Lyrics Escape - Blackalicious

Escape

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
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
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
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
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
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)