Big Dreams

"It's not - It's not me exactly, who touches people It's what I represent, the possibility that dreams long ago May still come true, even if they - even-even-even if they look lost forever" [Bow Wow] I had a homey named Tony, sixteen, six two Headed to the NBA straight from high school My nigga had his ball game on lock But at the same time, he was in love with the block All the stuff that came wit it, the drugs and the guns The gangs, the slang and all the funds He just got a letter of intent from the Cavaliers Sayin' how they love him and they wish he was there He had it made like Special Ed, about to get the bread But chose, to do, sumthin' dumb instead Go to war with the crew on the other side of town And was mo' ready, and Tony got laid down He ain't even have a chance Died before the ambulance, even got to him So many went through him I hate to tell the story, but that's how it is Growin' up in the hood as a kid [Hook] When you got big dreams, don't listen to what nobody say And don't let nobody turn you away When you got big dreams, keep your eyes on the prize Don't fall to the wayside ("even-even if they look lost forever") When you got big dreams Don't listen to what nobody say and don't let nobody turn you away When you got big dreams, keep your eyes on the prize Don't fall to the waste side, reach for the sky ("even-even if they look lost forever") Knew a girl named Gina that was a hell of a singer And everybody fell in love with her when they seen her Baby girl was on the verge of signing a big deal Eighteen, and life looked so-so real She was stuck wit a dude that was all bad news And all he ever did was give baby the blues But she was true to a nigga, do for a nigga Pop you and ya whole crew for a nigga One night he came, picked her up told her, "let's ride!" That's the same night that he watched her die! They was tryna hit a lick, but the lick hit back Put a end to the deal, and all of that She ain't even have to be there, he know it wha'nt right Now he gotta deal with it for the rest of his life And the part I don’t like, he ain’t even get grazed But the homegirl, Gina, is layin' in the grave [Hook] I got a few relatives givin' family drama Always got they hands out when they see me and my momma One coulda been a doctor, the other a chef But when he got his own kitchen, he was cookin' sumthin' else Now his life in the drain, a triflin' shame He all washed up, wife took e'rything No car, no mo', no HOUSE And everywhere he go, he stole, so they throwed him out I was growin' up, lookin' up to be like them Now I'm throwin' up cash, rollin' up in the Bent I was stuck wit a dream I had since a shorty I be DAMNED if I let another man support me, now Uncle Junebug's sick, skinny as hell He got AIDS in his body from the needles he shared E'rytime he get his welfare checks, he don't care If you wanna see him go to the crack house, he there [Hook] When you got big dreams When you got big dreams ("even-even if they look lost forever") When you got big dreams When you got big dreams, keep your eyes on the prize Don't fall to the waste side, reach for the sky ("even-even-even if they look lost forever")