Born & Raised

I was the first of three sisters
My older brothers would treat me like a princess
Sporting flattops and hightop sneakers
My feet too small for my brand-new adidas
7 in the evening when my mama calls
Were playing dodge ball up against the berlin wall
That's how I was born and raised
Now mama, look at where I am today
It's alright
Even though we had to struggle
Sometimes
Even if we stumbled
It's all good
Cause I learned how to stay on my feet
It's alright
Even though we had to struggle
Sometimes
Even if we stumbled
It's all good
Cause I learned how to do for me
If my life's like your life, then I want for you to know
There's not a thing in the world you can't achieve
If your life's like my life, you got to keep on keeping on
Cause there's so much more you can be
16 when I first left home
Already hard headed thinking I was grown
Berlin girl, half african, half caucasian
Imagine conflicts I'm facing
Skipped school, went clubbin with them black GI's
Arguments on the phone would make my mama cry
I fell in love with this thug, daddy threw a fit
Only took one year, that nigga's doing a bid
This is back when P.E. gave us identity
A young girl in the streets of west germany
That's how I was born and raised
Now mama, look at where I am today
Hip Hop Soul was the brand new rage
Became my real love with Mary J
I took my first steps on a spot lit stage
It was clear I was here to stay
See it wasn't always easy on this path I chose
When it starts getting sleazy don't know friend from foe
That's when I learned to discern and stand up for me
And took control of my own destiny