“Redemption” by Folasona Olorunsola, 2006

Verse 1:
life's a journey, can't always predict where it's gon' take you
so many obstacles it's like you gotta fight to break through
lil' boy from Louisiana scared to leave his grandma
moved to Cali got beat down in the back alley
mother moved out west where she was hoping for more
but son caught in a mess that he just wasn't ready for
they keep us in the slums and we poor
now we’re fighting over crumbs and it's war, drugs and guns you see more
than you ever do a job opportunity
cause the ones who made them guns, same ones who rob our communities
and the best way to survive, lots of unity
but they’ve got plans to divide and conquer you and me
cause back in the 60's before the Bloods and the Crips
it was Feds who shot the Panthers with the slugs from the clips
if we studied history we might discover that shit
now we shoot each other and they just be loving that shit
together we stand, they plan to keep us down in division
no new schools, all they build now is the prisons
prison yard or ghetto got us facing hard times
slash the education funding got us wasting our minds
and brothers running from life, so I guess we're scared to death
the system spread the type of stress that makes it hard to take a breath
(makes it hard to take a breath)
but Tookie looked deep within and discovered the light
found the love for his people and the love for his life,
loving to write, cause he got a story to tell
not about a gladiator school cause ain't no glory in hell
and for over seven years he was locked in the hole
but little by little, started unlocking his soul

Chorus:
Tookie they tried to take you
but they didn't make you
so they can't break you
travel peacefully

Verse 2:
Treated like an animal when he was caged in a cell
took years to realize the best way to rebel
was to stretch to the full depth of his humanity
lived a life of madness, finally discovered sanity
but how he changed for the better, not everyone could accept
as a thug he was a nuisance, but now he is a threat
cause he works for unity within the black community
got love for Mandela and wanna see Mumia free
along with all political prisoners in the penitentiary
Terminator got a plan and it was never clemency
but Arnold Schwarzenazi you can't stop me or none of my fam
I don't even need a gun in my hand
I'm representing with the pen, cause it's a stronger weapon
and when I empty the barrel you're gonna need protection
but I'm aiming for the mind so you can leave your vest and
Tookie was real with his, you should heed the lessons
but you're still a Nazi so you don't believe redemption
see the Minute Man Klan and say we need their presence
tried to kill Tookie sent him to the next dimension
but he's still present in the spirit representing

Chorus:
Tookie they tried to take you
but they didn't make you
so they can't break you
travel peacefully

Verse 3:
And though he played a big part, wasn't the start of the pollution
but he got a big heart, so now he's part of the solution
better take a look in yours 'fore you start up the accusing
let he without sin sit and order execution
cause any time your trigger finger point at someone else
check the other three, they'll be aiming at yourself
that's where the battle begins and also ends
true strength is when you can win the battle within
establish a trend, was Tookie's greatest intention
with a pad and a pen, from Blue Rage to Black Redemption
the way he made it demonstrated anything is possible
not just victims, we could be the doctors in the hospitals
that’s power, to know that whatever the shit you’re facing
God gave you the strength to better your situation
it’s not easy, believe me, no one can do it all
but Tookie showed us how to hold our heads and stand tall
for that I thank you brother so we're not gon' let you die
truth if ever crushed to the earth will always rise
you moved on, but kind enough to leave this quote:
"dum spiro spero," while I breathe there's hope
and Tookie you spread both hope and inspiration
rest in P.ositive E.nergy A.ctivates C.onscious E.levation
peace…