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"Stick Up Kids" - A Gripping Tale of Survival and Retribution
In the dimly lit underbelly of underground hip-hop, emerges TheSystemDontWork Records NE$$ x baby J’s lead single “Stick Up Kids” from their forthcoming full length LP “The Price of Bread”, an anecdotal masterpiece that tugs at the very core of our existence. The song is a compelling narrative, an unfiltered reflection of life's harsh realities, chronicling the early adolescence of an at-risk youth on a precarious journey towards self-discovery. This mesmerizing track paints a vivid portrait of a child of an immigrant single mother, who grapples with the relentless taunts and jeers of classmates, all stemming from the burden of poverty and a wardrobe deemed unremarkable.
Yet, as the story unfolds, we witness a power shift that sends shockwaves through the storyline. Dre, our protagonist's main tormentor, finds himself cast in a role reversal he never expected. Driven by years of pent-up anger and an insatiable thirst for retribution, our protagonist delivers a bitter reckoning upon Dre, unwittingly setting in motion a dark descent into the unforgiving realm of violence and crime. The song ventures deep into the murky waters of morality, laying bare the tangled web of consequences spun by choices made in the relentless pursuit of identity, respect, and the most basic of human needs.
"Stick Up Kids" is more than just a song; it's a haunting exploration of abject poverty, seen through the innocent lens of a child growing up in the so-called "First world." It peels back the layers of societal neglect and exposes how circumstances can mold individuals into reluctant participants in the shadowy theater of "street life." This track serves as a poignant reminder of the intricate dance between adversity and identity, a dance that often leads down unexpected, perilous paths.
Baby J’s sinister beat that underlines this lyrical journey is nothing short of hypnotic, pulling the listener deeper into the story's dark heart. As our unflinchingly candid narrator NE$$’ navigates the labyrinth of emotions and choices, "Stick Up Kids" becomes a mirror reflecting the harsh realities that too many face daily. It's a call to attention, urging us to examine the complex interplay between economics and psychology, and to contemplate the stark consequences of a world that fails its most vulnerable.
In the world of underground hip-hop, "Stick Up Kids" stands as a testament to the power of storytelling, delivering a visceral experience that lingers long after the final note fades away. This track is more than music; it's a wake-up call, a voice for those who have been silenced, and a stark reminder that beyond the smoke and mirrors of “affluence” celebrated in popular culture lies a world that often offers little more than empty promises.
lyrics
Stick Up Kids (lyrics) ~ NE$$
Chorus: Stick up kids is out to tax!! (repeat)
Mama from the islands grew up poorer them other kiiiids
kids had Nikes & yo his kicks was some other shiiiit
no name BoBos bootleg some dededunt shit (some sucka shit)
niggas had jokes he kept receipts like fuck this shit
1st verse:
Let’s take it back
we going back
before he trapped
back of the class
is where he sat
stayed out the way
immigrant parents barely even knew the language
his clothes was wack
his kicks was wack
some kids would laugh
he did the math
he had a crush on Keisha
Keisha liked Dre
Dre always had on a fresh pair of new J's
he like Ok Ok Ok
he hated Dre always had some shit to say
main one making fun, jokes every other day
he swore one day he gon' make that muthafucka pay
one day, having a bad day, same day him, mom & sis had to vacate
they place, eviction, middle of the winter, mama sent the kids to school while she figured out they living situation
kids quiet but you see it on they faces
anyway that day Dre had jokes
said something 'bout wearing the same clothes
somethin' bout looking homeless hit too close to home
he snapped, rocked’em & dropped’em, caught em off guard Dre fell like them Towers (world trade)
the power, Dre layed the fuck out, everybody shocked Dre's J's caught his eyes tho
in all the chaos its like he in a seance
he just wanted those J's what's his size tho, checked the size
size 9 yo
that's my size yo
yo they mine yo
now mine yo, (now they mine)
2nd Chorus:
Stick up kids is out to tax!! (repeat)
Mama from the islands grew up poorer them other kiiiids
kids had Nikes & yo his kicks was some other shiiiit
no name BoBos bootleg some dededunt shit (some sucka shit)
niggas had jokes he kept receipts like fuck this shit
2nd Verse:
from 11 to 14 few years later, kicked out a couple schools home life still unstable
now he hittin' licks, help put food on the table
lil shopliftin, catching Vics coming from the train tho
not everyday but like every other day tho
one or the other, his mother just gave birth to his newborn baby brother
5 month back mama fired from her J-O
no maternity leave fuckin A-holes
welfare, unemployment medicaid tho
still short, rent due how she gon pay tho
little man in cut ‘bout to pounce on his prey yo
no hammer but got a blade tho
put that shit to they throat, that's his fav tho
some robberies went left, obviously
one wild one for every 3 run properly
one time he hit a artery
white boy moving too much, got Eem!
blood everywhere lookin' like a horror scene
dug his pockets, ran from the crime scene
back blocks, warehouses, i don't think nobody seen
nobody but cameras so it seems
ran into the night hear the cries of sireens
helicopters flying low spotlight w/the high beam
3rd Chorus: Stick up kids is out to tax!! (repeat)
Mama from the islands grew up poorer them other kiiiids
kids had Nikes & yo his kicks was some other shiiiit
no name BoBos bootleg some dededunt shit (some sucka shit)
niggas had jokes he kept receipts like fuck this shit
In a music scene swamped with sex, drugs and opulence '21st Century Blues' fills a space currently missing in hip hop, showing both struggles of the young Black man trapped in the system and the opportunities and hopes of the future that could be.
