[00:08.01]Born with the struggle
[00:08.89]Used to hustle for crumbs
[00:10.38]Fillin blunts in the building front thuggin for ones
[00:13.26]Full clips  fly dicks
[00:14.70]Down somethin to pump
[00:16.26]Whole cliques fly whips
[00:17.64]Dimes nothin to son
[00:19.19]City boy on the corner
[00:20.88]I was so involved
[00:23.07]So the drama I embraced it with open arms
[00:25.32]Was tryin to shake the pain
[00:26.83]Hopin I could break the chains
[00:28.44]Every day the same
[00:29.50]Who am I to make a change
[00:31.38]Will my niggaz risk it all just to play the game
[00:34.13]And the young'uns goin through it
[00:35.64]Tryin to play the same
[00:37.19]Through the rain
[00:37.95]Through the fire
[00:38.57]Handcuffed by desire
[00:39.32]Sent to your son
[00:41.57]Forgive me for the sins that I've done
[00:44.08]My life  my pain lasts forever
[00:46.52]
[00:49.48]Nothin in these streets makes it better
[00:56.05]My life  my pain lasts forever
[01:01.67]Nothin in these streets makes it better
[01:04.42]And so I live on
[01:07.94]Sittin here thinkin drinkin got a
[01:09.50]Lot on my mind
[01:10.38]Is my  life shrinkin am I
[01:12.32]Caught in the times
[01:13.50]It's a  quarter to nine and I'm  grabbin my 9
[01:16.57]I had dreams I just
[01:18.32]Wanted to rhyme
[01:20.07]Climb my ways out these whack-ass ghettos
[01:22.94]I signed my name on the line with the devil
[01:25.94]Still in my prime weight
[01:27.19]But lost minds are settled
[01:28.94]Pots on the stove  move grandma's kettle
[01:31.94]Late for my job  he thinks he's a star
[01:34.94]She hates her husband
[01:36.07]She says I'm a slob
[01:37.69]Mixed feelins she ain't gettin involved
[01:39.50]Battle of the sexes
[01:41.70]The planet's off its axis
[01:43.88]The IRS God damn I owe these taxes
[01:46.69]The truth hurts  but I can take it
[01:49.82]It's a long time comin  but I can make it
[01:52.91]No mistakin  the cream is back
[01:55.55]My life  my pain lasts forever
[02:01.74]Nothin in these streets makes it better
[02:08.01]My life  my pain lasts forever
[02:10.07]Nothin in these streets makes it better
[02:18.44]And so I live on
[02:21.51]I'm standin on my own two
[02:25.20]I got my niggaz  true niggaz  real niggaz
[02:32.01]Stop the wheel really  You only feel me
[02:34.63]If you walk the same road  talk the same code
[02:37.51]Still dwellin in the hell
[02:38.88]And find the time to make a home
[02:40.82]The few who escape will try to find a safer zone
[02:43.45]I ain't waitin for Obama
[02:44.88]Never doubted him  I'm proud of him
[02:46.88]He real  he'll spend a couple million
[02:48.82]In the housing then
[02:49.88]Seein is believin  my vision is blurred
[02:52.38]Cause I ain't seein nothin I heard
[02:54.13]Really nothin but words
[02:55.88]The bottom line I'm still stuck to the curb
[02:58.38]Sky high but it wasn't the sherm
[03:00.63]Really nuttin but herbs
[03:02.07]I risk it all for the cause
[03:04.88]Even if it's war with the law won't pause
[03:06.95]I can't won't don't stop  I ain't got an off switch
[03:10.95]Dyin tryin to live it just to get a small part of it
[03:14.22]My squad is sick
[03:15.35]Type that you don't want problems with
[03:17.35]Rollin like 70 Mack trucks  what's stoppin it
[03:20.04]My life  my pain lasts forever
[03:25.16]Nothin in these streets makes it better
[03:27.72]My life  my pain lasts forever
[03:34.17]Nothin in these streets makes it better
[03:38.93]And so I live on
[03:46.05]Ohhhhh
[03:47.55]Ohhhhhh said I live
[03:49.93]I live  I live
[03:52.49]Oohhhhhhhwhoahhhhhhh