Grew up w/ roaches.
wonder bread was turned in 2 toast on top of the stove,
there was no toaster.
penny store, i loved it.
the corner where i hung as a kid. shit i cant believe it
just became a memorial, 4 the future kids.
drive by shootings, chicago riots,
look out the window, dam the bulls won again.
introduce to weed at 7, my first hit,
was my closet trip 2 heaven.
mama scream'n out the window "be home be4 the streets lights come on,"
but, mama knew when i left, i was gone.
no father there 2 tell me right or wrong,
so i learn from cok, eric, and bird.
that crack sell faster when u sell'n it in a zone.

21 years, i look back over all those years.

im not proud of what i did, but i did it 2 survive.
plus, i had habit, and that was 2 stay fly.
As soon as i left the hood 4 a minute, guess what?
Dee just died.
i can remember that was the first nite i cried!
21 years, this is all i remember.
man, back then i was just a lil bad nigga.
without a care in the world, jump'n from girl to girl.
but, ran in to Marvin Gaye song "Whats Goin on"
then i started thinking differently ,
retired from the streets, but when i left they just kept call'n me. so i
hit the streets again, i felt back home. All the older nigga's was glad 2 see me back on.
but, that same week i got shot.
i was only 16, nigga's was measuring my heart 2 see,
if i would get back on the sceen.

21 years i look back over all those years

flipp'n through my year book,
lookin at all my peers,
now most of them are even dead or doing some years.
some doing life others are doing aight.
i've seen dime chicks turn in2 just Alright.
but, let me not 4 get. brenda had a baby.
that was my little sista, murda and raped.
i was in boot camp then, no way 2 escape.
how could i believe in anything, in this mind state.
I turn 2 God 4 some answers, i couldn't get no response.
so, i grabbed a glock and got back home.
call Al and the Fam, and it was on.
Vice Lord what i was, West Side chicago born.
i didn't know no betta, man my heart was torn.
hoop'n college ball, put me on.
got me out the hood, i brought people w/ me,
As many as i could, but some nigga's got mad that i left the hood.
said i wasn't real no more, got caught in some stolen jew well's,
now look at a college hoop star land on bail.


but 21 years, i can look back now and remember.