Pain Into Progress

[Intro]
Yeah, Outlawz, Dough Boy, One Nation
It's been a long time comin', man
Know shit ain't never gon' be easy for niggas like me, but we here

[Verse 1]
Them people you thought that loved you, them niggas'll turn quick
Pac and Biggie died, these niggas ain't learn shit
Genocide over beats, homicide when we meet
They handin' us loaded heat, and trickin' us off the streets
Truth hard to sallow, but them lies taste sweet
Better watch for the wolves that disguise as sheep
Better watch with your third eye, 'cause shit get deep
Under the surface we searchin', they purposely sleep
Controlled by the system, politics, or religion
Gotta learn the difference between facts and opinions
I'm black and I'm gifted, I'm labelled a threat
Soon as I step up out the house, I got a target on my back
Watchin' for my own kind in the other side
Nobody dies when we cry, we outlaws, let us ride
There's one life, don't nobody get a second try
There's a chance to get it right, yeah, you better try

[Chorus]
Yeah (Yeah), we turn pain into progress
Tragedy to triumph, and struggle to success (To success)
Even at your lowest, still no one that you bless (Bless)
The game the same, remain different than the rest (Than the rest)
Yeah (Yeah), we turn pain into progress
Tragedy to triumph (Triumph), and struggle to success (To success)
Even at your lowest, still no one that you bless (Bless)
In this deadly game of life, better rise to the test (C'mon, shit)

[Verse 2]
We wa'n't born just to suffer
What they though would tear us down only made us tougher
We turn pain into progress, as a culture
Like a lotus out the mud, blessed by the struggles
Poverty creates the best hustlers, we ran marathons on crutches
Racin' injustice barefoot, and still made somethin' out of nothin'
Survive through crack and broken family structures
With love still in us, ain't nothin' more realer
We outlaw spirits, the system can't kill us
Some scars still healin', but we strong and resilient
No matter what come, stay dangerous and fearless
I dedicate this toast to our peoples success
With all the shit been through, we deserve nothin' less
Real jewels come from pressure, blessin' in disguise
Like seeds, they try to bury us, but never that, forever still we rise

[Chorus]
Yeah (Yeah), we turn pain into progress
Tragedy to triumph, and struggle to success (To success)
Even at your lowest, still no one that you bless (Bless)
The game the same, remain different than the rest (Than the rest)
Yeah (Yeah), we turn pain into progress
Tragedy to triumph (Triumph), and struggle to success (To success)
Even at your lowest, still no one that you bless (Bless)
In this deadly game of life, better rise to the test (C'mon, shit)

[Verse 3]
In the projects, we turned pain to profit
O-open up your optics, see the shame and false prophets
They wanna hold us and quote us, and pay us in quotas
They act like they know us, no love they show us
How the most sophisticated country affected by Corona?
Man, that's a easy answer, just look at the POTUS
Complain about him bein' in the house, but won't vote up
Eleven two-twenty to the pose, we better show up
But most too busy gettin' high, ain't wanna pu' up
Are too busy flexin' with they diamonds and they glow-up
I was raised at the bottom, yeah, we had to get our dough up
Yeah my OGs was older than me, but they ain't grow up
Worse than a 50 year-old rapper still sayin' he gon' blow up
I ain't hatin' on your dreams, but you know what? Grow up
You too hard to get a job, to provide for your youngin'?
Got dreams to hit the top, but don't wanna work out the dungeon

[Chorus]
Yeah (Yeah), we turn pain into progress
Tragedy to triumph, and struggle to success (To success)
Even at your lowest, still no one that you bless (Bless)
The game the same, remain different than the rest (Than the rest)
Yeah (Yeah), we turn pain into progress
Tragedy to triumph (Triumph), and struggle to success (To success)
Even at your lowest, still no one that you bless (Bless)
In this deadly game of life, better rise to the test (C'mon, shit)

[Verse 4: Stic.man]
Season like good food, all around good dude
King shit is my move, you can follow if you choose
Watch me as I move, smooth, you won't loose
Cruise, I follow the rules, and stay away from fools
Jewels, we been droppin' 'em, real niggas rock wit' 'em
[?] Stic got a little bit of Pac in him
You can't sound dope forever, it's one nation
We want what we want right now, it ain't patient
I see my brother doing his thing, I ain't hatin'
I know if he make it, then I make it, and that's greatness
Watch us as we takeoff, spaceship
Middle fingers to the ones that said we ain't shit
Took the hard times, rearranged it
Now we lead a good life, can you blame us?
We took the hard times, rearranged it
That's what you call turnin' pain into progress

[Verse 5]
On pop's, didn't have it, uh-uh
Moms wouldn't give it up, nah
Fienin' for money, watchin' other niggas livin' it up (Damn)
Starin' at this pistol, and I can see 'em givin' it up (Givin' it up)
To the game is for the strong, and I'm strong, so I'm stickin' him up
Play a bad guy, damn, now I'm labelled a bad guy (Bad guy)
Bought a couple AKs, now I'm fuckin' with rabbis (Rabbi)
Got a couple killas on the payroll! (Payroll!)
Throw another bag, and they doin' what I say so (What I say so)
[?] dead bitch down at the bar (Bar), for playin' with that cheque (Cheque)
Got all these [fullies?] for they head (Head), how they layin' on they neck (Neck)
So for fifty-somethin' shots (Rrra), out there playin' wit' a dick (Dick)
Dear Lord, don't let them pussies disrespect (C'mon)
When all I wanted was peace from poverty (Poverty)
Keep these from robbin' me (Robbin' me)
These [?] cocked and loaded on the side of me (On the side of me)
Take my future, fight for my past (Past)
Live the life of an outlaw (Outlaw), [?] can kiss my ass
Nigga, thug life