Brotherly Love

This is dedicated to all my little brothers, little homies, yo check it out

Man you 21 now and I still can believe it

Been living on your own, just hard to conceive

That you on the right track, out pursuing that knowledge

But a few years back I couldn't see you in college

You was all out cripping, brought a gun in the house

My first thought was to take it, give you one to the mouth

But never that, we been through way to much

I always tried to give you guidance but not say too much

Tried to lead by example, didn't I have some nerve

Telling you stay out the street while I was out slanging herb

But I always preferred you do it smarter then me

You didn't have to prove nothing being harder then me

You helped mom at the cleaners

Stayed away from misdemeanors

I was proud of you then

Please believe I still am

Don't let the world get you down, throw you off your program

Life is hard, even harder on a young black man

If it gets rough blow a blunt and bump some more slow jams

Know every man with a badge is probably a punk

But don't ever risk your freedom, just to throw one punch

Let a coward be a coward, he has to deal with his past

I know these pigs deserve it but give em a pass

I know you want to keep it gangster, just do it with class

Above all remember this, no matter how big you get

I'm still your big brother and I can always whoop your ass

They say a wise man knows nothing, so I know a lot less

But I been where you at homie, put to the test

The answer lies deep within, so open your chest

And find God within yourself and he'll show you the rest

I know the world is against you and your going through stress

But long as you still breathing God, and know you been blessed

The only sin is giving up, there's no need to confess

Find a God within yourself and he'll show you the rest

Now take that doo-rag off when you get in my ride

Man that shit ain't fresh, you're supposed to wear it inside

Not under bandannas or under a cap

I might be getting old but I don't understand that

You want your hoodie on or off, please make up your mind

Trapped in a rap video, losing your mind

Getting lost through someone else helps you find yourself

I guess that's how it works

I seen this kid the other day with murder written on his shirt

And never been to a funeral

Now am I out of touch, if I say it's unusual

This dude will sing a love ballad to his homeboys, before a young lady

Now ain't that crazy

If you didn't love that bitch then why you make her keep your baby

Ooh abortions not right

But just the other night

You were a killer pull a trigger before you have a fare fight

But if you value one, then why not value every life

Its obvious you know the difference between wrong and right

Its not about being self, its hard to follow the light

When you're surrounded by darkness, almost drowning in evil

Been searching for some help but still ain't found no real people

Here's a shout, know we out here, we struggling too

Some of us do it legal; some will thug our way through

We got to fight to show the world that our youth are intelligent

So keep it gangster in your CD changer, not your residence

They say a wise man knows nothing, so I know a lot less

But I been where you at homie, put to the test

The answer lies deep within, so open your chest

And find God within yourself and he'll show you the rest

I know the world is against you and your going through stress

But long as you still breathing God, and know you been blessed

The only sin is giving up, there's no need to confess

Find a God within yourself and he'll show you the rest