[Joe Budden]-talking Uh-huh I just want everybody to kinda be clear Of what's takin place right now It's not an introduction, it's more like a beginning It's like the calm before the storm I guess you can sorta call it, the rebirth Or the birth period... it's the growth For all my real n***as... real people in general It's never one-dimensional, it goes out to everybody If you can though... just kinda take some time out Relate to it [Rap] For all my mans that died, with grams at they side Plans just to ride, gun jammed when he tried Ballers who never made it out the hood Cats who owed, but never made it out the hood If they offered you pleas and you went to court with it My dawgs doin time cause you got caught with it Or if you need cheddar, blast heat whenever And run from the cops cause you know the streets better Dope n***as who rich cause they know connects Or dope n***as who spit but got no connects If you pitch to pay rent, but get no business Life in the state pen but get no visits Fend for yourself cause you ain't got no boys Ride or die, really you ain't got no choice If your alibi's straight when you're wanted on the stand Soldiers that take they football numbers like a man Hustle O-Z cause your product rich there Hood know you snitch but you gotta live there You held your man shot, you don't know where it hit him And you tryin to buy guns, you don't know where to get 'em If you strapped in the streets with your palms all black Young G's that gotta see they moms on crack Pop can't be found, hand me down When you the oldest out of five, hold the family down If you caught a body and your wiz hid you out If you slept in the park when moms kicked you out Or if you gonna die, you gon' leave with a slug Idolized your big bro, but he was a thug If you squeeze your leather first cause it never hurt Street cats that never work cause it never worked Or if you got your sh** snatched, gripped, clipped the mack Too small for the kickback, but gotta get your sh** back k**ed n***as playin, but you was only boxin Accept twenty flat as your only option Calm in the jungle in between the system If you high on parole and gotta clean your system If you told 'em to stop, cause soon you'll lose it Pull up your pants leg, bullet wounds to prove it Or if you grabbed the liquor, swallow it hard If they drive-by on you but you follow the car Full clip cause your foes is lurkin; or the D's at your door With a picture, "Do you know this person?" If you dead broke, but forced into extortin Cause your girl pregnant and she don't want a abortion Got charged before, strap a gun anyway Took the state's lawyer, but you won anyway Stand up cats beat the odds by far Real recognize real, R.R.R Don't mistake a amped up nucca.. for what? For a stand up nucca.. I won't If you a stand up nucca.. then what? Then stand up nucca.. R.. R.. R Basically, that's about it Hope you people get a better understanding And roll with me... geah! Let's get into it