Tales of a lost soul Gotta stay in control [ Hook ] My ghetto strain bring mysery Gotta feel the pain physically To gain anything spiritually [ VERSE 1: Mr. Mike ] It's a cold game, I see my folks slain Right in front of the crib, the house Brothers runnin they mouth, the southern route Little church dude trippin, sayin my mama shout It hurts, fool, knowin that's that pressure built up from the house That she had to let it out, so much they said about The life of me, Mr. M-i-k-e Hit you where eyes can't see Up in my time to leave Ghetto kids yellin, "Where we live we grindin these streets" Hard to breathe, in times like these, my eyes I squeeze To stop tears from fallin when my peers be callin Young player, you're starvin ballin And they wonder why we get high I hope to see my people in the sky [ VERSE 2: Mr. Mike ] It's like a lion, dragon, and beast I'm high, a scavenger peeps His eyes on the prize, bring these rhymes from the street Define my homie's life, fell to the game, well painted stripes And earn the age, what a way, hell, paid the price Tales of a lonely knight, they walk up on you, right? Never knowin fright, the darkest corners where I learned to fight People ain't concerned with right, they rather be about the game Persuin me and doin me, never takin it light
[ Napp-1 ] That's why I switch up women and cars every three months Wanna k** me or what? Push my pawns to the front Plus s**ers bustin me, testin me, as a kid been stressin ]From my flesh on to my soul in, how could I win? Lord, is they really my friends? And why I ain't got no ends? Don't mean to question my faith, too much excitment in this paper chase I stay laced with game, but nobody knows my name Workin hard at this rap sh**, I'm glad I adapted [ VERSE 3: Napp-1 ] Dressed to k**, a million dollar-bill in front of your face Game laced, disappear without a trace Who am I? Action, v.i.p. right through your backdo' A dog in sheep's clothing, could you ask for mo'? What is they blastin fo'? Lower the casket do' Somebody k**ed my little homie right in front of the sto' [ Mr. Mike ] It's like we lost touch, the millenium n***as crossed up Stupid mistakes that others made taught us Jealousy feels, heavenly steel, just a frail way A felon who you can deal, then dash in the ghetto way Car or van or truck, man, the rush I'm standin up, yes, I'm standin up The only man in the house at five years old Take out the trash, wipe my sister and hide my clothes Time unfolds, my rhyme's like a treasure of old The pleasure, the pain, the principle of havin this dough [ Hook ]