The Lessons

My pops came from Bed Stuy, my mom came from Africa
I'm more a nigga if you know what I mean
They hooked up in the '70's when liquor and weed was heavy
And have me and crone their dreamsBy the time I was seven my mom left my pop
Then we moved to the south side of Yonkers, New York
Then my mom remarried, had my little brother Gary
My sister a year later, let me gather my thoughtsBy the time I was nine, I was outta my mind
My step pops didn't like me beat me outta my mind
Ten and eleven the same I never would change
He still had to hit me, aggravate a little niggaStill wearin' skippys
Bob had Adidas and Pumas, I could a had a pair
My mommy said, wait 'til Christmas but I needed 'em sooner
If you heard I was broke dawg it wasn't a rumorI said, gangstas ride, ride with me
Gentlemen live your life, live it up
'Cause gangstas die, we all gon die
It's only a matter of time, the clock tickin'I said, gangstas ride, ride with me
Gentlemen live your life, live it up
'Cause gangstas die, we all gon die
It's only a matter of time, the clock tickin'It was 1986 and I was twelve years old
That's right around the time when crack came out
It was the best thing that happened to me
I swear to God 'cause I was gettin' everything that I was askin' aboutFirst we started off bangin' up, me and golf
Then shit start addin' up, we gettin' smart
Now we on Broadway, coppin' our own bench
Bring it home and put it in bottles, send us a rottleDrink a old ease grem like it wasn't tomorrow
I'm gettin' kicked out of Junior High, thinkin' I'm grown
God bust with the yellow rabbit
And I had every color dealt we was gettin' it onI was out robbin' Mexicans six in the morn'
Mom said, I'd had to ep again, rip it I'm gone
Nigga get a little loony and grown, soup in the dome
Bump me up worst when I went to the group homeI said, gangstas ride, ride with me
Gentlemen live your life, live it up
'Cause gangstas die, we all gon die
It's only a matter of time, the clock tickin'I said, gangstas ride, ride with me
Gentlemen live your life, live it up
'Cause gangstas die, we all gon die
It's only a matter of time, the clock tickin'I'm leavin' out a lotta shit, nigga it's too real
My alcoholic back round, the welfare motels
Abuse that I had to take struggle at my mom's recruit
How the fuck I'm gon bomb wit youAnd the cases I got up to date told you that I bust a eight
My niggas I can't name, outta state, my niggas fuck with weight
Little brother gone but I got a baby angel
You fuckin' with a dirty name, don't let these niggas change youThe present's what you get
And the past is what make the man future
I can't tell you I ain't God or lil' Superman
No there ain't a S on my chest, but it's a D on my block
(D block)
And said life the deepest lesson is deathI'm determined and I'm disciplined and destined to rest
I'm a gangsta and a gentleman, Panero the best
When I pass I'm like gas, motherfuckers
'Cause I'm a leave a stain that you'll never forgetI said, gangstas ride, ride with me
Gentlemen live your life, live it up
'Cause gangstas die, we all gon die
It's only a matter of time, the clock tickin'I said, gangstas ride, ride with me
Gentlemen live your life, live it up
'Cause gangstas die, we all gon die
It's only a matter of time, the clock tickin'