Keep Ya Head Up

Keep Ya Head Up


"A little somethin for my godson Elijah and a little boy named
Corin..."


[Verse One:]

"Some say the blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice,
I say the darker the flesh, then the deeper the roots,
I give a holler to my sisters on welfare,
Tupac cares, and don't nobody else care,
And uhh, I know they like to beat ya down a lot,
When you come around the block, brothas clown a lot,
But please, don't cry, dry your eyes, never let up,
Forgive, but don't forget, girl - keep your head up,
And when he tells you you ain't nuttin, don't believe him,
And if he can't learn to love you, you should leave him,
Cause sista you don't need him,
And I ain't tryin to gas ya up, I just call 'em how I see em,
You know it makes me unhappy (what's that?)
When brothas make babies, and leave a young mother to be a pappy,
And since we all came, from a woman,
Got our name from a woman, and our game from a, woman,
I wonder why we take, from our women,
Why we rape our women, do we hate our, women?
I think it's time to kill, for our women,
Time to heal, our women, be real, to our women,
And if we don't, we'll have a race of babies,
That will hate the ladies, that make the babies,
And since a man can't make one,
He has no right to tell a woman, when and where to create one,
So will the real men get up?
I know you're fed up ladies, but keep your head up..."


[Chorus]

"Keep ya head up,
Ooooh child things are gonna get easier...
Ooooh child things'll get brighter..."

[2x]


[Verse Two:]

"Ayo,
I remember Marvin Gaye, used to sing ta me,
He had me feelin like black, was tha thing to be,
And suddenly, tha ghetto didn't seem so tough,
And though we had it rough, we always had enough,
I huffed and puffed about my curfew, and broke the rules,
Ran with the local crew, and had a smoke or two,
I realize momma really paid the price,
She nearly gave her life, to raise me right,
And all I had ta give her was my pipe dream,
Of how I'd rock the mic, and make it to tha bright screen,
I'm tryin to make a dollar out of fifteen cents,
It's hard to be legit, and still pay tha rent,
And in the end it seems I'm headin for tha pen',
I try and find my friends,
But, they' blowin' in the wind,
Last night, my buddy lost his whole family,
It's gonna take the man in me, to conquer this insanity,
It seems tha rain'll never let up,
I try to keep my head up, and still keep from gettin wet up,
You know it's funny, when it rains it pours,
They got money for wars, but can't feed the poor,
Say there ain't no hope for the youth, and the truth is,
It ain't no hope for tha future,
And then they wonder why we crazy,
I blame my mother, for turning my brother, into a crack baby,
We ain't meant to survive, cause it's a setup,
And even though you're fed up,
Huh, ya got to keep your head up..."


[Chorus]

"Keep ya head up,
Ooooh child things are gonna get easier...
Ooooh child things'll get brighter..."

[2x]


[Verse Three:]

"And uhh,
To all the ladies havin babies, on they' own,
I know it's kinda rough, and you're feelin all alone,
Daddy's long gone, and he left you by ya lonesome,
Thank the Lord, for my kids, even if nobody else want 'em,
Cause I think we can make it, in fact, I'm sure,
And if you fall, stand tall, and comeback for more,
Cause ain't nuttin worse than when your son,
Wants to know why his daddy, don't love him no mo',
You can't complain, you was dealt this,
Hell of a hand without a man, feelin helpless,
Because there's too many things for you to deal with,
Dying inside, but outside, you're looking fearless,
While tears, is rollin' down your cheeks,
Ya steady hopin things don't all fall, this week,
Cause if it did, you couldn't take it, and don't blame me,
I was given this world, I didn't make it,
And now my son's getten older, and older,
And cold,
From havin' the world, on his shoulders,
While the rich kids is drivin Benz,
I'm still tryin to hold on, to survivin' friends,
And it's crazy,
It seems it'll never let up,
But, please...
You got to keep your head up."


- 2Pac, "Keep Ya Head Up"







'The 2Pac Collection Vol. 1 (Original Samples)'

(Vinyl LP Double Comp. Disco/ Funk/ Jazz/ Soul)


1. Zapp - 'Be Alright' (Used For 'Keep Ya Head Up') -

2. Five Stairsteps - 'Ooh Child' (Used For 'Keep Ya Head Up') -

3. Quincy Jones - 'Body Heat' (Used For 'How Do You Want It') -
4. DeBarge - 'A Dream' (Used For 'I Ain't Mad At Ya') -
5. Cameo - 'Candy' (Used For 'All About You') -
6. Joe Sample - 'In All My Wildest Dreams' (Used For 'Dear Mama') -
7. Dennis Edwards - 'Don't Look Any Further' (Used For 'Hit Em Up') -
8. Joe Cocker - 'Woman To Woman' (Used For 'California Love') -
9. Ronnie Hudson - 'West Coast Poplock (Used For 'California Love') -
10. Roger Troutman - 'So Ruff, So Tuff' (Used For 'California Love') -
11. B. Hornsby - 'The Way It Is' (Used For 'Changes') -
12. Strafe - 'Set It Off' (Used For 'Changes') -
13. Herbie Hancock - 'Fat Mama' (Used For 'If My Homey Calls') -
14. Linda Clifford - 'Never Gonna Stop' (Used For 'All Eyez On Me') -
15. The Bar Kays - 'Holy Ghost' (Used For 'Trapped') -
16. The J.B.S. - 'The Spank' (Used For 'Trapped') -
17. Zapp - 'Computer Love' (Used For 'Temptations') -
18. Sly & The Family Stone - 'Sing A Simple Song' (Used For 'Temptations') -
19. Minnie Ripperton - 'Inside My Love' (Used For 'Me Against The World') -
20. Stevie Wonder - 'That Girl' (Used For 'So Many Tears') -
21. The O'Jays - 'Brandy' (Used For 'Life Goes On') -
22. Funkadelic - 'Get Off Your Ass & Jam' (Used For 'Holla If You Hear Me') -
23. Peoples choice - 'Do It Anyway You Wanna' (Used For 'Holla If You Hear Me') -
24. Zapp - 'I Can Make You Dance' (Used For 'I Get Around') -
25. The Sign - 'The Ladder' (Used For 'I Get Around') -
26. Zapp - 'Dance Floor' (Used For 'Wanted Dead Or Alive') -
27. Kool & The Gang - 'Winter Sadness' (Used For 'Picture Me Rollin') -
28. The O'Jays - 'Cry Together' (Used For 'Pour Out A Little Liquor')


SOURCE - http://www.undergroundhiphop.com/store/detail.asp?UPC=SB9816LP







BONUS: Courtesy of The Monk on The Couch...


>Here is a smidgen of the info previously mentioned.
>Enjoy,
>
>http://my.webmd.com/content/Article/85/98753.htm?pagenumber=3

>What to Wear for Your Period
>
>In the early 1990s, women began to be much more aware of products that
>harmed the environment. Menstrual products became the focus of much debate
>when it was learned that plastic tampon applicators are commonly washed up
>on beaches all over North America because the plastic does not break down
>in sewage treatment plants. (Many women flush them even though they are
>meant to be disposed of in the garbage, which just means more garbage.)
>
>Green Periods
>
>Reducing "period trash" can mean two things: reducing back-end garbage or
>improving front-end cleanliness,
>Green menstrual products are also safer for women… and…"clean and white" so
>we feel psychologically cleaner around our periods… There is also the new
>menstrual cup, which is shaped like a small diaphragm that sits just under
>your cervix (no applicator or creams necessary) and catches the flow. The
>Keeper is a cup that you remove and wash.
>
>What You Ought to Know About Bleached Tampons
>
>Women use a lot of tampons… as many as 24,360 tampons in her lifetime… The
>main concern over tampons is the bleaching of the product, which produces
>dioxin, a chemical the Environmental Protection Agency and the
>International Agency for Research on Cancer say probably cause cancer.
>
>What About Asbestos?
>
>Some women's groups have published that U.S. tampon manufacturers add
>asbestos to their products to promote excessive menstrual bleeding in order
>to sell more tampons. This isn't that crazy a claim, considering that the
>tobacco industry added substances to cigarettes to make them more
>addictive.
>
>Who Regulates Tampons?
>
>Tampons are considered medical devices and as such should be regularly
>assessed, tested, and monitored as vigorously as bandages or heart valves.
>But they're not.

The U.S. government has determined that the FDA has not
>adequately investigated the safety of tampons because of the FDA's reliance
>on safety data provided by the tampon manufacturers rather than independent
>peer-reviewed scientific studies on the safety of the products. And tampon
>manufacturers do not make their data available to the public… other
>problems tampons can cause… lead to microulcerations and infection… and
>embed pieces into the vaginal tissue.

>
>Tampon Hygiene Rules
>
>Many women with extremely heavy flows are in the habit of using more than
>one tampon at the same time. If you're among them, get out of the habit…
>
>For Irregular Cycles
>
>First, it's been found that both regular orgasms (through self- or
>partnered stimulation) and pelvic floor exercises can help maintain regular
>periods.
>
>Natural Ways to Deal with Menstrual and Vaginal Odor
>
>…for vaginal odor, sit in a tub! Here are the best oils to have… just use
>them as single "shots" in the tub…
>• Lavender: This is the most useful oil to have on hand as it not only
>nourishes the female reproductive system and improves vaginal health, but
>it is also a natural antidepressant and sleep aid.
>• Geranium: This also nourishes the female reproductive system and has a
>strong floral scent.
>• Ylang-ylang: This nourishes the female system and acts as an
>antidepressant as well as an aphrodisiac! (Try it, you'll like it.)
>• Rose: This nourishes the female system and also acts as an
>antidepressant.
>
>This can be done after bowel movements, too, to keep your rectal area
>nourished and clean.
>