Stay Woke (Feat. Miguel)

How I keep from goin' under It's like a jungle outside Sometimes I wonder how I keep from goin' under We scream Black Lives Matter but we still toting ladders Watching our own brothers trying to get at us Dreams get shattered when a scene full of crackers And they charge you with some shit you ain't do You like what happened We go get lawyers to say shit we don't know how to talk They told us to hate each other before we learn how to walk Mama taught you how to fight fight before she taught you how to write right And daddy locked down in the cell can't kiss you night night Monsters under the bed every night feel like it's fright night Coke fumes in the air mama holding on that pipe tight And you catchin' contact but never mind that In a world where Black is wrong and white right it's like a combat We go to war for our freedom they say we equal I used to wanna play like Randall and be an Eagle I used to play the quarterback my dog would go receiver That was 'til the ball got flat by a dope needle on the pavement It's amazin' this environment we was raised in On them papers one mistake and I'm gettin' caged in You gotta feel me feel like the system tryna kill me Got arrested and the charges F1 for popping wheelies stay woke It was designed for us to fail We still prevail through the hell Yeah can you believe it We're still undefeated Though it was designed for us to lose We'll still make it through nothing's impossible Can you believe it We're still undefeated Picture me ten years younger with some tats on my face Takin' a bunch of Xannys with the strap on my waist Pointin' it at the camera like mama ain't teach me manners Tryna see mo' bills like I'm headed to Alabama no wait I can't judge them I'm just trying to understand them 'Cause I used to pop Percs pourin' purple in my Fanta Had me swerving in my Phantom like I'm runnin' from my dreams I was headed for the slammer I was plantin' all the seed For them to bury me I had my whole family mad at me Fell deep in love with the game and it married me Judge said I'll give you a chance just don't embarrass me Motivatin' these little niggas is like a charity Community service even though they knew we was workin' They did this to me on purpose 'cause I ain't movin' too perfect I stay away from them clowns watch how I move through the circus 'Cause they be weighing you down even some of them dudes in your circle stay woke Though it's designed for us to fail yeah We still prevail through the hell yeah Can you believe it We're still undefeated Though it was designed for us to lose Nothing nothing nothing's impossible no Can you believe it We're still undefeated How can I pledge allegiance to the flag When they killin' all our sons all our dads I come from a place when you kill your own brother you can brag Like he got bodies but that's a fad no that's a fact I'm screamin' out at your corner nigga that's a trap Screamin' out at your homie nigga that's a rat Catch a case with him bet he crack The odds against you and they double stacked stay woke Bought my mom a new crib that's some gangster shit Niece and nephews walking around wearing minks and shit Kept the hood motivated this the thanks I get Try to Ja Rule the kid on some Wanksta shit But that's impossible 'cause I'm unstoppable The label can't drop me nigga I'm too valuable You thought I would lose but I won and that bothered you Still movin' 'round in Philly just like the mobsters do When I talked to Em and Hov they said I'm proud of you You stood tall back when everyone doubted you My reply is I did what I gotta do And I need that verse 'fore you retire too Jumping all the obstacles I'm way too wavy Said I would lose boy you way too crazy Pick and choose either fame or the money fame will make you crazy And the money will make them bad bitches say Thank you baby You're welcome