Survival

[Verse One] I was born in the beast's belly Running through the streets smelly Daytime, summer hot like a fleece skully Running 'round, no shirt on, throwing dirt bombs Chasing little girls that had skirts on If we wasn't on the block then we going swimming Public pool, feeling the butts of grown women Little shorties trying to stroke ass Swam in our shoes cause on the bottom was broke glass On two hand touch I had a nice team After the game, nana threw down money for ice cream Yup, and Good Humor had the best stock Some days I had to chase the truck to the next block And if we got in a fight, you might get it I was quick to pick up some shit and hit a nigga wit it It didn't matter, either bottle or stick, or a half a brick I look back and I laugh at the shit I had four different fights with the same guy I won two, lost one and one was a tie We always kept score like that It was raw like that I kinda wish now was more like that It's funny how the hood make you, it could break you If your mind ain't strong enough then it could take you I used to wish that I could rise above it I'd love it But I was too young to understand the size of it [Hook] They say the name of the game is "survival" Open the door I'm alive on arrival And when I'm in I ain't trying to leave You don't know what I'm trying to achieve I'm trying to breathe (Just breathe) Just breathe {x6} Uh huh, just breathe [Verse Two] By the time I hit the age of 16 I wanted major cream On the block, trying to shine like a laser beam If you had the Gucci frames then the coochie came It was all about the cats that had designer names I couldn't get the shit that some got I didn't sell crack rock, I didn't have a wicked jump shot I was known for rapping, keeping it popping Finally I got a summer job, sweeping and mopping Bringing home like four and some change was so strange No more wearing them jeans with no names I started dressing trying to out flash So Fresh and So Clean clean like I was Outkast A couple friends had another route If they thought she had money on her, they'd knock your mother out I had to see we wasn't kids now Same cats that played on the block with was doing bids now [Hook] [Verse Three] From the past up until the present To growing up and reaching adulthood from an adolescent I see them 20 inch rims, I understand why you got those Riding through Brooklyn, hitting potholes It's just a way to tell yourself that you finally made it Don't give a damn if the rest of the world kind of hate it Nobody understand the wild type of shit we facing And all we had to do to rise above the situation They don't understand the platinum chains and ice rings They don't realize we never had no nice things I'll always remember, how I started out though Don't ever forget, how it was without doe This feels good like a swim in the gym Representing for my women and men, feel me again C'mon [Hook]