Music Video

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Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
Ice Cube
Ice Cube
Vocals
William DeVaughn
William DeVaughn
Sampled Artist
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
O'Shea Jackson
O'Shea Jackson
Songwriter
Lamar Dupre Calhoun
Lamar Dupre Calhoun
Songwriter
William DeVaughn
William DeVaughn
Songwriter
David Lopez
David Lopez
Songwriter
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Brian Gardner
Brian Gardner
Mastering Engineer
David "Dizmix" Lopez
David "Dizmix" Lopez
Mixing Engineer
Lamar Dupre Calhoun
Lamar Dupre Calhoun
Producer

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Now is the time
Come on, y'all
[Verse 2]
Stand tall, live your life to the limit
'Cause haterism seem like a fucking epidemic
And look at Ice Cube, I ain't no gimmick
I'm straight from the hood, I got to represent it
Now, every day I think about my color
And all the crazy shit we do to one another
I ain't your blood brother, but I'm your cuz, brother
Let's take it back to the love and how it was, brother
If not, we gon' pull these triggers
Show the world we deserve to be called ****
I make a fuckup, like Don Imus
Bow on his knees and call me your highness
You can too, you got the power to
Don't let this motherfuckin' system devour you
I won't pretend or act like I'm knowin' you
But check it out, I understand what you goin' through
[Verse 3]
But remember, brothers and sisters
You can still stand tall
Just be thankful
For what you got
[Verse 4]
I know what y'all motherfuckers thinking
Here comes another rapper with a song about hope
All you wanna hear is a song about dope
And how a **** got mo' money than the Pope
But he'll never tell you when he drop the soap
No, Ice Cube is here to drop you a note
'Cause some of our folks used to hang from ropes
And some of our people used to hang from trees
Now the only thing hangin' muhfucka is deez
So, get your mind right and I'ma rhyme right
Fuck the limelight and a blind dyke
I'm the sunlight, too bright to look
When it's all said and done I should write the book
You too cool for school, too old to know?
Get your ass off the grassroots and let 'em grow
I understand, it ain't no love lost
But little kids, it ain't no Santa Claus
[Verse 5]
But remember, brothers and sisters
You can still stand tall (Stand up)
Just be thankful (Yeah)
For what you got (For real)
[Verse 6]
I was born in the mud, but I came out clean
That's till the government tried to intervene
Tried to lock me up when I was only 19
Don't never, ever, ever let 'em kill your dream
I make shit raw that piss off the law
If you want some fake shit, turn this off
If you want some realness, I know you can feel this
Maybe we can heal this just like an illness
Black on black, I got your back
People don't think that we know how to act
Just because our neighborhood is filled with crack
And the CIA won't take it back
Never on top, always on the bottom
Never put your trust in Hillary Rodham
'Cause I can tell you now, it's gon' turn out rotten
Keep on pushin', get 'em till we got 'em
[Verse 7]
But remember, brothers and sisters
You can still stand tall (Stand up)
Just be thankful (For real)
For what you got
[Verse 8]
Raise your hand if you sick of this bullshit
In the belly of the evil empire
Written by: David Lopez, Lamar Dupre Calhoun, O'Shea Jackson, William DeVaughn
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