[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 .. corrosion 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 corners
  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]