Imitation of Life

The imitation of life Cause nothing around us is really what it is Social media tell us how to govern The life we live Dirty cops and politicians, this shit is wicked Depression running rampant, can't function of you ain't lifted I know I'm gifted It used to be I rapped for personal gain Now I just wanna see our children's situation change I can't lie I mean, I'd love a bigger house and a car The notoriety of being a star But can I sleep peacefully knowing what's on The other side of the door? Cause my people out here fighting a war And we're losing cause we're killing each other And not the enemy Some choose to move to a safer vicinity But for the ones who can't, we dying like every day Just because we got melanin I guess it's just the price that we pay So I take all these thoughts, manifest it, and write Swear to God, we're living the imitation of life I don't think of myself as spiritual or religious I've seen hypocrisy on both sides and it's ridiculous For the time being, I'll be all about my green Talking digits, gotta eat, so I guess that makes me holistic Don't mistake me for ignorant I know more than a little bit I know that I could never shake the hand of the 10 percent I know there's sinister crackers controlling the population I know that one day my people will rule Over every nation I know some white folks that's cooler than a lot of you niggas People like Meghann and John, Chris, and my girl Linda I know when it hits the fan then I gotta pick a side I know that some of them leaders you worship Ain't down to ride I know a lot of people gon' say that I'm selling out Cause I ain't with that fake "woke" shit That comes out your mouth I know that one day that I'ma get it right And if you didn't know, then you living The imitation of life And I know they gon call me an old head Or how I'm just repeating what Cole said But it's like the current state of rap is a mess Sure you got the underground But ain't a whole lot of lyricist left It's like a handful with any real major success And a couple OGs who need to give it a rest But the kids make it hard, show the culture no regard Nowadays you ain't gotta put no effort in your bars Just shoot a video with some pretty girls and some cars A couple ARs just to prove that you hard Talent is bare minimum, but you stay on the path You gon get a major bag, I promise that you'll go far Now this is tried and true, cause in a year or 2 They'll be on to something new and they ain't thinking bout you I ain't preaching or judging, but these are just the things that I write While these lil niggas live the imitation of life