Keep YA Head Up
YA-KYIM Lyrics

Little somethin' for my godson Elijah and a little girl named Corinne
This song is dedicated to my godson Elijah and a little girl named Corinne, to inspire them and all young people.

Some say the blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice
People believe that the darker someone's skin is, the more valuable and beautiful they are.

I say the darker the flesh then the deeper the roots
In my opinion, the more melanin someone has in their skin, the stronger and more connected they are to their heritage and ancestry.

I give a holler to my sisters on welfare
I want to acknowledge and show support for my sisters who are struggling financially.

Tupac cares, if don't nobody else care
Even when no one else seems to care, Tupac Shakur cares about the struggles and challenges that people face.

And uh, I know they like to beat ya down a lot
I understand that life can be tough, and many people try to bring you down with negativity.

When you come around the block brothas clown a lot
When you walk by, some guys try to mock and tease you.

But please don't cry, dry your eyes, never let up
I urge you not to let their words affect you, to stay strong, and to never give up.

Forgive but don't forget, girl keep your head up
It's important to forgive those who hurt you but never forget the lessons they taught you. Keep your head up and stay positive.

And when he tells you you ain't nuttin' don't believe him
When someone tries to belittle and devalue you, don't let their words define your worth.

And if he can't learn to love you you should leave him
If someone cannot appreciate and love you for who you are, it's better to walk away and find someone who will.

Cause sista you don't need him
As a sister, you don't need a man who doesn't value and support you.

And I ain't tryin' to gas ya up, I just call em how I see em
I'm not trying to flatter or deceive you; I'm just speaking the truth as I see it.

You know it makes me unhappy (what's that)
It truly saddens me when I witness certain things happening.

When brothas make babies, and leave a young mother to be a pappy
It's disheartening when men father children but then abandon the young mothers, leaving them to shoulder the responsibility alone.

And since we all came from a woman
Considering that every human being is born from a woman's womb.

Got our name from a woman and our game from a woman
We receive our family names from women, and they also play a crucial role in shaping who we become.

I wonder why we take from our women
I question why society tends to exploit and mistreat women.

Why we rape our women, do we hate our women?
I'm deeply troubled by the fact that some men commit acts of sexual violence against women. Does this stem from a place of hatred?

I think it's time to kill for our women
I believe it's time to fight and stand up for women's rights and protect them from harm.

Time to heal our women, be real to our women
We should invest time and effort in healing and supporting women, treating them with genuine love and respect.

And if we don't we'll have a race of babies
If we fail to change our ways, future generations will be born into a world where they harbor resentment and disrespect toward women.

That will hate the ladies, that make the babies
These future generations will grow up despising the women who give birth to them.

And since a man can't make one
Men, being unable to give birth, should not have the authority to dictate when and where women can have children.

He has no right to tell a woman when and where to create one
Men must acknowledge that they don't possess the right to dictate a woman's reproductive choices.

So will the real men get up
I call upon the true men out there to rise up and take action.

I know you're fed up ladies, but keep your head up
Ladies, I understand that you're tired of the injustice, but please keep your spirits high and don't lose hope.

Keep ya head up, ooh child things are gonna get easier
Stay strong and positive, because things will eventually improve and become easier for you.

Ooh child things are gonna get brighter
Believe that the future holds brighter and better things for you.

Aiyyo, I remember Marvin Gaye, used to sing ta me
I recall how Marvin Gaye's music used to resonate with me and touch my soul.

He had me feelin' like black was tha thing to be
Marvin Gaye's songs made me feel proud and empowered to be Black.

And suddenly tha ghetto didn't seem so tough
His music had the power to make me forget, even momentarily, the hardships of growing up in the ghetto.

And though we had it rough, we always had enough
Despite the difficult circumstances we faced, we always managed to have what we needed.

I huffed and puffed about my curfew and broke the rules
I used to complain and rebel against my imposed curfew, often breaking the rules.

Ran with the local crew, and had a smoke or two
I associated myself with the neighborhood gang and occasionally indulged in smoking.

And I realize momma really paid the price
As I grew older, I began to understand and appreciate the sacrifices my mother made for me.

She nearly gave her life, to raise me right
My mother almost lost her life during childbirth, but she persevered to raise me with love and integrity.

And all I had ta give her was my pipe dream
All I had to offer her in return was my ambitious dream of becoming a successful musician.

Of how I'd rock the mic, and make it to tha bright screen
I wanted to excel in the music industry and make it to the big stage where the spotlight shines.

I'm tryin' to make a dollar out of fifteen cents
I'm working hard to make the most out of very little and turn it into financial success.

It's hard to be legit and still pay tha rent
Maintaining honesty and integrity while trying to meet financial obligations is a challenging feat.

And in the end it seems I'm headin' for tha pen
Despite my efforts, it appears that I may end up in prison due to the circumstances and temptations surrounding me.

I try and find my friends, but they're blowin' in the wind
I attempt to reconnect with my friends, but they are transient and unreliable, drifting aimlessly like the wind.

Last night my buddy lost his whole family
Recently, my friend tragically lost his entire family.

It's gonna take the man in me to conquer this insanity
Confronting such a traumatic event requires me to summon all my inner strength and maturity in order to overcome the overwhelming grief and confusion.

It seems tha rain'll never let up
The constant hardships and troubles in life feel like an eternal downpour that won't cease.

I try to keep my head up, and still keep from gettin' wet up
I strive to maintain a positive attitude and avoid falling victim to the negativity and dangers around me.

You know it's funny when it rains it pours
It's ironic how when one misfortune occurs, it seems to be followed by a series of additional hardships.

They got money for wars, but can't feed the poor
Society prioritizes funding for warfare and conflict, while neglecting the basic needs of its impoverished citizens.

Say there ain't no hope for the youth and the truth is
People claim that there is no hope for the younger generation, but the reality is quite different.

It ain't no hope for tha future
They believe that the future holds no promise or potential.

And then they wonder why we crazy
These same individuals express confusion as to why young people may exhibit erratic or unstable behavior.

I blame my mother, for turning my brother into a crack baby
I hold my mother responsible for the fact that my brother was born addicted to crack cocaine due to her own substance abuse during pregnancy.

We ain't meant to survive, cause it's a setup
Society, with its systemic injustices and oppressive structures, is designed to prevent us from thriving and succeeding.

And even though you're fed up
Despite feeling exhausted and disillusioned.

Huh, ya got to keep your head up
You must remain resilient and maintain a positive mindset.

To all the ladies havin' babies on they own
I want to send a message of support and encouragement to all the women who are raising children without a partner.

I know it's kinda rough and you're feelin' all alone
I understand that it can be incredibly challenging and lonely for you in this situation.

Daddy's long gone and he left you by ya lonesome
The father of your child has been absent for a long time, leaving you to handle everything on your own.

Thank the Lord for my kids, even if nobody else want em
I express gratitude to God for my children, even if no one else acknowledges or appreciates them.

Cause I think we can make it, in fact, I'm sure
I wholeheartedly believe that we can overcome the challenges and succeed, and I have no doubt about it.

And if you fall, stand tall and comeback for more
If you stumble or face setbacks, rise above them with strength and resilience, ready to face any obstacle that comes your way.

Cause ain't nothin' worse than when your son
There is no greater pain than witnessing your own child experience hardship or suffering.

Wants to kno' why his daddy don't love him no mo'
When your son questions why his father no longer loves him, it can be heartbreaking and difficult to explain.

You can't complain you was dealt this
You can't dwell on the unfortunate circumstances you've been handed.

Hell of a hand without a man, feelin' helpless
It's an incredibly challenging situation to be without a supportive partner, and it often leaves you feeling powerless.

Because there's too many things for you to deal with
You have an overwhelming number of responsibilities and challenges to handle on your own.

Dying inside, but outside you're looking fearless
Internally, you may be struggling and feeling immense pain, but outwardly, you try to appear strong and unafraid.

While tears, is rollin' down your cheeks
Despite the tears streaming down your face.

Ya steady hopin' things don't fall down this week
You continue to hope that things won't completely fall apart and become even more difficult in the coming days.

Cause if they did, you couldn't take it, and don't blame me
If circumstances worsen to the point where you feel like you can't handle it anymore, please don't blame me for these struggles.

I was given this world I didn't make it
I didn't create the world and its hardships, but I am forced to navigate and overcome them.

And now my son's gettin' older and older and cold
As my son grows older, he becomes more distant and emotionally detached.

From havin' the world on his shoulders
He feels overwhelmed and burdened by the weight of the world and its expectations.

While the rich kids is drivin' Benz
Meanwhile, children from wealthy families are driving luxurious cars.

I'm still tryin' to hold on to my survivin' friends
I'm struggling to maintain my relationships with the few friends I have left who are still alive.

And it's crazy, it seems it'll never let up, but
This chaotic and challenging life seems like it will never ease up or provide respite, but...

Please, you got to keep your head up
Despite everything, it is crucial for you to maintain your strength and resilience.