A yo, i walk down the block with my stomach in knots Spent time hustling, running from cops Broke as a joke, no ends at all Can't play ball and my timbs is small Can't buy trees with government cheese I rather be where its breeze, niggas bubbling ki's My moms got two jobs one on her knees And writin letters to the governor please call off the deeds My baby mother with another brother with cash And drive by roll down the window and laugh I solve all my problems with indo and hash Bought my daughter a nintendo now she calling it dad My landlord's a jerk, the water don't work My little sister twelve and she bought her own skirt Rather do kirk than do her homework Talk blunts and boys and she'll jump for joy Shit's twisted, opportunity not but i missed it Out in the park gettin lifted So now i'm sittin here shit out of luck without a buck And it don't make a difference So do you hear me? 'cause if you don't i'll come up close and say it clearly I got to know i got to go I strive for my pay each and every way But this type of shit it happens everyday It's like i'm trapped in a maze walk around in a daze I won't rest 'til i'm paid or i'm down in my grave I wanna look tough, but my sneakers is scuffed Everyday pants in the week is enough I had a little money but it came and it went Now its either pay the rent or stay in a tent And it don't make sense how the shit is intense And all you got up in your pocket is lint, you get the hint? I had a cigarette for breakfast, just for beginners Cried for my lunch and sleep for dinner I tried to go to church, priest called me a sinner He called me everything except for a winner I'm walking in the rain wishing things would change It ain't a game, mad i pawned all the rings and chains Emotionally scarred form losing my job Pass the nod nigga, times is hard [chorus] So do you hear me? 'cause if you don't i'll come up close and say it clearly I got to know, i got to go I strive for my pay each and every way But this type of shit it happens everyday Now would you check me? If i was you and you was me, would you respect me? I got to know i got to go I strive for my pay each and every way But this type of shit it happens everyday I ain't gonna front, all i want is a blunt A pair of blue and yellow dunks and my hundreds in chunks But, people see me, put they purse to the front I'm waking up early on the first of the month Honeys don't respect when you call 'em collect And it's 25 cent you can call 'em direct I put my life on the line i ain't making a dime Nigga call me never mind , man you're wastin' your time A yo, i'm livin' in the ghetto and i'm tryin' to survive At the same time a nigga rolling by in a five Can find a drive for a 9-5 It's like i only get by when i'm feeling the high And i ain't got no smoke, the elevator broke I'm at the end of my rope tryin to find a way to cope I'm sipping on gin thinking how i could win I don't know where it begins but this is where it could end [chorus]