American Prerequisite ft. Gage Navarro Lyrics

I just got off of the phone, with my bro from back home

He relocated to Texas where they fill they pockets with stones

Just 2 kids and his girl, he can't find him a good job

Seem like the system tryna force him into dealing or robbin

But it's been 6 years, since he paid for his crimes

He lost his Pops a few years ago and he just lost his Moms

We chopped it up about politricks and the game that we in

This game of life in America with a slim chance to win

But when the going gets tough then the tough get going

Gotta plot and strategize, take advantage of the moment

Yeah this system ain't shit, til we on the same page

If Malcolm X left his mark, my brotha can do the same

And I've been in

(I've been in)

I've been in these dark times, I wish I could get out

And we've been in

(We've been in)

We've been living in these dark times, no one helping me now

I pray,

(And I pray)

I'm praying that the time's gonna come and we're gonna find a way

(I-ahhh)

I pray, I'm praying that America's gonna hear me today

Imagine life from the gutter compared to life at the top

You got Ted from the burbs, you got Tyreke off the block

They both convicted of trafficking, one with H, one with lean

In spite of solids and liquids they pretty much the same thing

Now Ted got out a bit early, Tyreke served his whole bid

Ted got hired cos the GM's his buddy since they was kids

After 18 applications, Reke finally got an interview

But the background check came back, take a guess on who is getting screwed

27% of ex-cons go unhired

67% return to the gates with barbed wire That's the first 3 years, 76 return after 5 They don't rehab, they worsen em, making they prisons thrive

Now some shit just circumstantial, not everybody is perfect

But at least you can give niggas a chance to prove that they worth it

When you dismiss em you perpetuate the same cycles

Which can drive the most sane of us psycho

And I've been in

(I've been in)

I've been in these dark times, I wish I could get out

And we've been in

(We've been in)

We've been living in these dark times, no one helping me now

I pray,

(And I pray)

I'm praying that the time's gonna come and we're gonna find a way

(I-ahhh)

I pray, I'm praying that America's gonna hear me today