I dig this tune (‘Held Down’ by De La Soul featuring Cee-Lo), especially the lyrics, which I find inspiring.

Read below and then have a listen.

This is dedicated to all my folks
Diagnosed with a bad case of that proper upbringin
And never took the time to fall in line or follow
Or swallow the thoughts

Of the recognized committees who lurk throughout ya cities
Ya hood, ya town, no matter which type
You from the same type of people try to hold you down
Just because you tailor made for bigger and better things

Never missed a chance to move ahead of things
And what does it bring? I tell you for me
It brought jealousy in backrooms from all the stabbin
Cats posin as my fan just to get grabbin what’s mine

I’m livin in times where my daughters are found around
Kids who can’t afford thinkin caps
But always found drinkin raps and eatin off beats
Claimin’ laws of the streets – but who made the laws?
Everybody playin ‘Rebel’ with no sign of a ‘Cause’

[Chorus: Cee-Lo]
Well I, feel the world around me
I’ve found, that others, will bring you down, just to be down
You’ve got to make up your mind, where you want to be
Where you want to go with your life
With your life..

[Pos]
Yo, I’m never singin the blues but findin the clues to maintain
And I been blessed to reign supreme over nearly every dream
I had, and I made it come true
I’m an imperfect man and I’m holdin the clue

To perfection, it doesn’t seem to matter what direction I look
I find people settin traps
Tryin to find the goal – without havin any maps
Even friends of mine, jumped on line, just to become my adversary

They felt they were entitled to the dairy I made
They don’t come to chill or behave

And they got, toast ready to burn
Not learnin to live, but they yearnin to take what you earn

[Chorus]
Well I, feel the world around me
I’ve found, that others, will bring you down, just to be down
You see – you’ve got to make up your mind, where you want to be
And where you want to go with your life
With your life..

[Pos]
So quick to place blame.. and deny the shame we bring upon ourselves
So many names held accountable for my own account
When a large amount was weight – that I made and shaped
When I climbed I found

It was hard to find others around to point my fingers at
Which made me realize the truth
The biggest supressor could be your own ego lookin for an excuse
To plant roots, in a field of self-sorrow

To sprout and follow the first thing you feel
Nourishes your hunger to be respected, it gets hectic
And when I’m watchin the news, and my daughter walks in
And choose to ask, ‘Why were all those people on the floor

Sleepin’, covered in red?’ I told her
That they were lookin’ for God, but found religion instead

[Chorus]
Well I, feel the world around me
I’ve found, that others, will bring you down; just to be down
You see, you’ve got to make up yo’ mind, where you want to be
And where you want to go with yo’ life
With your life, with your life..

[Cee-Lo]
I need my space, to live..

Well I, feel the world around me
I’ve found, that others, will bring you down; just to be down
You see, you’ve got to make up yo’ mind, where you want to be
And where you want to go with yo’ life
With your life, with your life..

Tags: Hip-Hop, Inspiration, Life, Lifestyle, Motivation, Music, Personal, Philosophy, Poems, Poetry, Quotes, Rap, Religion