[Intro: Kastro]
Dear Lord, as we down here, struggle for as long as we know
In search of a paradise to touch (My n***a Johnny J)
Dreams are dreams, and reality seems to be the only place to go, the only place for us
I know, try to make the best of bad situations
Seems to be my life's story
Ain't no glory in pain, a soldier's story in vain
And can't nobody live this life for me
It's a ride y'all, a long hard ride

[Verse 1: 2Pac]
Somebody wake me, I'm dreamin', I started as a seed, the semen
Swimmin' upstream, planted in the womb while screamin'
On the top was my pops, my mama screamin' stop
From a single drop, this is what they got
Not to disrespect my peoples, but my papa was a loser
Only plan he had for mama was to fuck her and abuse her
Even as a little seed, I could see his plan for me
Stranded on welfare, another broken family
Now what was I to be? A product of this heated passion
Mama got pregnant and papa got a piece of ass
Look how it began, nobody gave a fuck about me
Pistol in my hand, this cruel world can do without me
How can I survive? Got me askin' white Jesus
"Will a n***a live or die?" 'cause the Lord can't see us
In the deep dark clouds of the projects, ain't no sunshine
No sunny days and we only play sometimes
When everybody's sleepin'
I open my window, jump to the streets and get to creepin'
I can live or die, hope I get some money 'fore I'm gone
I'm only 19, I'm tryna hustle on my own
On the spot where everybody and their pops tryna slang rocks
I'd rather go to college, but this is where the game stops
Don't get it wrong 'cause it's always on, from dusk to dawn
You can buy rocks, Glocks or a herringbone
You can ask my man, he's a mind reader
Keep my 9 heater all the time, this is how we grind
Meet up at the cemetery then get smoked out
Pass the weed, n***a! That Hennessey'll keep me keyed, n***a
Everywhere I go n***as holla at me, "Keep it real, G"
And my reply, 'til they kill me, "Act up if you feel me!"
I was born not to make it, but I did
The tribulations of a ghetto kid, still I rise
[Chorus: Ta'He]
Still I (Still I), I rise (I rise), please, give me to the sky (To the sky)
And if (And if), I die (I die), I don't want you to cry

[Verse 2: Yaki Kadafi]
I stay sharp as always, runnin' your bricks with blitz
Through your project hallways, dumpin' crews like two's, n***a, all day
Secrets of war prepare me for the worst
A life that's lavish, full of cabbage or a life that's in a hearse
But now my dreams, it seems though, be placin' triple beams and things, bro
Diamond pinkie ring got the loot poppin' out my jeans

[Verse 3: Napoleon]
Now I plan to keep my Glock cocked if trouble was searchin' for me, then why not?
Show 'em what I'm made of, plus raised on, on my block
Chancellor Ave, where many turn to the street
Thugs snatchin' bags, preoccupied with makin' cash
It wasn't fast, it'll make me mad, I'm just like him
My homie on the corner with his gat tucked in, youngins, they buckin' somethin'
The life he lead's the life he don't need, don't we all know?
He tryin' to rise up and we just go doe, still he rise

[Verse 4: Young Noble]
Dreams of lost hope, I hit the strip broke where the fiends get coke
And still I rise, now I float
Cowards ghost whenever we come around, I'm runnin' down
Clutchin' a pound, live as sirens, duckin' the sound
I used to hustle with my moms 'til the sun came
My homie Harm doin' time from this drug game
Stolen cars, war scars, born an Outlaw
Behind bars, go to sleep just to see the stars
Freedom is ours, though we trapped on a firm block
Crackheads only 10 learn to duck cops
[Verse 5: Yaki Kadafi]
In '96 my Glock's my plastic, passion for blastin' bastards
No faces for open caskets, peelin' your cap backwards
You cowards ain't prepared for pistol practice
I send my missiles through your mattress, leavin' holes in your body like a cactus
While me and my crew be boppin' more greens than topic
And loot to keep the seams in my motherfuckin' jeans poppin'
Leavin' your spleen to pick up, half of you n***as is softer than a Snicker
Let's go to war and see who draw quicker
And still I rise, and still I rise—

[Chorus: Ta'He]
Still I (Still I), I rise (I rise), please, give me to the sky (To the sky)
And if (And if), I die (I die), I don't want you to cry
Still I (Still I), I rise (I rise), please, give me to the sky (To the sky)
And if (And if), I die (I die), I don't want you to cry

[Outro: some little kid]
Y'all n***as be fake, all day every day
So now I got roller blades, bitch
Thought you knew
Your mouth is rich
C'mon pops, let's go!