[Hook]
As I walk these streets alone
Thank God I made it through the storm
It took some time just to realize
What didn't k** me made me strong
Ain't nobody give me nothin'
Not a thing in life came free
I let them be my inspiration
Now I'm livin' out my dream
[Verse 1: Short Dawg]
It started when dude was 12
My father was through in jail
My brother Mega as well, for pharmaceutical sales
They say it's tough bein' black
But it's harder when you a male
Got evicted out of every apartment we ever dwelled
Regardless, if you can tell
All I've been through is hell
Family curse, got me feelin' like
All I can do is fail
My momma, she worked hard, she tried, she did her best
But could barely afford food anytime she'd get a check
Or when she'd catch a case next
As a youngin', I stayed stressed
From hand-me-down clothes
And shoes comin' from PayLess
At school, they'd rank on me
Which made it harder to take tests
And she got a n***a livin' with us that would make threats
Years past, God decided to give him a break
Until a fatal car crash disfigured my face
I made it out of that coma, learned to deal with the change
The scars eventually healed, but I still feel the pain
[Hook]
As I walk these streets alone
Thank God I made it through the storm
It took some time just to realize
What didn't k** me made me strong
Ain't nobody give me nothin'
Not a thing in life came free
I let them be my inspiration
Now I'm livin' out my dream
[Verse 2: Short Dawg]
I had a dollar and a dream
Impala full o' weed
Hustlin' to survive
Cause bein' signed ain't what it seems
I'm sippin' that smoke and endo
Cause they k**ed my partner Bello
On top of that, the label sleepin on me like a pillow
And that ain't supposed to happen, right?
Not when you rap this nice
I swear I got a flow
Wouldn't believe the things I sacrificed
Picked up my pad to write and left the world behind
Breakin' the hearts in every girl of mine
Cause I'm out here on the grind tryna get it
Goin' hard with no regards
I've payed my dues, but I feel as if I've been overcharged
Still Im'ma keep pushin' like I'm mowin' yards
Cause life's a gamble, my n***a, you gotta know the odds
It's against you
Look at what I've been through
I came a long way from sellin' crack to those I'm kin to
But I just pray that God will forgive me
And when I bob my head, I know he hear me
[Hook]
As I walk these streets alone
Thank God I made it through the storm
It took some time just to realize
What didn't k** me made me strong
Ain't nobody give me nothin'
Not a thing in life came free
I let them be my inspiration
Now I'm livin' out my dream
[Verse 3: Short Dawg]
I remember back when I was young
Clappin' them guns
Rappin' for fun
Now a n***a rappin' for funds
I learned there ain't no friends in business
From what happened to Juan
He showed me how to build a castle from crumbs
The most talented one, out of my peers
He scoped me from bein' hot
So I put a little ice in the rosery and the watch
My Uncle Jones up in heaven
Scopin' me in the drop
Was the closest thing to a Pops
He ain't supposed to be in the box
But let the readin' show
I'm doin' good as far as succedin' go
Recievin' more hate, from people that I don't even know
Mostly rappers, but baby daddies hate me even more
Cause I got his girl tied up, like an even score
Every day I'm with a different model
I could've been behind bars, like a liquor bottle
Yuh, a couple missed opportunities could've ruined me
So every day I wake, I bob my head and say--
[Hook]
As I walk these streets alone
Thank God I made it through the storm
It took some time just to realize
What didn't k** me made me strong
Ain't nobody give me nothin'
Not a thing in life came free
I let them be my inspiration
Now I'm livin' out my dream