[Verse 1:] Oh man it's a miracle How I came from a town, where most fall down And never get up, I never gave up I slipped up a couple of times, but I still raise up Even though I'm scraped up, I keep fighting They don't know I'm [?] up, cold sweats when i wake up I see d**h as a [?], poverty, despair Gotta k** 'em for a [?] All the bloods, all the crips at the park to recruit Thugs I grew up with, we used to do backflips And drank cups with [?] pa** the first sip Higher Xscape, but can't seem to escape the middle scape Go to act like an ape, man I can't fall for the trap Or a state, nah, It's not a game, nah I can't see it, I can't be it Grown man, boy brained, locked up, going insane In pain, late night, untamed [?] [Hook 2x:] A man, A man Won't chance a thang Maybe when I am, now I understand A man, I'm a man [Verse 2:] Pops had me on the weekend,had a fifth on myself He was preaching, he was teaching me: knowledge yourself Jazz in the background, books on the shelf Lil' herb, lil' liquor, go and get my belt If my grades wasn't right, if I took school light
It was lights out, couple [?], see you later, good night The message was clear, relate to fear [?] I had to go through somethin', to get me somethin' That's how I got me somethin', and I ain't frontin' It was though but it was worth it If it's easy than it's worthless But if you are on your JO, than It's workin' [Hook 2x:] [Verse 3:] From a boy to a man, in between is the matrix Baby momma's in court cases, living at three places Keep dreaming and chase dreams, since eighteen Nothing works, so you keep pacin' to make CREAM. [?] Depressed and find conflict as a player Yeah, that was me, pitiful [?] young minded Blinded by the alore of a who*e, wildin' on tour I had a couple dollars, but my spirit was poor I ran my gifts in the ground, said I'm tired of it now I didn't wanna rap, the homies kept tellin' me to take Another lap So I did, I never hit, I ain't a kid I had to tell the [?] money to be a boss I'm here to let you know, we all gotta grow It won't stop, I keep it 100 when it comes to this hip-hop