Can you see what I'm seeing
Or are you distracted by the poverty-stricken streets of deep depression that we in?
I see survivors of the worst conditions to be in
You see deceit and the demons, the the death and the grieving
No place to raise a seed in
But the rose still grow through the crack left in the cement
Just as pleasant as Eden, where wonder succeed in greeting
Oppression's the reason people unite
Even give they life expressing what they believe in

Hang on close to the real ones
Hold 'em up high, ride 'til we die
Love is the message

Look, black on black, pockets fat
Hopping out the seven-strap
Walk up to the club, don't pat me down, they just pat my back (uh)
All my niggas got chains on and we thick as fuck
Add a dress code, but brush the dough 'cause we don't give a fuck (uh-huh)
Standing on the couch, just popping bottles, smoking weed
When you see them hoes flocking then that's how you know it's me
I got power in these streets
Big balls, bots, and briefs
Like Agadir, P-R-E-Zs and these expensive-ass jeans
Yeah, and I'ma beast off in them sheets
So if I pull then I'm gon' squeeze
As soon as I come then I'm gon' leave
As soon as I'm done then I'm gon' be
Back on my grind, back on these beats
'Cause I could never be a nigga that had it
Lost it, and end up back in the streets
Nuh-uh, so it's all money until I'm R.I.p
And in my city, nigga, I am he
And we are the O-N-E-S
We bang hard like the drums on the beat
Nip Hussle (ay, let's go)
Keep your ear to the street, nigga

Hang on close to the real ones
Tomorrow don't make no promises (promises, no)
Showing them 'til the day comes
Hold 'em up high, ride 'til we die
Love is the message

Block music, tennis shoes, and the war
One false move, that's an interview with the Lord
The fly general, screw face, scriber of the tablets
What's a piece of metal to a magnet?
What's puppy love to a marriage?
What's a charm to a chain of medallions?
What's a scammer to a hustler up for the challenge?
Another cup for you to pour me in
I put the archetype on display inside the auditorium
This right here is recorded history
You got the God, Nipsey, Rakim, and Planet Asia off the whiskey
Tipsy on this dead culture, which is my way of life
I live it then unite in a state of extortion
Head on the swivel, my enemies loco
But I was blessed with the same power as Simeon Toko
The hip-hop Sheikh Amadou Bamba
And, yo, the trinity is me, my mother, and my father regardless (hang on)

Hang on close to the real ones
Tomorrow don't make no promises (promises, no)
Showing them 'til the day comes (you gotta show them)
Hold 'em up high, ride 'til we die (yeah)
Love is the message (look)

These affirmations, I'm the dragon slayer
Crawling out the dragon's lair, unscathed, web3
I don't sell my music for no chump change
One song, moving six figures off of one day
What I need a record label for? I'm on the front page
Paid in full, rock the godfather of the wavy flow
Grenade, blaze, radio for change, blaze, stay the flow (yo)
Waiting in the water, drown eternally, parade the coast (yeah)
Back 'em down and play the post (look)
Get back in town and fade alone (whoop)
When it come to the message (c'mon)
Stress it, hip-hop, my love language (yeah)
All that for one message (one)
Don't blink for one second (whoop)
I'm gone where I'm headed (whoop)
Not a fader, the long was present (whoop)
Strong 'cause I'm going where they come
I was raised up a phase, never calm, I'm a weapon
I belong with the legends
I wrote your favorite rapper verse
But the reference was more authentic (yeah)
Ain't about the mentions, I told you, it's 'bout the message (message)
Drop my daughter in the classroom and hop on a plane
Give her a kiss, tell her I love her and I'll be back again
It's Louis

Hang on close to the real ones
Tomorrow don't make no promises (oh, promises, no)
Showing them 'til the day comes
Hold 'em up high, ride 'til we die
Love is the message

One time for the real ones
Keep your head up high
It's for the ones who didn't make it
We gon' blaze all night
Can't show no love no more
These streets ain't safe for you and me
Thank God we blessed one more
Thank God we blessed one more

Hang on close to the real ones (look up in the sky)
Tomorrow don't make no promises (we are two, I am the one)
Showing them 'til the day comes (look up in the sky)
Hold 'em up high, ride 'til we die (we are two, I am the one)
Love is the message

If I wasn't Snoop Dogg, I wouldn't mind being Rakim