The Wake Part 2

Verse 1

When I was seventeen, I wanted to be the best rapper the world had ever seen
But it wasn't realistic, I was simplistic, I had no clever schemes
So I just played ball
Since I got tall
That was a better dream
Just let that breathe, I’ma take y'all back hold up
I wasn't like them other kids, when I was young
My teacher asked me what I wanted to be by the time I was twenty-one
I said I want to see twenty-one, start my own business, stack funds and live life until my breathing is done
My teacher was stunned, I really was dumb, I hung with dudes that believed when you leave the house, you should always leave with a gun
And I ain't want to go to college, if you see where I'm from, it's really all about a dollar when you're eating up crumbs
I ain't saying we was raised in the P's or the slums
And our environments do not depict what we will become
But we was viewing nine to fives, as things that make you die inside, we thought a job was the equivalent of being a bum
My boys called me with a plan, said it’s the easiest run
Bad chick from our hood
Double D's with some buns
Dealt with a dealer out in Queens who goes to sleep with the sun
And keeps 40 gees by his liquor, near the Seagram’s and rum
The plan was creep up in his spot, his girl would have the back unlocked
She said, “He's cheating, so to take all of his cheese would be fun,”
I wanted to go but I had a playoff game in the park
That day, I heard they made it all the way to the car
When the dude came out his front door, aiming and sparking
He hit my homeboy with two, and made his brain fall apart
And I prayed up to God, with this pain in my heart
And I kept thinking that could've been me, I'm out here playing the part
Of a gang member, thug, heat holder, street soldier, weed roller, gun clapper, not afraid of taking a charge
But I was crying at the wake, with crazy tears behind my shades and
Basketball just saved my life, instead of quick retaliation, think rebounding, jump shooting, college applications, playing defense in the lane is the only charge I should be taking
Viewed the body, feeling sorry, near the casket with my friends
Talking reckless, thinking backwards, plotting tactics for revenge
When the mother of my boy who saw her youngest meet his end
Walked up on me, and just hugged me, she was shaking so intense
Did she sense my hesitation did she know that I was faking?
She just grabbed me by my face and pulled me in and screamed please wake up!

Chorus sung by Mela Machinko

Are you sleeping? Are you sleeping?
Play this song, play this song
Morning bells are ringing, Morning bells are ringing
Ding-ding-dong, ding-ding-dong

Verse 2

Being broke at thirty, it can give you the chills
When Biggie said it, I was little, thinking thirty is ill
I’ma be rich when I get old, and I'm achieving all my goals, but I was twenty-nine and crying I had just lost my deal
Man I was sulking like a helpless b--ch
Living proof that hell exists
I had lost my way cause I was so consumed with selfishness
Totally forgot about the times that I accepted gifts
From family and friends and my girl gave me an extra lift
I'm the one that told myself I'm not allowed to try
I was spitting, "People live each day like you're about to die,"
I made myself a promise, now I'm watching Eric Thomas thinking, “Damn I drifted off 'cause I forgot about the why.”
Why did I decide to put words on top of instruments?
Why did I spend years of developing selfless discipline?
Why did I desire providing for all my fam, and then why did my lack of fans make me feel like I'm insignificant?
How you get mad because you woke up and it's Monday
You said you got a long week ahead of you
My homie got cancer and her lungs ache
And sometimes breathing is unbearable
So she can only wish she has a long week, followed by some months and a year or two
I'm sorry if this sounds like a harsh speech
But mostly I be talking to the mirror too
Wake up