(feat. Black Child, D.O. Cannon, Young Merc) [Merc] Yeah, yeah, uh Young Merc For all my youg n***as (All of my young n***as) On the block, Naa mean (On the block) Going hard (Blow hard n***a) Yo I was raised in poverty (in poverty) Yeah, life was hard Growin up 'round, k**az and hust-lers I used ta, sit on the porch Watch pops smoke luports Trying when he was going to get his next bag to snort I just sit back, deep in thought like (man) Wishin I had a plan to make him a better man But I can't, but that's what made it worse Then I started smokin weed and hustlin work I turned to the streets, fifteen, mind on cash Highschool fliest n***a in the cla** Why all y'all was studyin trying to pa** I was tryna, get the pa**, to cut out and get a** I was always ahead of my time Neighbours in the hood said I be locked up Or dead by twenty-five But still I, Ride, wit my head high Knowin I'm a young thug and I will survive [Chorus: Merc] I can't stop (I can't stop) I gotta keep it movin (I gotta keep it movin) Knowin this life I'm livin (Knowin this life I'm livin) It's either d**h or prison (It's either d**h or prison) Hard livin [Repeat Once] [D.O. Cannon] Uh, the ghetto We prayin, Lord All of my thugs be given strength POV sh**ty You ain't gotta show me love when I'm wearin the glove And I just found out my man done chick slugs And my man rever diss touch down Means alot of n***as on the streets ain't really gon eat right now Man I'm so mad dog, I can't tell you why If the Lord don't bow down I'll murder the damn sky I'm to hot for this sh**, please calm me down
I stay doing right, I stay doing wrong I stay huggin my moms I lost in eighty-nine I'm still bangin that nine I had since eighty-nine You n***as feelin my vibe? Man it's hard to walk, man it's hard to talk Dog I keep quiet Cuz playas wear wires when we start to bring the riot I'm tired of this sh**, take me now I'm gon be back in a minute dog don't hate me now I heard the streets wanna smoke me Dog, I'm to lokey It's murda [Chorus: Merc] I can't stop (I can't stop) I gotta keep it movin (I gotta keep it movin) Knowin this life I'm livin (Knowin this life I'm livin) It's either d**h or prison (It's either d**h or prison) Hard livin [Repeat Once] [Black Child] Word to god, Yeah I was only twelve when I first went to jail Locked up and sparked it, f**ed up and heartless My moms had a habit, heron and acid A bad lil' basterd always needed my a** kicked A five member family living in one room Cookin on hot plates, eatin on plastic spoons I don't esagerate, or imaginate I had to go to jail to graduate Growin up in Foster homes, You Fosters own I had to get up, get out and get my own n***as was throwin bricks I'm tossin stones Then I floss the chrome, the boss is home But the block is gone, the cops is wrong Yellow got paralyzed, Little Jemel died Put me in hell and I still rise Put me in the chair I'll fry Do my whole twenty-five [Chorus: Merc] I can't stop (I can't stop) I gotta keep it movin (I gotta keep it movin) Knowin this life I'm livin (Knowin this life I'm livin) It's either d**h or prison (It's either d**h or prison) Hard livin [Repeat Once]