed, but you are even worse

Than a devil when you turn your back on these young G's
You are worse than the devil when you abandon the younger generation in the neighborhood

Now feel every word that I say, hear my cry
Pay attention to what I am saying, listen to my plea

As I struggle out of thirst and search for better days
As I search for a better future and thirst for more in life

Another day another dollar, it feels good to look around
Another day of making money, it feels good to see who I am surrounded by

And see I'm surrounded by real riders
I am surrounded by true friends and real people who have my back

Childhood comrades I ran with for years
Friends I have known since childhood and have spent years with

Shared the same beer and tears over the same peers
We have shared alcohol and shed tears for those who have passed away

Player haters swearin that all we all G's
People who hate on us assume that we are all gangsters

Off each others strength with these, regulates the same cheese
We have each other's back and share money amongst ourselves

No jealousy we all family like Sister Sledge
There is no jealousy among us, we are like a family such as Sister Sledge

Lace each other with game, so I can spin beer cans
We share knowledge with each other, so I can flip beer cans with ease

Watch our kids grow together, as we get old together
We watch our children grow up together as we age together

Loc I mean this, let no one come in between this
I am serious, we cannot let anyone come between our brotherhood

Keep our business among us, behind doors and eyes closed
We keep our business within the group, behind closed doors and hush-hush

On those we consider as foes
We keep secrets from those we consider our enemies

Outsiders never exposed to your hustle
Outsiders are never aware of our strategies for success

Plus I'm, never been one likely to trust em
I am not one to trust outsiders easily

No negative association, just dedication
There is no negativity between us, only dedication

To watch our paper sprout like this bud mutation
We are dedicated to seeing our money grow like a sprouting bud