people today

People today are too focused on material things
Selfishness is a disease and it's killin us human beings
We steady tryna fill in all the holes in our hearts
But we don't know why they're there so we don't kno where to start
Here's a hint: let's go back to the fall of mankind
When we sinned against God and our race became blind
Lost sight of the promised land, left to wallow in despair
All cuz we didn't listen to our Heavenly Parent up there
So since then, we've all been lost and lookin for love
Cuz we fail to feel it comin down from our Father above
The history of the world is full of examples of His grace
But we seek to fulfill our desires rather than seek His face
He created the world and everything in it for our enjoyment
But instead of appreciating it, we're content to destroy it
Pollution, global warming, and holes up in the ozone
As we continue to befoul this planet we call home
And like stray dogs we roam with no sense of purpose for our existence
But since God gave us free will He's forced to respect our resistance
The only way He can come to us is if we make the first step ourselves
But for centuries we've looked for love in the products on store shelves
And nowadays the state of mankind doesn't look any better
It seems like we've been stuck in this moral quicksand forever
We've failed to realize our faults, fix them, and start anew
You blame the rich for our struggles while they blame God or you
And though it's been tough to chew, pride is even harder to swallow
Our leaders can't show us the way cuz they never learned how to follow
Takin us down the wrong path, the world is headed for destruction
But everyone thinks they're right and no one's open to instruction
Self-inflicted wounds keep us from fulfilling our potential
As this rain of misery, pain and sorrow becomes torrential

It's essential that we realize the faults inherent in our society
Cuz though no one is perfect, that's no reason not to try to be
So I try to see the good in others and overlook their shortcomings
Cuz if we fail to support each other we will accomplish nothing
And I've tried to keep hope alive in the face of this bitter sorrow
Now it's time to put pride aside and strive for a better tomorrow
I believe that we can do it if we put our faith in God's plan
But we gotta do it together, cuz shoot I'm only one man

It seems like bein "Fresh" is an obsession these days,
Everybody out here stuntin, just tryna be fly
But man, please lemme know what comes after this phase?
And who gets to decide what "fresh" is and why?
Come holla at me lil homie, can u tell me wut's fresh?
And if you really kno the secret, can u tell me what's next?

For people today the most important thing is appearance
It's social suicide to buy clothes sold on clearance
But this materialistic point of view is false and incomplete
That's why the following is what i say to everyone i meet:
"You try to tell me that being fresh is about what I wear
I’ll tell you bout all the homeless people livin out there
You try to tell me that I need to buy myself some new clothes
I’ll show you families on the streets whose houses got foreclosed
You try to tell me that my wardrobe is cheap, wack, and old news
I’ll show you pictures of my boy who only wears prison hues
Cuz trust me, I once had the same outlook as you do
Avoiding bamas like the plague if they were rockin FUBU
I wouldn't step out of the house if I wasn't lookin fly
My head was full of hot air that had me floatin SO high
Cuz I thought I was THAT GUY, you know exactly what I'm talkin bout
The arrogant, popular dude who never fails to run his mouth
Thinks he's so much better than all the people around him
And that's why fake, materialistic people surround him
Cuz he up with all the new gear, he rock all the new styles
And anybody who don't is hated on and reviled
But I changed because I saw the consequences of my vanity
And the way that my actions had been affectin my family
I realized that my value has nothing to do with objects
Finally started to understand some of these vital concepts
Like the fact that every person on this earth is in my fam
And the fact that God lives inside every woman and man
I found out that my value comes from my virtue and my deeds
And that every kind act takes root and spreads its seeds"

So if you think I should go spend money on new gear
Go to the mall and buy myself useless material possessions
Then obviously your view of the world ain’t clear
You don't realize the beauty of this life that u’ve been blessed with
Cuz homie life is a blessing, open your eyes and take it in
Value don't come from your swagg my dude it comes from Him

poem for my pops

People wonder how and why I could seem so happy
Sayin I should be depressed at the loss of my daddy
But they don’t understand all the things that i do
I’ve learned a lot about death, come let me tell you
They say I should be sad because my father left the earth
But I know his physical death was just his spiritual birth
And I know he left behind all the aches and pains of the flesh
So why should I be sad when my father has been blessed?
He’s cast off and forgotten all that did him ill here
No longer does he have any pain, worry, or fear
Just an eternity to spend with his Heavenly Caretaker
So I’m elated that he’s now on his way to meet his Maker
Cuz my father fought the good fight in his time on earth
He endured so much pain, fought through so much hurt
So his ascension to the afterlife is bought and paid for
Now he gets to do for eternity what he was made for
Preach and lift up those who were less fortunate than he
Those who lived their lives shackled while my father was free
Cuz there are plenty of dead souls, as there are living,
Who don’t know to praise their Father in thanksgiving
But now my dad has been restored to his full vigor and youth
And I’m sure God will send him to start teaching the truth
Cuz his passion on earth was loving and serving others
He saw every woman as his sister, every man as his brother
And despite all of the hardships he had to persevere through
He was always looking for a troubled soul to lend an ear to
Cuz though he loved to talk, he was more than able to listen
Always had advice to give cuz the Word of God was with him
And one of my regrets is that I didn’t listen enough
Always thought my stupid daddy just talked too much
But as I grew older and wiser, though I’m still so young and dumb
I realized how much he is responsible for the man I’ve become
How much I’ve learned from the lectures he loved to give
And how grateful I am that I still have time to live
And to learn all the lessons that he tried to teach me
Cuz all along my father was just trying to reach me
And though I didn’t always listen to him when he was talking
I use the words I did hear to guide me on this path I’m walking
And I have him and my mother to thank for all of my success
And to him and my mother I apologize for causing so much stress
But Dad, I hope as you look down you know that your words did get through
And I hope you know that those you touched on earth will never forget you
I love you Dad and I know you’re listening, even when I don’t talk loud
So from now on, I walk this earth intent on making you and God proud
And I’ll live by the wisdom in the messages you’ve given to me
And try to let your love, kindness, and care shine through me
And I know you’ll never leave me, so I refuse to say goodbye
Just remember, when u get There, mom said be happy and fly.