[Chorus: sample] 

All my life, it's been one big struggle 

Born and raised... in the slums of trouble, I'm all... 



[Ghostface Killah] 

Yo, I was born and raise in New York City 

The home of the Yankees, the Jam Master Jay's and the Biggie's 

Ralph Icey's, Jet mags, cops surveillance, it's high tech 

Our appearance is we still in the grind, and direct 

But on my side of town shit's gorilla, phone booths is broke 

Behind the building niggaz on post 

What up Doc? What up Lord? I'm chilling 

These motherfuckers got my name and my face 

Placed up in every building 

You see what that do to the children, that ain't right 

I've been raised in these projects, damn near, all my life 

And these faggots wanna do this to me, I'ma lay low 

And blow that cop, son, you watch, no lie, word to my momma, dunn 

They don't want the drama, thunn, 'member me in '86? 

Knocked out four cops, got knocked on the outer bridge 

Bagged me with two clips, a fifth of Bacardi Dark 

I spared them, cause all of them left with they body parts 

I'm not crazy; I'm lulu, I will Larry Davis these spades 

You spill a little blood on the NARC's Fubu 

The Culture Pound'll go thru dude, and ricochet off his shoulder 

Miss the teeth and hit his Lo Mein noodles 

Fuck it.. 



[Chorus] 



[Ghostface Killah] 

I'ma tell ya motherfuckers something, my struggle is real 

Threw ketchup on my rice, cause there was no meat with the meal 

My dog was better off alone, he ate when I ate, if not days later 

Two weeks old cold shit, straight out the refrigerator 

Ran away a few times, then boom, went to Dee and fried them 

Prior to that, burning rulers, we was getting high in the Hill 

So many cracks we done crushed up in dollar bills 

It's a shame, didn't smoke once plain; don't pass me that 

I had escaped that, then dust took over 

Hit bags of red devil, bundels leaking, had put the hood in a coma 

Hustling backwards and off balance, turkey and cheese hero's 

And nutriments, kept a nigga belly full 

Fresh cut and fresh kicks, thinking it was cool, now I'm telling you 

A grown man still in the struggle, vouch for my brothers too 

And sisters, all across the globe, fuck the past 

Fix the future, I'm sent here to spread the message, come on 



[Chorus]