Shallow Days Lyrics - Nia - Blackalicious

Time and time, a brother asks why 

The rhyme is not laced with a gangsta touch 

I said "Simply because I don't live that way 

Still kickin' them rhymes rugged and rough" 

"But that won't sell, 

cause you gotta keep it real 

so that we can feel 

where you're coming from 

Because these streets is ill so if you ain't 

killing niggas in rhymes 

your whole sound's just bubble gum" 

I said "I won't contribute to genocide; 

I'd rather try to cultivate an inner side 

and try to evolve the frustrated ghetto mind 

The devil and his army never been a friend of mine" 

"But niggas don't wanna hear that shit" said the brother 

Who was obviously totally misled and yelled out 

"murder murder, kill, murder" instilled in the influential parts 

Of our kids' heads 

Shallow days, you never wanna 

Let a brother be a brother 

Fully inner to the outer 

Caught up, and all them hollow nights 

Can't escape cause everywhere that I look 

People frontin, and it just ain't right 

I said "Don't you know the powers that be 

are using people as pawns, devouring we 

until they see us all gone and outta the scene" 

And as I passed the chronic, he said "look at where I be, 

I tried to get a job for real, 

But all my homies hit licks, and rob and steal 

and keep fat pockets caught in a rut to catch ground 

this way's in, plus who could you trust?" 

I said "I'm all about protecting mine, 

but neglecting minds be getting left behind. 

Why don't you change your environment?" 

He said "This is all I know, 

plus my fam's all that I got, I can't go" 

I said "You gotta make it for the fam" 

"Damn," he said "I didn't make the ghetto, 

The ghetto made the man" 

I said "You're more than just that," 

Shook his hand, said "Damn, you gotta find a way 

To break the devil's master plan, peace" 

The word peace is just an expression 

Used to say bye when it's time to jet 

And them red black and green medallions 

Was all just part of the trend, I guess 

Hardly ever see them around brothers' necks no more 

Instead of that gold, gats 

Inspiring gangstas and macks 

Who at the young age of four 

Be seeing more drama than war veterans 

Instead of learning God's laws 

And hip-hop is a voice who we enlist at 

To express how we be feeling about this and that 

But music does reflect life 

And kids look up to what you're portraying 

And mimic what you act like 

It's time for a new day 

An era in rap, conscious styles, 

Makin' them aware of the happenings 

But their ears seem more steered towards 

Self-annihilation so many might laugh 

And write this off, like I'm out here just 

Blowing wind, maybe label us soft or unreal, 

Something they can't feel, while they keep yellin 

Murder murder murder, kill kill kill