[Verse 1] My lifetime came from struggle All I've seen is what I follow My skin color, automatic transaction I'm already classified, no second chance Taught to feel nappy hair, little grade Why can't I sag when it's just a style Little beard, black hoodie, and I'm all good People judge before they even know me Stare at me, don't know I'm lonely Outside funny stares from police And I get the bad rap because another man that just looks like me Think life's a movie like Spike Lee Too cool like Ice T Yeah, I move with Life's Peace, and he move with the gun piece So there's no peace I gotta go to the hood, all I see is Divided, the freshest schizophrenics Men pimping women, people losing vision Given choices before she started living I hate myself [Hook] I see myself in the mirror, but I don't see nothing If you understand what I'm seeing please tell me something When you black, the media make you wonder why I just need my history, because I hate myself [Verse 2] It makes me sad to see pimping like I'm at a battle with my surroundings Everybody do it, but not really And I couldn't imagine my momma Universal knowledge is karma I see young girls hanging off the corner And they searching for love in the wrong space Gave her mind to a pimp, now he's changing faces Sometimes I just wish I could trade places I hate myself for being taught the rules of the hood Which don't matter, no respect and no love That got jailed for the real thugs And I'm sorry to all the innocent in prison You get a second chance when you free or in heaven I promise if you really love and you watch your steps Respect everybody, man you will get blessed Get your point across without violence The black dying by the gun, I'm tired of crying I hate myself [Hook 2] For real man, this been in my heart for a long time And if you understand, please tell me something When you black, the media make you wonder why [Verse 3] I'm ready to give up my old thoughts I'mma move past what I saw I'mma do what I want and be happy I'm not gon' rob or kill to survive Everything I've seen was a lie I'm not ready to die, I love myself I said... Everything that I've seen was a lie I'm not ready to die, I love myself Break that mental You know we are free now man Break that, uh, mental blockage Don't think too hard, free your mind