[Inspectah Deck] Born with the struggle, used to hustle for crumbs Fillin blunts in the building front thuggin for ones Full clips, fly dicks, down somethin to pump Whole cliques fly whips, dimes nothin to son City boy on the corner, I was so involved So the drama I embraced it with open arms Was tryin to shake the pain, hopin I could break the chains Every day the same, who am I to make a change? Will my n***az risk it all just to play the game? And the young'uns goin through it tryin to play the same Through the rain, through the fire, handcuffed by desire Sent to your son, forgive me for the sins that I've done [Chorus: Tre Williams] My life, my pain lasts forever Nothin in these streets makes it better My life, my pain lasts forever Nothin in these streets makes it better And so I live on [U-God] Sittin here thinkin drinkin got a, lot on my mind Is my, life shrinkin am I, caught in the times It's a, quarter to nine and I'm, grabbin my 9 I had dreams I just, wanted to rhyme Climb my ways out these whack-a** ghettos I signed my name on the line with the devil Still in my prime weight but lost minds are settled Pots on the stove, move grandma's kettle Late for my job, he thinks he's a star She hates her husband, she says I'm a slob Mixed feelins she ain't gettin involved Battle of the s**es, the planet's off its axis The IRS God damn I owe these taxes The truth hurts, but I can take it It's a long time comin, but I can make it No mistakin, the cream is back [Chorus] [Inspectah Deck] I'm standin on my own two I got my n***az, true n***az, real n***az! Stop the wheel really? You only feel me if you walk the same road, talk the same code Still dwellin in the hell and find the time to make a home The few who escape will try to find a safer zone I ain't waitin for Obama, never doubted him, I'm proud of him He real, he'll spend a couple million in the housing then seein is believin, my vision is blurred Cause I ain't seein nothin I heard, really nothin but words The bottom line I'm still stuck to the curb Sky high but it wasn't the sherm, really nuttin but herbs I risk it all for the cause Even if it's war with the law won't pause I can't won't don't stop, I ain't got an off switch Dyin tryin to live it just to get a small part of it My squad is sick, type that you don't want problems with Rollin like 70 Mack trucks, what's stoppin it? [Chorus w/ ad libs] [Outro: Tre Williams] Ohhhhh! Ohhhhhh said I live I live, I live, oohhhhhhhwhoahhhhhhh