[Verse 1: 2Pac] Caught up in the middle My life's a riddle Don't let it get ya I wanna be legal But it's this hustle that get me richer One love to my peoples makin' money I can see you bubblin' Avoid all trouble Beware of devils, continue strugglin' Nothin's impossible if there's a will there's a way So get your mind on official business You can be great And it's been this way from the cradle to the grave So get paid My niggas do this every fuckin' day We parlay through politics and conversation This information to my thug niggas in the congregation Watch and bare witness to the pleasures of participation Separation is self destruction What's needed is unification 'Cause the world ain't hardly scared If not prepared Be sure to be bummy and be no longer there But no one cares it's there to share All we get is stares Because of fear, we'll evaporate Say your prayers And what's next?
[Verse 2: A3] (Aye its on A3) Makaveli tried to warn us But niggas ain't listen to Pac Naw (listen listen) nigga really listen to Pac Shit yean got it yet (no) Then you won't get it Might as well measure 'em up And have his ass fitted Why Caught slippin' dog trippin' didn't soak game Got his wig split like dem shutters on the airplane Never will change niggas wit' no name no shame Might open ya head for Metro change I stay posted like a flag (flag) Starin' thru my rear view ballin' in a jag (jag) Bounce wit me Cali body rock down in H-Town We gon' put these artificial bustas in they place now Time foe a change Real niggas rollin' wit' me Money makin' swift decision we controllin' the streets Side track by the broads and the frauds Ain't it strange It's the reason so many niggas get scarred in the game What's next?
[Verse 3: Jay Rock] That money gotta make it What I gotta do to make it? Do I really gotta take it? Put this mack up to you, face it Doin' what we gotta do to survive Just ask Kweli, doin' what we do to get by Some niggas stick to the crime Pitchin' nickel and dimes What the fuck we s'pose to do, who gon' give us a job? So I tried and tried Tried to get out the grind But the block kept on callin' me back Fiends kept on callin' for crack So I supply 'em wit' that Gave 'em a reasonable fee Nigga don't blame it on me Shit just look where I'm at Niggas in gardens, LAPD is the target Niggas is heartless, hustle regardless Look that dope spot use to be an apartment But now it's just a place to hide the guns in the closet Watch ya step shift the grams under the carpet We just tryin' hard not to see that coffin What's next?
To see annotations on this song by the cast and author of the Broadway musical Holler If Ya Hear Me, which tells a powerful story of today using Pac’s music, see here
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