Blackalicious — Escape

[Verse 1: Gift of Gab] Where he came up at it was like kill or die People with guns packed livin' that iller life Where poverty was rampant bloody murder in the night And people striving some would, others wouldn't win the fight Cause see this one dude lived on the other side of town A big house, father and mother tried To give him everything he wanted, things that others tried To have and wanted to obtain they taught the brother right From wrong around then, crack epidemic hit The brothers sellin' drugs is who the ladies kicked it with It seems they have the most respect as well as dividends He got out of going to school so he could get it in [Hook] Escape from the block, get out, get away Escape from the block, constant mental elevation Escape from the block, create your situation Escape from the block, and make a better day [Verse 2: Gift of Gab] Now as some time pass He's in and out the pen He's had a few kids, still isn't sinkin' in He's doing lots of Oxycontin and some Vicodin Upon returning to the block to live that life again It's full of young guns he used to get respect But now he's turning 30 and he's an official wreck His baby mother hardly ever lets him see his kids His whole crew he grew up with is dead or doing bids Some moved away far, but still he bangs his block His family members closest to him tell him change his spot Of residency get on out and let your life unfurl See you ain't ever really trapped 'cause we live in a world But he's a street dude livin' by street rules He'd rather die reppin' his block than ever be through Being respected as an OG someone no one dares To cross but what he doesn't realize is no one cares [Hook] Escape from the block, get out, get away Escape from the block, constant mental elevation Escape from the block, create your situation Escape from the block, and make a better day [Verse 3:Gift of Gab] So many young cats that wanna rep the streets Ain't even from that I wish this shit would cease How many people that you know retiring from hustling? How many grown men over 30 that are doing nothing? See back in high school it was the thing to be and Instead of livin' like a nerd but hey the things you see in The past ain't nothing like the future now the nerd is ballin' And the only thing you got is lint inside your wallet Now as respect goes think of a different plan Instead of gangsta I would rather be a grown man Because a man handles his business building better days And a gangsta only ends up in a jail or grave [Hook] Escape from the block, get out, get away Escape from the block, constant mental elevation Escape from the block, create your situation Escape from the block, and make a better day (Part Two: Instrumental change) [Sample]