03' Adolescence

I grew up, a fuckin' screw up
 Tie my shoe up, wish they was newer
 Damn, need somethin' newer
 In love with the baddest girl in the city, I wish I knew her
 I wish I weren't so shy, I wish I was a bit more fly
 I wish that I, could tell her how I really feel inside
 That I'm the perfect nigga for her, but then maybe that's a lie
 She like a certain type of nigga, and it's clear I'm not that guy
 Ball player, star player, I'm just watchin' from the side
 On the bench, 'cause my lack of confidence won't let me fly
 I ain't grow up with my father, I ain't thinkin' bout that now
 Fast forward four years or so from now I'll probably cry
 When I realize what I missed, but as of now my eyes are dry
 'Cause I'm tryna stay alive in the city where too many niggas die
 Dream in quiet tryna dodge a suit and tie
 Who am I? (Who am I?)
 Aye who am I? (Yeah)
 Things change, rearrange, or so do I
 It ain't always for the better dawg, I can't lie
 I get high \cause the lows can be so cold
 I might bend a little bit but I don't fold
 One time for my mind and two for yours
 I got food for your thoughts to sooth your soul
 If you see my tears fall just let me be
 Move along, nothing to see
 I always did shit the hard way
 My niggas out slangin' in the hallway
 Burnt CD's and trees like this was broadway
 Times Square, kept the dimes there in the locker
 Some Reggie Miller
 With more brown hairs than Chubacca
 Whispers that he got it for the low low seller
 Dime for a dub, them white boys ain't know no better
 Besides, what's twenty dollars to a nigga like that?
 He tell his pops he need some lunch and he gon' get it right back
 I peep game, got home snatched my mama keychain
 Took her whip, the appeal, to ill to refrain
 I hit the boulevard pull up to my nigga front door
 His mama at home, she still let em' hit the blunt though
 I told her hello and sat with my nigga and laughed
 And talked about how we gon' smash all the bitches in class
 I complimented how I see him out here getting his cash
 And just asked, "What a nigga gotta do to get that? Put me on"
 He just laughed when he seen I was sure
 17 years breathing his demeanor said more
 He told me, "Nigga you know how you sound right now?
 You won't my mans, I would think that you're clown right now listen"
 "You everything I wanna be that's why I fucks with you
 So how you looking up to me, when I look up to you?"
 "You bout to go get a degree, I'm bout to be stuck with two choices
 Either graduate to weight or sell a number two
 For what? A hundred bucks or two a week?
 Do you think that you would know what to do if you was me?
 I got, four brothers, one mother that don't love us
 If they ain't never want us why the fuck they never wore rubbers?"
 I felt ashamed to have ever complained about my lack of gear
 And thought about how far we done came
 From trailer park to a front yard with trees in the sky
 Thank you mama dry your eyes, there ain't no reason to cry
 You made a genius and I, ain't gon' take it for granted
 I ain't gon' settle for lesser, I ain't gon' take what they handed
 Nah I'm gon' take what they owe me and show you that I can fly
 And show ol' girl what she missing
 The illest nigga alive, aye, who am I?
 Things change, rearrange, or so do I aye who am I?)
 It ain't always for the better dawg, I can't lie (aye who am I?)
 I get high 'cause the lows can be so cold
 I might bend a little bit but I don't fold
 One time for my mind and two for yours
 I got food for your thoughts to sooth your soul
 If you see my tears fall just let me be
 Move along, nothing to see
 I never felt better