[Hook]

Throw your hands up in the air

This is my gift to the future

Black white brown, it don't matter

This is the way we lock it down

[Verse 1]

This is for the working man, works with his hands

Maneuvering through traffic, tryna do what he can, man

Coffee in his cup man, on the stage buck man

(This is what way we lock it down)

You ain't never seen nothing until you seen a Cali traffic jam

Drive's man insane, check the fourth lane traffic cam, man

All-in-all he swears it's all worth it

Weekend's coming and he ain't gotta work it

All its shortcomings, I don't ever wanna leave

Los Angeles born man, we breed emcees

Break a man's spirit, the things that I've seen but

(This is what way we lock it down)

I was raised on the brown side, me and the vatos

Said that that flaco negro won't stop though

Learned those years they was just like us

So black men and brown men, throw your fists up like

[Hook]

Throw your hands up in the air

This is my gift to the future

Black white brown, it don't matter

This is the way we lock it down

[Verse 2]

I learned of my calling in classrooms for years

And teach for grandmama's raising they kid's kids

So that one less mom buries her son

Son stop thinking that going to jail's fun

Honor record's much more than degrees

And to the degree in which you fail as a man makes you a man

Brag about your struggle like crack was a good thing

(This is what way we lock it down)

And we ain't never had nothing, don't knock the hustle

Don't need another man tryna add to the struggle

Bring our people down and keep them fiends higher

Gotta take each other like the clan can retire

People name kids after killers of their kin

Like no black men in history did anything, forget 'em

Write for that man, bet there's one in your building

But y'all don't ever see him, he's busy raising his children

[Hook]

Throw your hands up in the air

This is my gift to the future

Black white brown, it don't matter

This is the way we lock it down

[Verse 3]

At least with Latinos, blood's thicker than money

Sneak across borders to feed they abuelitos

Named their ninos Salvador and Jesus

All hopes that Cristos would save all their tios

Tias, [?] rosary, me I don't go

Nina so worried, we just buried your prima

These are the realities, victor never wins

Angel ain't got none as Hector's so hectic

Floria, Maria, Grace, I speak your presence

Night is so frio for me and mi hijos

Rose and Iris would blossom into beautiful ladies

Not shy girl and sad eyes, it's crazy

Brothers and sisters share cells with brothers and sisters

Now they feel free yearly, yo really?

Conceived in sin then sewn in corruption

Looking for redeemers in the hoods and you need 'em

[Hook]

Throw your hands up in the air

This is my gift to the future

Black white brown, it don't matter

This is the way we lock it down