Escape - Blackalicious

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)