4TH OF JULY IN PHILLY

Fourth of July.

I call my brothers, call my cousin, making sure they alive.

I don't even know who got hit up, I'm just praying that they survive.

They shooting right in front of these babies, swear that something ain't right. Something ain't right.

They said these firecrackers ain't the only thing got lit up.

My city all at war, if you in the way you gon' get hit up.

Gotta watch your body, can't be lacking when you leaving the club. Several of us. Hey, hey.

Crazy part about it, I was supposed to be there that night, it could've been me.

When I got home, saw the news, I fell to my knees and I thank God.

I was thinking rest in peace, hope P and B, my city needs somethin'. Oh, my city needs something. Hey.

I'm pushing peace, I'm just a product of these streets. I ain't no gangsta, I'm just me. I found a way out for my family,

I'm just showing what you can be.

It's been a long, it's been a long time coming.

But change still ain't come.

It's been a long, long, long, long, long, long, long time.

-But change still ain't come. -Fourth of July.

Shit, we was popping M-80s, this shit got crazy, now we running round off.

40s and 9s.

My young boy Brazy, I can't save him, they tried playing him, he just ran off like he gon' get a bond. I see water in his eyes.

I don't tell him like I told him to die. I taught youngin how to hustle, I taught shorty to ride.

Used to be a firecracker, I taught shorty to cry.

Till them shots fired, sound like it's fireworks, till we heard the sirens.

Praying every night, I don't catch the murder virus. Kill my brother, kill your brother too, have a murder riot.

Do a ritual with them switches, tell 'em burn the fire.

He had caught too many cases, so he wore a wire. Put a steel all on his statement, that ain't real quiet.

You know beefing with the chases, you getting real tired.

Getting real paper, fuck how they feel about us. We give 'em fireworks, know North Side gon' kill 'bout me.

We let off fireworks, know South Side gon' drill 'bout me.

I wanna stop the violence, if I slip, niggas gon' still pop me. Damn.

To them streets, I pledge allegiance, give it hella heathens. It was really hella deceiving, I ain't never see it.

We ain't beefing, we doing all this really every season.

'Cause when you hear them fireworks, you ain't never leaving. Light us.

Fourth of July.

I call my brothers, call my cousin, making sure they alive.

I don't even know who got hit up, I'm just praying that they survive.

They shooting right in front of these babies, swear that something ain't right. Something ain't right.

They said these firecrackers ain't the only thing got lit up.

My city all at war, if you in the way you gon' get hit up.

Gotta watch your body, can't be lacking when you leaving the club. Several of us.

It's been a long, long, long, long, long, long, long time.

But change still ain't come.