Gramma this one's for you (stay strong) (chorus) (he's strong!) Mama mama mama mama i couldn't say "no" (so strong!) Got sick and tired of seein' brothers being treated ill (he's strong!) They say to chill, they say my homey's not available (stay strong!) I hear mama they got him working on tha payroll (she's strong!) Mama mama mama mama i couldn't say "no" (so strong!) Got sick and tired of seein' sistas being treated ill (she's strong!) They say to chill, they say my homegirl's not available (stay strong!) I hear mama they got her working on tha payroll At 21 the brother "smooth" he got a record deal Been working hard been writin' songs about the things he feels He says it's real, 'cause i got bills, but i got sk**s My deck is stacked, if i could only get my sh** on wax When it was ripe he took his tape up to the rec execs They smoked cigars and rolled their eye's at him behind their specs Your sh** is phat but i don't hear it in the format jack What's all this black crap check page twenty one of your contract (chorus) A friend of mine roberta she got a job at the post office She was college edjamacated but got fired up at the law office I'm all alone two kids at home, i need a job just any job So i can get back on my feet like tina "t"(urner) The boss came up to her said, "why don't you come home with me" I'd like to see you take off your clothes for me She said "no way man!" He said "you don't understand" "you lose your life, you lose your job if you don't do this shift!" (chorus) I met a black man who became a police officer Officer, officer, officer, officer, officer, overseer He tried to tell me it was the only job available Either rob or join the mob 'cause i'm not salable One night he went out on an undercover sting-ing Bought some smack tried to break the h**n ring-ring Two cops white cops saw juggling goin' down They spilled his brain like homey the f**in' clown (he's gone!) Mama mama mama mama i couldn't say no Got sick and tired of seein' people bein' treated ill Picked up my nines, walked up from behind Tapped two of them on the neck so i could meet their eyes direct Pom! pom! I didn't do it for tha payroll (chorus)