Days Of My Youth

A young shorty, intrigued by the rap artist image
 Couldn't let grandmoms catch me reciting lyrics
 If she did she got upset and gave me a lecture
 Told me rap was for hoodlums that didn't really impress her
 They just a bunch of thugs that keep texts on their dresser
 Out of respect for her I used to hide my tapes
 Quietly recording shows up at nights real late
 Stuffing papers in cassettes if I ain't had no blanks
 From maxillae TV case that didn't matter what the tape was
 The favorite show back in the days was probably Future Flavors
 Marley Marl and Pete Rock playing the exclusives
 Nothing but new hits, the one show that I refused to miss
 That was the era that gave me the most influences
 When rap was in its prime and the streets were damaged from crime
 I was in the lab drafting a rhyme
 Bumping 50 MC's by Tony Touch while every track would rewind
 Late night video souls
 Those were the days of my youth
 Yeah, those were the days of my youth
 I used to rock a triple goose when it was cold
 Those were the days of my youth
 Yeah, those were the days of my youth
 Running around chasing skirts in the summer
 Those were the days of my youth
 Yeah, those were the days of my youth
 Being raised up by a single mother
 Those were the days of my youth
 Damn, what happened to the days of my youth
 Just a little kid who fiend to be placed on the TV screen
 Listening to Billie Jean smiling and dancing
 With tube socks and church shoes, acting like Michael Jackson
 That was way back when, Michael who my idol was
 Black mittens on my hands 'cause I ain't had no white gloves
 After that phase started admiring the thugs
 Letting my pants sag glow over my (?) kicks
 Life to me was all about hip hop and comic strips
 Fighting with my television while my chick karate flicks
 Always taken care of, can't say I was (?)
 Sneaky little child always behaving suspicious
 Devious type flirting with the baby sitters
 Thank God for moms discipline, that made a difference
 Could've ended up being a problem child facing a sentence
 Instead I chose a path with limitations and restrictions
 On being and listening when no time was giving wisdom
 Getting bad grades at school
 Those were the days of my youth
 Yeah, those were the days of my youth
 Rocking Jordan's made me feel a little cool
 Those were the days of my youth
 Yeah, those were the days of my youth
 Rap City in the basement
 Those were the days of my youth
 Yeah, those were the days of my youth
 Damn, I wonder where them days went
 Those were the days of my youth
 Damn, what happened to the days of my youth
 You could find me on the block chasing the ice cream truck
 A cooling out waiting for the fire hydrants to erupt
 Spraying water guns at everybody while I run and duck
 You know the younging, that came across as being mad shy and coy
 Nickname back in the day used to be shotty boy
 Liked a few sports but b-ball was one of my favorites
 Naive like every kid thinking I could make the Majors
 Found a new hobby which was putting pencils to pages
 Infected with a love for hip hop that got contagious
 First album on tape was 36 Chambers
 Started watching YO! MTV Raps with Dre and Ed
 Taping hot 97 in night before I lay in bed
 Black Moon 'Who's Got The Props' forever playing in my head
 Blasting my speakers when I heard Angie Martinez
 Battle of the beats, one of my favorite features
 Influenced by the music, so I switched up the dress-code
 Thinking I'm the man now because I rock fresh clothes
 From Hilfiger to Helly Hansen when the weather was cold
 Negro need catching grand hills on my feet
 Those memories are forever that I remember and keep
 From Jo Clear to Big Les
 Those were the days of my youth
 Yeah, those were the days of my youth
 Stocking cabs with a fitted on my head
 Those were the days of my youth
 Yeah, those were the days of my youth
 Yes, farmers and shirts by Tommy Hill
 Those were the days of my youth
 Yeah, those were the days of my youth
 Those times are long gone but still wear 'em
 Those were the days of my youth
 Damn, what happened to the days of my youth?