Da Way We Were

[Chorus: Mathematics] It was the good life, we rolled dice, with not much, but hung tough With grandmas, and grandpas, my Old Earth, my great pops With hustlers that hustled and pimps that played And O.G.'s that never played, Mac ten's that sprayed From park jams and projects, parades lead to forty Southside seventeen, Sufton bully shorties Seven crowns, one eighteen, the Gods we get down Lakeweed to Inwood, it's all good, it's my town [Mathematics] Back in the days: New Birth, Chi-Lites and O'Jays Sang the roots, they hit the stage, they hit the stage They hit the stage, they hit the stage It was set in a mack and mo' Yellow Caddy, roof down, deckin' slow mo Grim hat to the side, feather in it Burgundy, pimpin' on a stroll for a minute, now How you doin' this morning, Miss Johnson? She's crouchin', snatchin' up the weeds from out her garden I beg your pardon, and catch you down at the pool hall Where we can play a game, smoke a tray and drink some alcohol Placin' numbers, catch each one as they sprintin' And printin', numbers in there heads like it's printed Fur coats, minks, and canes, pops givin' me Shots on the low, moms blastin' Al Green "I'm Still In Love With You", Kool-Aid, hot grits New skits, fist fights, black-eyes and fat lips Gangs with chains and motorcycles, family rivals You fight one, you fight all, if have too Afro's and picks, chicks double dutch They young, they cry "Black & Strong" as they strut No more, we shall overcome, they overcame A Black Panther, black liberation army and Brothers, who fought to hold the grain Sisters who bare these pains so there seeds could break these chains Brain music: Curtis, Marvin and Teddy The Temptations, plus The Sweet Inspirations [Chorus] [Mathematics] Ladies sung the blues, Smokey hit the high notes Coolie High lost Cochise a while ago It's been a long time coming Funny how things changed, Superfly Priest just left the game Cotton came to Harlem, last weekend It's peeking, fiends around nottin', creepkin' and sleakin' Eyes the sice of watermelons, grits the size of fists Searchin' for the next fame to stick Slick daddy with the heroin, dust if you must Herb, free basic, you lust Goalie left his hoes on the stroll, dipped on the low Stabbed Pretty Tone and watched him blow James died in a car crash, J.J. felt the blast Penny got furnished beneath the cast Who seen our moms, last, baby, I'm back though What's Happening? Baretta's on the block with the four-four Him and Kojak fuckin' with Lamont and Rollo Some things never change, son, maybe tomorrow Or the day after, another chapter Wishin', aww shit, Huggy Bear, fuckin' snitchin' Chop his throat with them razors they be tuckin' That's for talkin', they hung his tongue and kept walkin' And headed down to the Bar Lounge To hear some soulful sounds, and drown a few rounds [Chorus 2X] [Outro: Mathematics] What, nigga, what...