Wearing a shirt with XXXTENTACION’s face on it, Meek Mill unveiled his first new single since being released from State Prison during a dramatic performance at the 2018 BET Awards on Sunday (June 24).
Titled “Stay Woke,” the track features R&B/soul singer Miguel and finds the Philly rapper kicking things off with a nod to Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five’s iconic hit “The Message.” [apple_news_ad type=”any”]
“How I keep from going under/It’s like a jungle outside sometimes I wonder how I keep from going under,” he begins.
From there, Meek raps about his recent prison stint and growing up surrounded by tough circumstances.
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“It’s amazing this environment we was raised in/On them papers 1 mistake and getting caged in/You got to feel me/Feel like the system trying to kill me/Got arrested and the charges F1 for popping wheelies/Stay woke,” he spits.
Meek teased the song in a clip posted to his Twitter page on Saturday (June 23).
Watch the performance above and stream “Stay Woke” below.
[The original version of this article was published on June 23, 2018 and can be found below.]
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Although Meek Mill’s current legal woes aren’t over yet, the Philly rapper is back in the studio doing what he loves — making music. On Saturday (June 23), Meek shared a video clip teasing a single titled “Stay Woke.”
In the clip, Meek is heard discussing his time in prison and the fact prison workers get paid .80 cents an hour.
“That’s slavery and I talk about that in this song,” he says. “I just went to jail for six months and read a lot of books. Went through some real experiences relatable to a lot of people, a lot of people going through the system.
“I felt like I gotta responsibility from when I was locked up with certain dudes and me leaving knowing that I got the support I got. I got billionaires. I got the support from fans and people. I got a lot of resources. A lot of people stuck in that position don’t got resources … I always felt I was responsible to reach back for a few and help them move forward.”
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Meek was released from Chester State Prison in April after serving six months for probation violations. Judge Genece Brinkley, who’s been overseeing his weapons charges case since 2007, originally sentenced him to two to four years, which many deemed harsh. [apple_news_ad type=”any”]
