Blackalicious, Ledisi, Larry Saunders - Black Diamonds and Pearls lyrics

"I'm just gonna read you a little bit of?:
'I like to start off by saying that
Prison is truly a living hell
It is a place where love and
Compassion are looked upon as weaknesses
And violence and brutality are worn
Like a medal of honor
Prison is a tedious task of survival that
Could shatter your dreams and ambition
The California Department of
Corrections ISN'T designed
To help you rehabilitate yourself
Or even help you
To become a productive law-abiding citizen'"

Keep on, keep goin', march on, move on
Keep blowin' it up
Keep ON, keep goin', march on, move on
Stay strong, keep goin', keep, blowin' it up
KEEP ON, keep goin', march on, move on
Keep blowin' it up, yeaaaah


Blowin' it up, yeaaah

Young leaders, little unsung heroes
You can run some meters
Be a hoop or a track star
School teacher, scientist, or even
Own your very own street
Maybe even be a rap star
Times witcha, you could change whole pictures
Make a better situation
For your mother and yo' big mama
Make dollars, own a ride and a house
Get it right, use your powers
Getting' everything you did want
Then the youth say, "Look at where I'm at now
Straight poverty, death is in my backyard
Dope dealers, get fifty G's a pack
While my teacher don't really give a
Damn about a black child!
The grown folks say, 'tell the truth'
Then act foul say 'no' to drugs
Hidin' all they crack vials
And talk all about peace and love and God
But then why are we at war
Killin' people in Iraq now?"

Keep on, keep goin', march on, move on
Keep blowin' it up
Keep ON, keep goin', march on, move on
Stay strong, keep goin', keep, blowin' it up
KEEP ON, keep goin', march on, move on
Keep blowin' it up, yeaaaah
Blowin' it up, yeaaah

Young sista had a child
Still young herself now
And it's others all around screamin' turmoil
Ain't done wit' school
How are you gonna make it now?
Life is gonna be a little harder for you girl
Some how, she sees the face of a child
And on her face is a smile
And now it's brighter up in her world
And makes her stronger now
She's gotta carry on
And be a very good mama, this is life
Let it unfurl
And she's doin' it, mother of the earth now
Found a blessin' in the struggle
Through her first child
Kept goin', kept growin', kept flowin'
Kept strivin'
Kept knowin' God would make a way somehow
Live yo' life, girl
Show 'em how it's done now i believe in you
So keep it movin' 'til the sun's down
Never let them hold you back
From anything you want now
Life is but a ride
So find the treasures that are unfound

Keep on, keep goin', march on, move on
Keep blowin' it up
Keep ON, keep goin', march on, move on
Stay strong, keep goin', keep, blowin' it up
KEEP ON, keep goin', march on, move on
Keep blowin' it up, yeaaaah
Blowin' it up, yeaaah

Young brotha, takin' care of his mother
Makin' bread, gotta hustle
Cause the table's lookin' thin now
Stress ridden as he walks his little sister
To her preschool
Which is up the road just a few miles
Back at the house, his mom seeks magic
Through the pipe smoke travelin' through her
Lungs out and back down
Worst part that breaks the young man's heart
Is he's the one that's supplyin' it
He feels like he's trapped now
Cause every time he says, "No"
Then she'll spaz out
Start shakin', "Mama, please
Where is dad now?!"
Guess he's gotta be the home's only man now
Left the life alone and gotta
Whole other plan now
Stacked enough to put her in a rehab found
Work and got a GED
His sister's in his hands now
And with support from other
Members in this fam
Gonna make it out this struggle
Young people, here's your chance, come on!

Keep on, keep goin', march on, move on
Keep blowin' it up
Keep ON, keep goin', march on, move on
Stay strong, keep goin', keep, blowin' it up
KEEP ON, keep goin', march on, move on
Keep blowin' it up, yeaaaah
Blowin' it up, yeaaah
Black diamonds and PEARLS