Learned my Lesson

[Verse 1: John River]
This is for all my niggas in the struggle
Hey learn your lesson
Taken back to 2010
We was just with our mams
They pull up on the whip
Look a bunch of tall mans
Some niggas had some bats
Some probably had some Gats
My nigga said he saw a knife
So I guess we all ran
Except my nigga Tre
Stayed and entered in the fray
They fucked him in the face
On the ground is where he lay
I came back to the scene
Boy that shit was so [?]
I left my nigga on the block
I guess I wasn't that tough
But that's reality
'Til this day I swear that shit still battle me
Talking all that shit but look that situation saddled me
Supposed to be that man but look that situation rattle me
They run up on your block you supposed to leave them with a casualty, nigga
Well that ain't me talking, I was young I guess that's B.E.T. talking
But understand next time a nigga come for my cream
I lay him flat down before I run from the scene
I learned my lesson

[Hook: Saba John River]
They don't cry
Because it won't be long
Finna get this money and then we come back home
I gotta make it with this rap
I swear I leave the city just to put it on the map

They don't cry
They don't know your pain
Southside nigga they going to know my name
I gotta get up out this trap
Hey fam is only fam then they start to hold you back

[Verse 2: Saba]
Imagine black kids with new [?]
Instead of [?]
How J Dilla die at all
He still supposed to be here looping
And not disease we shooting
Don't no one come here we secluded
Our politicians don't run
Because our race to busy losing
Me I don't point the finger
I just speak up and I ain't even vote this year
Because I'm not much a reader
I can't keep up
I'm a hypocrite
Perhaps my raps are too Utopian
Perhaps my soapbox is a podium
I think my raps are more like holy hymns
Holy hell, never let them down like holy grail
My brother locked up and I ain't posting bail
Probably shy in there and cold as hell
My doctor pull his plug when I was there
Your funeral was throwing daffodils
You used to be Daffy Duck
Simple as fuck but your mental is stuck still
Don't let the negatives make you go up here
No, oh no rebel, child dial 911, I wonder if they'll show
Or if you'll wait by your cloud in heaven
For infinity, for defending me, boy we had the resources they wanted more
I put all of my hope inside a [?]

[Hook]

[Verse 3: John River]
My nigga robbed a store said he tired of being poor
My brother robbed a coat said he tired of being broke
Politicians said it's essential that you vote
They say Miss you got a boat, we can't even stay afloat
It's like you handing us the rope
You used to hand us names
Ironic every time I see a nigga buy a chain
The other day I'm at the school out there talking
Know this teacher looking at me like I still pick cotton
Like I'm still that rotten
It's funny that shit killed me
In the head she probably screaming out O.J guilty
The way she looking at me probably think I'm illiterate
I open up my mouth I know she shocked that I'm articulate
Make sure that you moms eat
I told my nigga you ain't dying for your block
You dying for a block of concrete
Now go out there and earn that blessing
And when they ask you about my name say I learned my lesson
I learned my lesson nigga, hey I learned my lesson nigga
When I make it out the city they going to say that's its the blessing
Ask about me in the streets they tell them, hey tell them I learned my lesson nigga