Smoke From Fire

Still I rise, still I rise

Still I rise, still

Been hearin' a lot of Too High to Riot

They study me like recitals

I'm flattered, I am an idol

That mean I am inspirin' growth, I am beside myself

Spirit has lifted the host

Nigga, this isn't a boast, I have been given the most

Go through my body of work (mmm)

That's a lot of hours, fears, pride, insomnia workin'

That's true, they might see the dirt, true, they gon' see the work too

Don't forget to look up at the stars, my boy

Niggas washed, I can help you with them bars, my boy

Just hit up OakShades, send the check, heard?

I'm the best out, wanna be the best heard

Put my life in a song, tryna get heard

Just to die a hundred times like Westworld, damn

I got my city on my shoulders (oh)

I gotta work, work, work (oh)

Don't want no pity, I'm a soldier (oh)

I gotta work, work, work (oh)

I got my city on my shoulders

I gotta work, work, work

Don't want no pity, I'm a soldier

I gotta work, work...

Still I rise, still I rise

Still I rise, still

And kickin' down doors when they hold keys

And put 'em in places we won't reach

Weak niggas fallin' for the okie

'Cause there ain't no place that we won't reach

Hate your own skin and put on bleach

Hard not to feel pity for those people

Heavy the world with its bold evils

I wish you could unsee

I look at the magazine cover

But they don't have this color

Would you still call me a thug if I ain't have this color?

That shit rhetorical, boy, please

Lesson we learned from like Rhodesia

'Cause black in this world never known peace

Closest we came was a cold breeze on a plantation

For the OGs, we demand payment

Fuck the police, get no damn statement

Lawyer money in my bank statement, yeah

Hangin' with killers, parolees