KA - I Know What It's Like lyrics

Like, there's little trick to this sh** [HOOK] I know what it's like - hungry, thirsty I know what it's like - grungy, dusty I know what it's like - trust me I know what it's like [VERSE 1] I mastered the street ways, with a mask in the PJs Learned to die for last and let your heat blaze Huddled with the crew drew up some unique plays Could take us out of ghetto but y'all know the cliches I bagged chicks with a laugh and some deep waves It's the [?] hood At first glance like I'm doing good Can't school me, I'm out your cla** like a truant should I live slow days, fast nights Hundred year half life I flash bright graphite for the past sights Little snacks ain't enough, grew up with bad appetites (hungry now) We known in Brooklyn to be home cookin' Selling plates under the drapes, [?] lookin' Get paid in cash, no taxes Mastered art of war like I went to Annapolis I live in non-fiction, this one of the chapters This flick documentary sh**, no actors I play the game naturally, go practice Predators, roll in packs like raptors There's no savings accounts, favored amounts in a mattress [HOOK] I know what it's like - hungry, thirsty I know what it's like - grungy, dusty I know what it's like - trust me I know what it's like [VERSE 2] I live a blue-collar life Hunger headaches, I ain't eat for two solid nights Want jerk chicken and rice But I was two dollars light So I go in the store, grab sh** and blew out of sight If ribs start showing, I be the true violent type On the corner where they licking at each other like the true college dykes Trying to get up on some ninjas with them new silent pikes Knuckle game up the par, a few thousand fights I tuss some hood rats, ran through housing mice Rock kicks from ‘86, you can browse my Nikes Was grimy then Never thought you'd see me when it's reporting the war I'm more when Nore was on CNN Champagne taste, bottled water budget The man I became, my grandfather would have loved it (rest in peace, god) So I dodge flicks and I keep large clips ‘Cause I've been through hardships that only God can fix [HOOK] I know what it's like - hungry, thirsty I know what it's like - grungy, dusty I know what it's like - trust me I know what it's like [VERSE 3] My City don't sleep Streets watch way before they speak But if you weak, [?] powder speak It will not allow you to eat But if you strong in the struggle and wanna bubble Born in rubble, these corners here long to huddle Hold you with everything it's got Provide you with the tools acquiring a knot co*ked till you live and hot Easy to get in, hard to relax or even try to stop Cut a gutter as a faceless [?], mother get too big, she embrace [?] That's for n***as out here trying to race they brother Cause they want full attention and love They put the end of they snub In the Post tomorrow, read the events of a thug See, when you poor, a couple of thou' look decent Hunger how you go all out against a precinct (every one of them n***as, every one) [HOOK] I know what it's like - hungry, thirsty I know what it's like - grungy, dusty I know what it's like - trust me I know what it's like [OUTRO] I'm from Brownsville, so I know what it's like My man from Story Ave, he know what it's like My girl from Hell's Kitchen, she know what it's like My n***a from Fosterville, he know what it's like My manz from Bed Stuy, they know what it's like If you from Fort Green n***as know what it's like They from East New York, they know what it's like I think n***as in Compton even know what it's like You from the hood, you know what it's like Even rich n***as might even know what it's like but I doubt it ‘Cause we poor and we know what it's like It's hard out here, n***a, you know what it's like