| Man you 21 now and I still can believe it
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| Been living on your own, just hard to conceive
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| That you on the right track, out pursuing that knowledge
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| But a few years back I couldn’t see you in college
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| You was all out cripping, brought a gun in the house
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| My first thought was to take it, give you one to the mouth
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| But never that, we been through way to much
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| I always tried to give you guidance but not say too much
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| Tried to lead by example, didn’t I have some nerve
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| Telling you stay out the street while I was out slanging herb
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| But I always preferred you do it smarter then me
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| You didn’t have to prove nothing being harder then me
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| You helped mom at the cleaners
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| Stayed away from misdemeanors
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| I was proud of you then
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| Please believe I still am
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| Don’t let the world get you down, throw you off your program
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| Life is hard, even harder on a young black man
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| If it gets rough blow a blunt and bump some more slow jams
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| Know every man with a badge is probably a punk
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| But don’t ever risk your freedom, just to throw one punch
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| Let a coward be a coward, he has to deal with his past
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| I know these pigs deserve it but give em a pass
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| I know you wanna keep it gangster, just do it with class
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| Above all remember this, no matter how big you get
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| I’m still your big brother and I can always whoop your ass
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| They say a wise man knows nothing, so I know a lot less
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| But I been where you at homie, put to the test
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| The answer lies deep within, so open your chest
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| And find God within yourself and he’ll show you the rest
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| I know the world is against you and your going through stress
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| But long as you still breathing God, and know you been blessed
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| The only sin is giving up, there’s no need to confess
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| Find a God within yourself and he’ll show you the rest
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| Now take that doo-rag off when you get in my ride
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| Man that shit ain’t fresh, you’re supposed to wear it inside
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| Not under bandannas or under a cap
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| I might be getting old but I don’t understand that
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| You want your hoodie on or off, please make up your mind
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| Trapped in a rap video, losing your mind
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| Getting lost through someone else helps you find yourself
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| I guess that’s how it works
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| I seen this kid the other day with murder written on his shirt
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| And never been to a funeral
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| Now am I out of touch, if I say it’s unusual
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| This dude will sing a love ballad to his homeboys, before a young lady
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| Now ain’t that crazy
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| If you didn’t love that bitch then why you make her keep your baby
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| Ooh abortions not right
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| But just the other night
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| You were a killer pull a trigger before you have a fare fight
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| But if you value one, then why not value every life
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| Its obvious you know the difference between wrong and right
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| Its not about being self, its hard to follow the light
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| When you’re surrounded by darkness, almost drowning in evil
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| Been searching for some help but still ain’t found no real people
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| Here’s a shout, know we out here, we struggling too
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| Some of us do it legal; |
| some will thug our way through
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| We got to fight to show the world that our youth are intelligent
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| So keep it gangster in your CD changer, not your residence
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| They say a wise man knows nothing, so I know a lot less
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| But I been where you at homie, put to the test
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| The answer lies deep within, so open your chest
|
| And find God within yourself and he’ll show you the rest
|
| I know the world is against you and your going through stress
|
| But long as you still breathing God, and know you been blessed
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| The only sin is giving up, there’s no need to confess
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| Find a God within yourself and he’ll show you the rest |