Yeah, it's the Big L
 Comin at you once again, in nine-five
 And I dedicate this one
 to all my peoples from Uptown.. and everywhere
 Check it!
 Yo where I'm from it ain't cookies and cream
 There's a lot of peer pressure growin up as a young teen
 You never know when you gonna get wet
 Cause mad clowns be catchin wreck with a tec just to get a rep
 Instead of cool friends, they'd rather hang with male thugs
 Instead of goin to school, they'd rather sell drugs
 It's best to go the right route and not the wrong one
 Because it's gonna catch up witchu in the long run
 Brothers be all up on us, actin stupid, gettin lifted
 They life is twisted, and most of them are quite gifted
 In other words, they got TALENT; but they'd rather sell cracks
 and bust gats and run the streets actin violent
 To them it's all about hittin skinz and makin some easy green
 Cause that's all they show you on the TV screen
 All they care about is a buck or bustin a sweet nut
 They don't give a (WHAT?) cause they street struck
 Chorus: Big L
 You betta listen when L rhyme; cause bein street struck'll
 get you nuttin but a bullet or jail time
 So pay attention when L rhyme; cause bein street struck'll
 get you nuttin but a bullet or jail time
 [Big L]
 Before the rap contract, I was sellin crack
 Stay strapped with a Mac, I was into alla that
 I started rappin and got nice as hell
 If it wasn't for this I might be doin life in jail
 And some of my peeps are still in the game sellin 'caine
 If that's what you gotta do to maintain, go 'head and do your thang
 But with the cash profit make an investment
 And try not to go to the grave like the rest went
 Cause you can be rich with crazy loot, own a house and nine cars
 What good is that, if you're dead, or behind bars?
 And yo it's not even funny
 I've seen a lot of my peers give up they careers for some fast money
 They could've been boxers, ballplayers or rap singers
 Instead they bank robbers and crack slingers
 Aiyyo they used to be legit kids, now they corrupt
 They had dreams but gave em up cause they street struck
 Chorus: repeat 2X
 [Big L]
 I still chill with my peeps in the streets; but most of the time
 I'm in the crib, writin rhymes to some dope beats
 Or either callin up some freaks to bone
 But word up, I try to leave the streets alone
 But it's crazy hard kid, in other words, it's spooky
 The streets be callin me, like the crack be callin Pookie
 It ain't a dumb joke, listen to this young folk
 Cause where I'm from -- you can choke from the gunsmoke
 Stay off the corners; that might be your best plan
 Before you catch a bullet that was meant for the next man
 Or end up with a deep cut
 Or relaxin on a hospital bed, from bein street struck
 Chorus: repeat 2X
 [Big L]
 Worrrd up!
 Aiyyo take it from me, the Big L
 Cause I been through it all, youknowhatI'msayin?
 Stay off them corners you'll stay out of trouble
 And I gotta say rest in peace to all the cats teasin streets
 I'm outta here