[Verse 1]
+
I'm gonna take you back .. to 1980
+
People thought she was crazy for keepin' her baby
+
Being only thirteen thinking' how she would love a son
+
Barely a child herself .. now she would mother one
+
When that had come to past some wondered how she had made it by
+
Some had bets on the side that she wouldn't live to see '85
+
But she would prove them wrong .. corazon kickin' strong
+
And like the calm before storm so was mom when it was on
+
Back in '86 .. as he grew up in the mix
+
Watchin' his mother hang around men
+
That slang the cain to make them licks
+
Strugglin' year after year switchin' daddy to daddy
+
Last one had him a Lincoln .. this one got him a caddy
+
Plus a house in the subs and apartments run by thugs
+
Pushin' dubs to them scrubs 'cuz he got a connect with killa bud
+
Little young buck seen all of that
+
Then the man had a hand on that crack
+
And he out there lookin' for tear that come black
+
Cuz he know that smack on a comeback
+
He was nothin' but 9 years old doin' nothin' but what he was told
+
Always the one that would hafta hold
+
Till the man let him know when it was sold
+
Then he would take what wrapped in the paper sack
+
Make the drop and he'd make it back
+
Imagine that to play the mac
+
And not know how one's s'posed to act
+
[Chorus]
+
When them hustlin' on them streets
+
Don't play them for weak cuz them will shoot ya
+
Real young killa gangsta rude-boy
+
Destined for death yet O'm your future
+
How can the youth be humble
+
When we live in an age of rage
+
Too young and naive to conceive that them diggin' an early grave
+
[Verse 2]
+
And by the time the nineties come around ..
+
Mom's had a frown since the man went down
+
Kites fly penitentiary bound and lil' man's left to hold his ground
+
Playin' his art stayin' in school ..
+
Nothin' short of payin' his dues
+
Mamas heart's what made him choose ..
+
Got him a start in breakin' rules
+
Hittin' them books hangin' with crooks ..
+
Watchin' out when that law man looks
+
Money's put in them pocket books
+
And business good 'cuz he got them rooks
+
To make the run getting' it done ..
+
With the advantage of bein' so young
+
Nobody cared about what had begun ..
+
Then by the end of '91
+
He was the kid in junior high ??
+
Lookin' to get some new supply
+
Got him a hook up through some guy
+
Livin' like either it's do or die
+
Under the influence of the game ..
+
Already been through the love and the pain
+
Feelin's to him that one in the same ..
+
Gotta maintain or go down the drain
+
It was the life he learned to live ..
+
He's never had an alternative
+
Most forbid the things he did ..
+
But what would you do if you were the kid growin' up
+
Around the cut only exposed to what's corrupt
+
Nothin' could break a boy so rough
+
Except the touch of his mother's love
+
[Chorus]
+
[verse 3]
+
Around the summer of '93 ..
+
Everyone's packin' artillery
+
Do many wantin' to be a "g"
+
Ready to make a delivery
+
Whatever it took to get in a set ..
+
Not even worried about regret
+
It's who could pose the biggest threat
+
And catch the most of all respect
+
He can't stop ..
+
He won't stop ..
+
Even though every spot is hot
+
Givin' it everything thing he's got ..
+
Tryin' to keep from getting' caught
+
Never the one to be any place
+
Long enough to catch a case
+
After all no time to waste
+
When doin' your business face to face
+
He's comin' equipped to make the lick ..
+
Not about to play the trick
+
Puttin' in work to make the hit and keepin' it low to stay legit
+
Mom's and dad's i'm talkin' to you ..
+
These are the things our children do
+
Hopin' you listen and catch the clues then maybe
+
[Chorus]
+
