Yeah, it's the Big L
Coming 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 with you in the long run
Brothers be on the corners
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' skins
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
You better listen to L rhyme
Cause being street struck'll get you nothin'
But a bullet or jail time
So pay attention when L rhyme
Cause being street struck'll get you nothin'
But a bullet or jail time
Before the rap contract, I was sellin' crack
Stay strapped with a Mac, I was into all of 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 selling '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 their careers for some fast money
They could've been boxers
Ballplayers, or rap singers
Instead they bank robbers and crack slingers
Ayo, they used to be legit kids, now they corrupt
They had dreams but gave 'em up
Cause they street struck
You better listen to L rhyme
'Cause being street struck'll get you nothin'
But a bullet or jail time
So pay attention when L rhyme
'Cause being street struck'll get you nothin'
But a bullet or jail time
You better listen to L rhyme
'Cause being street struck'll get you nothin'
But a bullet or jail time
So pay attention when L rhyme
'Cause being street struck'll get you nothin'
But a bullet or jail time
I still chill with my peeps in the streets
But most of the time I'm in the crib
Writing rhymes to some dope beats
Or either calling 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 gun smoke
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
You better listen to L rhyme
'Cause being street struck'll get you nothin'
But a bullet or jail time
So pay attention when L rhyme
'Cause being street struck'll get you nothin'
But a bullet or jail time
You better listen to L rhyme
'Cause being street struck'll get you nothin'
But a bullet or jail time
So pay attention when L rhyme
'Cause being street struck'll get you nothin'
But a bullet or jail time
Word up, ayo take it from me, the Big L
'Cause I been through it all
You know what I'm sayin'?
Stay off them corners you'll stay out of trouble
And I gotta say rest in peace
To all the casualties of the streets
I'm outta here