Comin’ From Where I’m From

[Intro]
Uh, yeah
Comin' from where I'm from
It's not only a place, it's a state of mind
Yeah, ghetto to ghetto
Uh

[Verse 1]
Sellin' drugs in front of Lucho's, same clothes I've been in for weeks
Purple and Paulice watchin', makin' sure they get they piece
And for for my peace of mind, I gotta carry with me a piece
Pressure's buildin' 'round every corner, let's hope it don't release
From Shore Ave to South Road, I'm hustlin' hard
Although I'm broke with not a dollar, I can't fuck with no job
And I had my share of grimy bitches, one set mе up to get robbed
But I kept my hеad up out the books so I could study street smarts
I would never serve a pregnant chick, that wasn't my style
For pretty bitches, I was King though, have it your way with a smile
Ask Wize about that limo, he'll say, "We did what we should"
Even if we ain't goin' nowhere just ridin' around in the hood
Sippin' on brown liquor, me, Marcus, Ed, and Diesta
Hillcrest with Dark Man, different women every semester
Hit the Coliseum block, look at the cops on the roof
Niggas will snatch your shit daily, where I'm from is the truth

[Chorus]
I gotta struggle just to pay the rent, rent
Comin' from where I'm from, I'm from
I'm tryna make a dollar out of fifty cent, cent
Comin' from where I'm from, I'm from
Liquor's no cure, but it gets me bent, bent
Comin' from where I'm from, I'm from
Hustle 'til the sun hits my mama's steps, steps
Comin' from where I'm from, I'm from

[Verse 2]
What a wonderful world, diamonds and pearls within your grasp
Then right behind the glass, a newborn's found in the trash
I can't fight for a color, I can't fight for a flag
I could only fight for a purpose and that purpose is cash
To feed the part need, of the park greed I got seeds
And they blossomin', plus I keep a couple G's for lawyer feeds
'Cause the city is grim, you gotta swim with the sharks
And if they smell a little blood, they might just rip you apart
So don't be lookin' for the wizard 'cause he can't give you no heart
And ain't a flashlight in the world'll light your path when it's dark
I move in silence, I'm like a dog with a bite but no bark
School of hard knocks, we box, I learn to fight in 48 Park
Lil' niggas is holdin' big guns, they don't fight, they just spark
First timers might close they eyes, that's when stray bullets depart
Hard to keep a level head, so I drown in my beer
Look for a way up out this ghetto, so my hustle I share, yeah

[Chorus]
I gotta struggle just to pay the rent, rent
Comin' from where I'm from, I'm from
I'm tryna make a dollar out of fifty cent, cent
Comin' from where I'm from, I'm from
Liquor's no cure, but it gets me bent, bent
Comin' from where I'm from, I'm from
Hustle 'til the sun hits my mama's steps, steps
Comin' from where I'm from, I'm from

[Verse 3]
"Could've been a doctor," Mama said, "Whatever you see fit
Half the people expect you to fail, and not be shit"
Me and Country up on the corner, just tryna reach for the stars
Pickin' up work at the Chinese spot, usin' Valerie car
Heart beatin' a mile a minute 'cause ain't no license in here
And I'm not sure but I think it's like, three-to-nine up in here
Kev used to tell me, "Stay in school," but I wasn't tryna hear
If Rev heard me and Fred was rollin', well then fuck it, I'm there
And I used to date this chick from Harlem, she was like my first love
Never did any type of narcotic but she was my first drug
Found out the hard way, life of dealer cards fucked up
Kev died, shorty broke up with me, if it wasn't for bad luck
I had none, the concrete is colder than ice
Ridin' the "E" train to Jamaica Ave to cope me some Nikes
Lookin' up a Vanilla Sky's, what's the meanin' of life?
In South Jamaica, Queens, you hardly ever get three strikes

[Chorus]
I gotta struggle just to pay the rent, rent
Comin' from where I'm from, I'm from
I'm tryna make a dollar out of fifty cent, cent
Comin' from where I'm from, I'm from
Liquor's no cure, but it gets me bent, bent
Comin' from where I'm from, I'm from
Hustle 'til the sun hits my mama's steps, steps
Comin' from where I'm from, I'm from

[Outro]
Comin' from where I'm from, I'm from
Comin' from where I'm from, I'm from
Comin' from where I'm from, I'm from
Comin' from where I'm from, I'm from