(Verse 1, N.A.R.D) Look in the heart in the ghetto, where we be shooked up From black losin' their life, now everytime we look up Finally pop him, throw away, just learn, they wanna book us Chicago political criminals like a crook Church To the Al Capone city we love so much But when we give our love way, now who the f** gon' love us? We die young, and they don't care But the old folks still lookin' for they Medicare And it's somethin' on my mind I gotta tell ya My people who surronded me, they thought I was a failure But I, appear to be that n***a from the start Cause I'm down for my motherf**in' n***as in my heart (Hook, Johnny P) Said it's gonna beee, alriiight (Said it's gonna be, alright) Only better, for me Said it's gonna beee, alriiight (Said it's gonna be, alright) Only better, for meee (Verse 2, AK) Guns blastin', they after me Like an a**a**in, neighborhood not lastin' They burn it down, like f** them ba*tards Police be watchin', from the other block and They crucial, put the car in neutral They try to school, people don't run jokes Different day, same sh**, so I hustle wit' my head up Get'cha paper, what'chu scared of? I ain't no joke so, put the jokes up in a choke hold My children need, don't stay so New shoes and some nice clothes I guess is what we fight fo' Children of the ghetto, reach for the stars Never think to me-sss, cause you know who you are (Johnny P) Why don't you hoold yo' head up Fooor meeee (AK) This what I said to him (Hook) Said it's gonna beee, alriiight (Said it's gonna be, alright) Only better, for me Said it's gonna beee, alriiight (Said it's gonna be, alright) Only better, for meee (Verse 3, Belo) I was a hustla as a shorty, had to make it pop off n***a gave me lip and he flinched, I knocked his socks off f** paddle, bubble the coke, and watch it rock off White man designed a blue-print, to clear the block off The snakes always fill up the plate, and n***as fed up We need to catch they a** in the yard, and shake they head up Ya sista always struggles wit' babies, just keep ya head up And brothas in the pen doin' time, don't ever let up A motherf**a know what it is, to have to strive again That's why we hit the bricks and shoot sh**, when this go bobblin' We tat the dead off in our skin, to keep the mob within' I never wanna have to go rob, or have to starve again (Hook) Said it's gonna beee, alriiight (Said it's gonna be, alright) Only better, for me (Ric Jilla: Yeah) Said it's gonna beee, alriiight (Said it's gonna be, alright) Only better, for meee (Ric Jilla) Baby it's gon' be alright Homie it's gon' be alright Hold yo head up Baby it's gon' be alright Homie it's gon' be alright (Verse 4, Ric Jilla) You only get "One Life to Live", and these ain't no soaps Ain't no joke, nowadays it ain't no hope An opportunity for you and me to follow our dreams But me and my team, finally plan a powerful scheme So we can try to make a way, that's why I take it "One Day" At a time, I write rhymes, and get out here on the grind Cause man, it's Do or Die for you and I, out here in the struggle It's gon' be alright, n***a be about yo hustle We almost, here now, we can't stop here We ain't gon' quit til' we get everything they got here Cause I know how it feel, to not to have your bread up But even though you fed up, my n***a keep yo head up (Hook) Said it's gonna beee, alriiight (Said it's gonna be, alright) Only better, for me Said it's gonna beee, alriiight (Said it's gonna be, alright) Only better, for meee Said it's gonna beee, alriiight (Said it's gonna be, alright) Only better, for me Said it's gonna beee, alriiight (Said it's gonna be, alright) Only better, for meee