Verse 1: I was born a poor black kid, pops doin' a bid Ran down tenement, barely no food in the fridge My moms dukes had to raise my on her own All alone, never had a father home I remember clear as day seein' my mother pray Hopin' i don't be like my pops and go the other way But you get tired of your pockets bein' empty Gear skimpy, yo the peer pressure tempt me At thirteen had to get my by all means Sellin' to fiends, pops up state raisin' hell in the greens f** that, i'm'a hustle, i can't see my momma struggle In these harlem streets drama loves you. Chorus - some n***as may have, some n***as may not have, but god bless The child who holds his own, who holds his own. Verse 2: Never was a stray a student Always played hookie, gettin' buddhad Dropped out of high school, the streets raised me Runnin' 'round holdin' heat crazy My pops played me, left when i was a baby Perhaps he hate me, why the mothaf**a make me? Why the hell is life like this? trife like this? Sometimes i wanna slice my wrist Found out i had a gift and thought twice 'bout sh** Now i'm changin', my whole life re-arrangin' Left the crack game'n for the rap game'n Ain't exactly where i wanna be but i ain't complainin' Maintainin', focus on my money and my fame'n Entertainin', risin' to the top since i came in Blazin', and i ain't goin' nowhere yo i'm remainin' Chorus Verse 3: Man, i miss them n***as who got clapped for tryin' to get them figures Everybody leavin' They say thugs go to hell when we stop breathin', and i believe 'em And i ain't tryin' to be there, i got mouths to feed Love my seeds, look just like me Dress like me, gotta be the best like me Raise 'em up right so they won't be stressed like me Gotta be there for them, not no penetentiary Think back, sippin' remy, maybe henessey n***a ballin' now, gotta say one love to heavy-d Chorus 2x