After teasing the track, Meek Mill has released his new song, “Otherside of America.” The politically-charged tune arrives as the rapper just appeared on CNN to discuss criminal justice reform.
“Otherside of America” opens up with one of Donald Trump’s many racist remarks. “”What do you have to lose? You’re living in poverty,” he said. “Your schools are no good, you have no jobs. 58 Percent of your youth is unemployed. What the hell do you have to lose?”
Meek then addresses his upbringing as well as systemic racism as he touches on being black in America. At the end of the Butter Beats and Shroom-produced song, he uses an excerpt from his discussion with CNN’s Michael Smerconish.
“I always dreamed to be on CNN to be able to express myself and speak for the voiceless young men of America,” Meek said. “The first step I would say: I grew up in America in a ruthless neighborhood where we are not protected by police, we grew up in ruthless environments, we grew up around murder, you see murder, you see seven people die a week, I think you would probably carry a gun yourself. Would you?”
Press play below to listen to “Otherside of America,” then see underneath for the coinciding lyrics.
(Donald Trump)
What do you have to lose?
You’re living in poverty
Your schools are no good
You have no jobs
58% of your youth is unemployed
What the hell do you have to lose?
(Meek Mill)
Reporting live from the other side of America
Mama let me sip the 40, I was just a shorty
Then I started spittin’ godly, and they said ‘record me’
I feel like this shit was for me, this shit just my story (facts)
Yeah, uh
Jumped off the porch
I got a Porsche, won’t take it back
I’m on the block with the killers and I’m holding my own of course (yeah, check check)
I seen my mom and dad separate, ain’t talking divorce (talkin divorce)
Said daddy was livin’ by the fire, and he die by the torch (check check)
I’m where the AKs is, we like the Bebe’s Kids
Ain’t have a daddy, I listened to suckas the same way that Ray Ray did
I’m totin’ smithens and HKs and I just was a grade A kid
Ain’t have no god and we grew up with hittas and did everything they said
Pullin out the block, we spinnin’ that
Run in the spot, we gettin’ that
Give us some work, we flippin’ that
I’m hitting from jail, they ain’t hittin back
I need a lawyer, money for commissary
And nobody ain’t sendin’ that
I’m in my cell like “when I get out, I’m makin’ a movie, no Cinemax” (who!)
Yeah
Back home and I’m fresh on bail
Phone chirpin’ it was next in tell
Block poppin’ it was extra sales
Big dogs they ain’t showin’ remorse
I was beggin’ just to catch a sale
Same block we was goin’ to war
I was prayin’ I ain’t catch a shell (check)
We was starvin’ for a thousand nights
Livin’ like we tryin’ to die tonight
Gloc 40 sound like dynamite
I was fuckin up my cop money
Sellin’ soap like it’s China white
OG’s said “you fuckin’ the block up”
I was mad I was tryna fight
N**** we hungry
Mama at work, daddy he dead
N**** we lonely
Stomach growlin’ like an AMG, goin’ to bed
We hungry
Uzi on me, all my friends are dead
N**** we lonely
Reporting live from the other side of America
Reporting live from the other side
Same corner where my brothers died
Livin’ like we ain’t got care
Told my mama I ain’t dying here
40 on me I ain’t buying beer
Ain’t have a will, now I’m flying Lear
Bunch of felons on the jet with me
Make a movie like it’s Con Air
Started off in the basement
Now it’s rooftops and LeBron there
Still fighting open cases
Out on bail, n**** but it’s my year
Summertime it get cold out
Heater on me like a Montclair
Closet bigger than my old house
Thinking ‘bout it, I was fine there
Came out the dirt
Dedicated, I was makin’ it work
Medicated I was takin them percs
Devastated when my n****s got murked
Educated, had to get to it first
I knew trappin’ it would get me in jail
Playin’ with pistols it would get me a Herse
But I ain’t give a fuck, send me to church! (who!)
They gotta kill me in traffic
I ain’t with none of this rap shit
I’ve been tryna run from these caskets
All of this pain that’s in me n****
You don’t want none of this action
Go get some money and feed the fam
Cause this is a fuckin disaster (check)
We was starvin’ for a thousand nights
Livin’ like we tryin’ to die tonight
Gloc 40 sound like dynamite
I was fuckin up my cop money
Sellin’ soap like it’s China white
OGs said “you fuckin’ the block up”
I was mad I was tryna fight
N**** we hungry
Mama at work, daddy he dead
N**** we lonely
Stomach growlin’ like an AMG goin’ to bed
We hungry
Uzi on me, all my friends are dead
N**** we lonely
Reporting live from the other side of America
(Meek Mill)
I always dreamed to be on CNN to be able to express myself and speak for the voiceless young men of America. The first step I would say: I grew up in America in a ruthless neighborhood where we are not protected by police, we grew up in ruthless environments, we grew up around murder, you see murder, you see seven people die a week, I think you would probably carry a gun yourself. Would you?
(Michael Smerconish)
Uh, yeah, I probably would.