[Intro: Malcolm X prison scene]
Yo, Jackson! A 231549
Yeah, close four! Comin' down!
Crichlow! A 5991301
Close five! Comin' down!
Look at Satan, I see him
[2Pac]
My homeboys in Clinton and Rikers Island
All the penitentiaries
Mumia, Mutulu, Geronimo, Sekon
All the political prisoners
San Quentin (who can save you).. all the jailhouses
I'm with you
[2Pac & Tyrone Wrice]
Yeah
One thug, one thug, How do we keep the music playing
You're listenin' to the sounds of one, thug
One thug, one thug, How do we get ahead
You're listenin' to the sounds of..
[Verse 1: 2Pac]
I wake up early in the mornin', mind state so military
Suckers fantasizin' pictures of a young brother buried
Was it me, the weed, or this life I lead
If daytime is for suckers then tonight we breathe
Out for all that, knowin' that this world bring drawbacks
Look how they shiver once I deliver these raw raps
Meet me at the cemetery dressed in black
Tonight we, honor the dead, those who won't be back
So if I die, do the same for me, shed no tears
An Outlaw, thug livin' in this game for years
Why worry, hope to God, get me high when I'm buried
Knowin' deep inside only a few love me
Come rush me to the gates of heaven, let me picture for a while
How I lived for my days as a child, I wonder now
How do we outlast, always get cash
Stay strong if we all mash
Hold ya head
[Hook: Tyrone Wrice & 2Pac]
How do we keep the music playing
Yes, you got to hold ya head
How do we get ahead, hold your head!
Too many young black brothers are dying
Yes, you got to hold ya head
Livin' fast, too fast
[Verse 2: 2Pac]
Hahaha, yo
These felonies be like prophecies beggin' me to stop
Cause these lawyers gettin' money every time they knock us
Snatchin' pockets lyrically, suckers flea when they notice
Switched my name to Makaveli, half the rap game ghost
Exposed foes with my hocus-pocus flows they froze
Now suckers idolize my chosen blows
And mo' money mean litigatin', mo' playa hatin'
Got a cell at the pen for me waitin'; is this my fate?
Miss me with that misdemeanor thinkin', me fall back?
Never that, too much tequila drinkin', we all that
Make them understand me? hell nah, this ain't my posse
Everyone with me is family, cause everybody's got me
Watch me paint a perfect vision, this life we livin'
Got us all meetin' up in prison
Last week I got a letter from my road dog, written in blood
Saying, "Please show a playa love"
Hold ya head, hold it
[Hook: Tyrone Wrice & 2Pac]
How do we keep the music playing
You got to hold ya head
How do we get ahead, c'mon hold your head
Too many young black brothers are dying
Yes, hold ya head
Livin' fast, too fast
The weed got me tweakin' in my mind, I'm thinkin'
[Verse 3: 2Pac]
God bless the child that can hold his own
Indeed, enemies bleed when I hold my chrome
Let these words be the last to my unborn seeds
Hope to raise my young nation in this world of greed
Currency means nothin' if you still ain't free
Money breeds jealousy, take the game from me
I hope for better days, trouble comes naturally
Running from authorities 'til they capture me
And my, aim is to spread mo' smiles than tears
Utilize lessons learned from my childhood years
Maybe Mama had it all right, rest yo' head
Straight conversations all night, bless the dead
To the homies that I used to have that no longer roll
Catch a brother at the crossroads
Plus nobody knows my soul, watchin' time pass
Through the glass of my drop-top Rolls
Hold ya head
[Hook: Tyrone Wrice & 2Pac]
How do we keep the music playing
You got to hold ya head
How do we get ahead, c'mon, hold your head
Too many young black brothers are dying
Yes, hold ya head
Livin' fast, too fast
You got to hold ya head
How do we keep the music playing
Yes, you got to hold ya head
How do we get ahead
[Outro during hook]
No matter how hard it get, feel me
Get the weed, drink a drink, read a book
Watch the stars, get some pussy, whatever
