Karriem Riggins - Little Chicago Boy lyrics

[Verse] How should I begin? This is the story of a boy named Lonnie Lynn As I said it, the spirits enwhip me He was raised in the belly of the city Chicago, discovered by du Sable A Black Frenchman that I had to mention Extensions of a young man livin' on a low end 47th and Michigan, lackin' a little discipline Know Grandma Mable did the best she could You know how young n***as want a testy hood There he stood, taller than most black boys One of the best ballers out of Illinois College in Ohio, this is like his bio Talks that we had, man, they was never idle He talked about readin' the Quran and the Bible He talked how he smoked dope and sold it for survival He talked about the ancestors, in our lives; they're vital He said y'all n***as love the bang 'cause you tribal Spiral of life, Chicago to Denver Anywhere he went, of attention, he's the center 6'9", big heart, big mind He he spent a lifetime tryin' to be big time He did in a way, he made to the ABA And the things he say on my record When I was a shawty, he bought me "The Message" It was his messages in the life I would step with Didn't see him much, spirits are connected The Father creates it, the son can reflect it His perspective: sometimes seemed crazy His perspective: sometimes seemed brilliant His perspective: somehow it shaped me His perspective: undoubted I feel it He'd walk around in them Air Jordans I gave him I said, "Pops, them from Mike, man, you better save 'em" The fight that he had with cancer was a brave one Took Dr. Sebi's herbs instead of medication Breathing heavy, he talked reparations He said, "Son, we live through our generations" Offspring, coughing, Gene Ammons playing In the background, he was talking, I was praying Our Father, take care of my father As far as he went, may I go farther May our dreams and legacies live through our children Though I can't touch him, I can still feel him [Pops talking] You know the other day I got a phone call. I got a message says pops you been gon from home too long. So I set my bags down and headed to 87th street. I was just back in the neighborhood ya know cruising the same street that I used to cruise in my long black Fleetwood. Listening to the Minister and Dr. King and my beloved brother Malcolm. First thing is see I'm boundless with spiritual energy. I wanna talk about the moral necessities of human justice. The power and the action of God-given dignity. One can not enter the gate if you hate. You gotta take the lead for the rest of the world, 87th is the street of knowledge. The streets of knowledge are all over the world. We got a possibility again of leading the world. Shai my Shai we gon ask you for safe pa**age for the kids to walk to school. Alright, my young homies, we got a mission to finish. We got the unborn that we got to provide the truth for [Tasha Cobbs] I gotta be honest it's so much different without you here But I have no fear I'll see you when get there To that city bright and fair You were all I needed you to be And now I thank you for all you gave to me So, Father I stretch my hands to Thee No other help I know If you withdraw yourself from me Somebody tell me where oh where should I go Father, I stretch my hands to Thee No other help I know If you withdraw yourself from me Tell me where oh where shall I go