[Verse 1: KXNG CROOKED]
They say I'm a slave to the dollar ‘cause for the grind I push everything to the back-burner
To me it's bravery and honor tryna liberate my momma from the ghetto like I'm a Nat Turner
Isn't it ironic how we face imprisonment, catching cases for tryin' to escape the places we livin' in
I look up at the stars feelin' like Stevie, I wonder is this the same sky he said there's a ribbon in
‘Cause down here we poverty stricken, cheap as property: Mediterranean Avenue Monopoly living
Liquor on every corner and somebody religion so we can body some vodka then go tell God that we sinnin'
I see d**h is on the corner, listen h**n and meth is on a corner
Little Caroline and Jeff was on the corner, now there's flowers and some candles, they very last breath was on a corner
Footsteps in the sand, some was God some was mans
Then it was only God' ‘cause God carry man, I need you to lift me up if you can lord
[Hook: Novel]
All this pressure that's on me, all this weight that I don't need
And I'm jogging in sand and it feels like my shoes are concrete
I need you to lift me up, lift me up
Lift me up, need you to lift me up
[Bridge: KXNG CROOKED]
Gunshots in the air again, we livin' that nightmare again
So I'm asking you does anyone care again, life is f**ed up for a ghetto American
[Verse 2: KXNG CROOKED]
These rappers are arrogant, ignoring the community's pain just to maintain fame but those the same
People that put you in the big chain you're wearin' in your video so I'm going against the grain
Ain't talkin' about just Pitch and Caine, too many of the hood gettin' slain, obituary in a picture frame
It's a shame that you don't even give a f**, your fans want sh** to change, y'all better lift me up
[Hook: Novel]
All this pressure that's on me, all this weight that I don't need
And I'm jogging in sand and it feels like my shoes are concrete
I need you to lift me up, lift me up
Lift me up, need you to lift me up
[Bridge: KXNG CROOKED]
Gunshots in the air again, we livin' that nightmare again
So I'm asking you does anyone care again, life is f**ed up for a ghetto American
[Ad-Lib: KXNG CROOKED]
Yeah, this is hip-hop, this our culture man
I'm lookin' at y'all doing y'all interviews, y'all rappers, y'all f**in' rappers man
They ask you some real sh** about what's going on in the community and you avoid it all cost, avoid it like Ebola it's time for us to talk that real sh**
[Hook: Novel]
All this pressure that's on me, all this weight that I don't need
And I'm jogging in sand and it feels like my shoes are concrete
I need you to lift me up, lift me up
Lift me up, need you to lift me up