Ode To My City

Baltimore
Crown jewel of THE DMV
Home of The Wire, Ravens, and Freddie Gray
This melting pot of 700,000 souls boils daily
Reaching the Precipice of sanity as it experienced it’s deadliest month
In the history of its existence
The City is not for the faint of heart, nor safe haven for the unexpecting
Though in the midst of turmoil, our unity is unwavering
Our resilience to the treatment administered by law enforcement is tried and true
The Bullshit will not be tolerated
We will not be ignored
Black Lives Scattered
Black Lives Battered
Black Lives Matter
I offer this Ode To My City
In hopes it inspires the young and morally inept
To be the model of positivity for our future

(Verse One)
Ode to my city, even though it ain’t pretty
Shit getting cold and so gritty, I just know I’m a witness
You on the road to dependence, losing control of your senses
Fed up with the system, can no longer hold in your vengeance
This ain’t the way I was raised, 90s babies having babies
Here’s why is so crazed, you’re influenced by how you’re made
To be stuck in this maze, opportunities slim to none
Making minimum wage, can’t get a grip but can grip a gun?
But let me turn the page, it’s the tipping point of the times
Police brutality rhymes with “kill mentality” minds
My ill reality lines can heal ya naturally fine
But you gotta take the pressure concealed in the back confined
Of a patty wagon, consequence of your actions
Or reasons beyond what common sense allows you to fathom
Tired of all this harassment, we no longer feeling passive
And you had the fuse, the death of Freddie just lit the matches! Uh!

(Bridge)
The craziest days, the darkest nights
It's a job to survive, but much to my surprise, surprise, surprise
When you wake up each day, thank the lord you're alright
And feel so special, cause even when it's stressful, it's easier to let go

(Verse 2)
Can’t protest peacefully if we all don’t feel equally
You wanna preach & reach, but that nigga don’t speak for me
Train of thought off the track, the way some of you be thinking
I’m ashamed to call you black, act just like the people they paint you as
You outta control, stop destroying your livelihood
Get in tune with your soul, see that looting deprives your hood
That’s my minimal goal, to open your eyes clearly
Burned down a CVS, but ain’t run in that library
All out of frustration in front of that bus station
Then kids were tired of the pigs, wanted to cut some bacon!
In front of Mondawmin making a scene cause they out of patience
Change gon come said Sam Cooke, but we tired of waiting
Politics cruddy but for some shit you can’t blame the mayor
Waiting on her to make changes, you better say your prayers
Starts with us as a people, can no longer afford to be feeble minded
We all we got in this world all you gotta do is get behind it
And I’m a product of my penitentiary mind environment
But went to college cause I had to find a better assignment
My momma promised to be by my side if I fell behind on my knowledge
If I’m locked up she’ll leave me right where they find me
Tough love, don’t mean they don’t love you
But what a mother does, is keep you from struggle
Root cause, our seeds are the future
But don’t have em so young that they gon repeat what you grew through
Every son needs a father too, don’t just leave it in neutral
Drive your kids to the park, love in reverse is not mutual
Those moments are crucial, to the soul of a youngin
And I look on the news, who the fuck we becoming?
If most of us don’t make it I’m blaming this generation
Ain’t concerned about raising, just worried bout penetration
Youth is wasted on the young, that’s a hell of a statement
Put your feet on the pavement and pave the way for your greatness