From The Soul

[Part I]
Pushin' a whip, cell vibratin' my hip
With a fifth o that good shit wettin’ my lips
Got five more spots that I got to hit
I flip broccoli, knowin' that I got to quit
Ouiet is kept, don't wanna get my mom upset
If she only knew her son was a ten year vet
No regrets for chillin' at the high school sets
Sellin’ to kids that hadn't reached eighteen yet
They say you reap what you sew, but these streets I know
For sho’ , is mo' betta than an eight to fo'
Either way I go I still gotta make that dough
So my hustle right now is to make phat shows
Bros, hoes and family, watchin'em grow
Photos of little niggas at ten years old
When we had fun time never went by slow
Now l'm over thirty and still tryin' to roll
Paul C., to whom all praise is due
And Allah for makin' me stay with you
Bumped heads many times but we made it through
Ass whippings with a switch till my shit was blue
Who knew I’d ever be the man I grew in to?
Pops' attitude mixed with my Moms' mental
Their parental advice highly influential
My potential has peaked, now I speak through my pencil

[Chorus]

[Part II]
I walk a thin line between purgatory and hell
My broken English, locked in allegories of jail
Heard the wiseman's pain in further stories to teil
You know the ghetto-fabulous, street-glories that failed
On the park bench with sixty-four squares to link
Just rolled something, whatever was there to drink
Few of us did seek an atmosphere to think
How to stick white folks for their share of mink!
Foster-Kids shooting hoops and dice in fubu garments
Rocking them Air Force Ones to loose farmers
Smooth karma's, brothers boost armour
We had to live in a two bedroom-appartment
A snot-nose grows with his wings lo spread
My old man, I never listened to a thing he said
Lt's hust sad to watch Mama sling in the bread ...
While l'm ducking swings towards my head!
Run but can't hide, escaping denial
These streets of Babylon have never shaped a smile
I am what I am and couldn't change my style
Pay attention and ya hear Iman tape the trial ...
To excel until my blood turns blue
Have you ever felt the pain when slugs burn through?
By any means, until my blood turns blue
Have you ever felt the pain ... ?

[Chorus]