All My People Ready

You don’t wanna test me out today because I’m not the one
It’s a little bit more visible to you but it’s been goin’ on
Between survivin’ for tomorrow and arrivin’ for a legacy
They got my back against the wall, but let me tell ya no I’m not alone
All my people ready
All my people ready
All my people ready
All my people ready
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These paraprofessionals the only ones I’m lettin’ know
Cos ain’ t nobody’s damn business what the doctor diagnosed.
High flyer even though I’m lyin’ low,
Flash my fangs and these kids skate like Adam Banks cryin’ wolf.
They wanna bleed me, they say I gotta mean streak,
Cos ain’t a damn thing between me and goin’ teen beast.
The means to leave and the means to lead
Is a socio economic tragedy I don’t need to read

Lately the homeroom’s been feelin’ like a cold noose
Tightenin’ weekly my teacher goes through the motions
I know she underpaid and overworked like most schools
And settles for old books instead of no tools, but
Park or halfpipe, the wheels never land right
It’s a system that ya can’t fight, workin’ from the inside
She gets wired, then gets tired
Although the coffee gives life,
A vivrant birght, but short-lived life

The time is killin’ her I seen her cry a little bit
And every time I give a shit, feels like I die a little bit
Emotions: I don’t care to know them
I just let’em flow through me with not discretion for the moment.
Y’see my story line bends outside the classroom arc
Been slangin’ keys since the second seize of Kingdom Hearts
The harmonies in the hallway, usually ring all day
Between the student and staff- Yeah, you could hear’em sing
-
You don’t wanna test me out today because I’m not the one
It’s a little bit more visible to you but it’s been goin’ on
Between survivin’ for tomorrow and arrivin’ for a legacy
They got my back against the wall, but let me tell ya no I’m not alone
All my people ready
All my people ready
All my people ready
All my people ready
-
She lookin’ up my files, and can tell no parent was there
Not a drop of royal blood and I’m still the apparent heir
Teacher asks if I’m listenin’. Can’t say she bein’ unfair,
Looked in the mirror this morning, could tell I was barely there.
Pincipal Sherman determined I don’t end up in jail
And if that’s the bar they settin’ for the collective of other black males
Success can’t be addressed on a dominant-culture scale
They got me in a white boat tryin’ to float with a white sail

Teachin’ peaceful protest in a country that’s declared
Open season on black bodies, so peace don’t appeal
To this young mind, listenin’ to black thought
Standin’ up and speakin’ truth got mistook for backtalk
The stress compounds and we get wrapped up
In what’s least important, and what’s important gets detached from
the conversation. But we gon’ see it through.
We harmonizin’ in hallways singin’ and speakin’ truth like
-
You don’t wanna test me out today because I’m not the one
It’s a little bit more visible to you but it’s been goin’ on
Between survivin’ for tomorrow and arrivin’ for a legacy
They got my back against the wall, but let me tell ya no I’m not alone
All my people ready
All my people ready
All my people ready
All my people ready