Maintain

Aye, yo – call me a hard workin' nigga

I shouldn't use "nigga" 'cause that's what was used against us

But I still I abuse it and use it, look how they did us

A lot of shit's changed, but some things installed in us

We can't figure out – the Willie Lynch gave them the in-and-outs

Will 'em out, look who doin' all the fuckin' killin' now

We got that after slavery, nothin' you can say to me

Attitude, with Malcolm X speakin' and teachin' bravery

Violence is only needed when you feel defeated

And parents pay attention, it ain't cool to raise a demon

That's on lockdown, got out, now he actin' hostile

You threw away your opportunities, nigga that's a cop out

Not now, we can argue later – all in favor

Raise your hands if you deserve another chance

Fan of a fan, we sharin' the same things

We see the bumps in the road, we smoke and we maintain

So I, play my position with persistence

Consistent with the flow, nigga, we twistin' up the 'dro

In this life of sin, through the highs and lows

Trials and tribulations, you know how it go

I pray you niggas maintain

I pray you niggas maintain

'Cause when shit get all bad, and you watch the game change

Fuck the bullshit, it's time to maintain

You gotta maintain

Two hours early, rise and shine - no ride, catchin' the bus to be on time

No time for excuses, it's your life, you can't be stuck on stupid

I give 'em the awkward nod like "I can't be without a job"

Helpin' moms with the bombs, I mean the bills

I mean, bombs is how they feel, but how I feel don't stop the deal

See, when you go without a meal you stop takin' your plate for granted

We was strong when we was weak, that's why I pray before I eat

It's bittersweet when it's something you wanna keep

And if that nigga don't wanna help, fuck it, do it by yourself

But put in effort to better your situation

If not for y'all then do it for the baby, the system crazy

Where you got you a son or you a daughter

Don't run away from your problems or your partner

Maintain – I know it's gettin' hard, but it gets harder

You gotta understand, that's the shit that makes you a man

Gladly – do the snazzy on my nappy

And the razor with, education, niggas tried to clap me

I ain't a killa, but for scrilla it gets nasty

Pop up on the wrong night, get popped like mad acne

It ain't no comin' home for you, homie

It's funny, fuckin' with these rhymes over time'll turn you phony

I see niggas makin' money, becomin' dealers

Deal a pound of... then give the beats out 'til he did her

It gets more realer for real

Niggas'll take your life and won't even get life for the steal

And if you're grilled, your grill gets Formaned

Blow out your fronts and leave it as a warning

For informants I feel like the doorman

Ain't kidding, can't take the heat? Get out the kitchen

It's things for soft guys like you, like knittin' mittens

Kissin' kittens, stitchin' snitches, whispering disses

Wishin' you had my bitches and my riches

Pass the herb, pass the herb, pass the herb

Pass the herb, pass the herb, pass the herb

I got the word for the game, niggas gotta maintain

Pass the herb, pass the herb, pass the herb

Pass the herb, pass the herb, pass the herb

I got the word for the game, niggas gotta maintain