We Live
c rayz Lyrics

We live!
We are alive and experiencing life in its rawest form.

Where ya close friends die
We live in a place where we witness our close friends dying.

And they say that a man ain't supposed to cry
Despite the pain and sorrow, we're taught that men aren't supposed to express their emotions.

Amongst the stress and struggle
Living is challenging and distressful.

And we know that the beast don't love you!
We're conscious of the fact that the 'beast' (oppressive systems) don't have any love for us.

Next door to rats and gats
Our neighbors include rodents ('rats') and guns ('gats').

And the cats in the back sellin crack
There are also drug dealers selling crack in the background.

Where there's no God in the sky
We live in a place that offers no hope or relief from our problems.

But we live cause we can't die!
Despite the adversity, we're alive and doing the best we can to survive.

Where +Heavy Metal+ ain't a rock magazine
Living in a place where popular culture is not a priority.

Not f'real, but you'll get shot down with glock magazines
The danger of violence and guns is a stark reality.

I feel, when we do good we did wrong
Sometimes doing the right thing can come with unintended consequences.

Dougie got murdered in the hood, but he still lives on
Even though people we love might have passed away, their memory stays with us.

He played ball in the snow, with that bubblegoose warm
We fondly remember childhood memories despite our rough living conditions.

Where the ambulance takes too long
Emergency services are often delayed or absent.

When your ass is on the line, like you dressed in thongs
During life-threatening circumstances, one feels vulnerable and helpless.

Where doo-rags stay under the hat
Living in a place where fashion serves a specific street necessity.

And you don't want waves, but the bandana gotta match
Looking good and 'fitting in' is crucial even when it's not by choice.

And some still rock gold, but everybody went plat'
Some people still emphasize extravagance ('rock gold') while others have become more practical.

Lookin at the ground like YO WHASSUP WIT DAT?
The environment is not always treacherous, but one must always be on the lookout.

Where some people fight fair
Not everyone in our community resorts to violence to solve problems.

Everybody got a pair of Nike Airs and police is right there
Some things, such as popular shoes, are universal despite living in a discriminatory and oppressive society.

Where shit is really +Ludacris+ now like +Def Jam South+
Life can be turbulent and unpredictable.

Can it all be so simple then? The instrumental ends
Life is complex and sometimes chaotic.

On stage I kill it, with a stenciled pen
Through music and art, one can express themselves and have a broader influence.

It's not strange, how the whole thing went down
The outcomes of life can seem predetermined.

It's a shame, everybody want to bling chain now
Society has elevated materialism and expensive accessories as a status symbol.

Where the young ones is bigger than me
Young people have grown up too fast and are forced to take on adult responsibilities too soon.

It used to be P-A-L and Little League
Children used to have their own separate and wholesome activities.

That's dead now, nobody want to play on the block
The joy of playing outdoors with friends has been replaced by urban decay.

Everybody want rims, and a big face knot
Material possessions like large rims and cash now represent the end goal.

I don't coach, I watch from the sidelines
Even though he's an observer, he still maintains respect for life and how people choose to live it.

Players be missin they shots!
People often make mistakes and fail despite their best efforts.

Where a 40 and a blunt is breakfast
Drug and alcohol abuse is prevalent due to its escapist attributes.

And police swerve to serve and disrespect us
In addition to being absent, law enforcement often shows hostility and disrespect towards our community.

Chinese foods induce asthma
The quality of life in our neighborhood includes environmental pollution and negative health outcomes.

Roaches run fast, the rats run faster
We live in an environment that is often dirty and infested with pests.

Basketball games feel like heaven
In contrast, moments of peace and joy feel euphoric.

I married the streets - Uncle Ben threw rice at the wedding
One feels a close connection to their environment despite its struggles, almost like they're married to it.

Or when cats come home from doin five live federal
People who have experienced incarceration are viewed differently nostalgic views of 'the good old days'.

Surrounded by cheese like Domino, cat be cool
People are surrounded by money, but it doesn't always change their demeanor.

Mommy's got a gat, papi too
Living in a household where guns are commonplace is the norm.

Cause of the dirt in my past, I'm still grimy
Past mistakes and experiences can shape an individual's present self.

Still livin movin forward with death behind me
Even though the future is uncertain and danger is surrounding, one must keep moving forward to survive.