Born and Raised

Dem seh a how we live mek we nuh know better yah
 Inna di rainy rainy weather, we a guarded 'pon di border
 We haffi hol' di order
 Still yuh know we dere 'pon we own
 Cau' we a likkle, we a search for gold
 Nuh mek no bwoy come take we throne
 We haffi hol' it strong, yah!
 I was born and raised
 In a place everyday where bullets nuh stop reign
 I was born and raised
 Wit' a spliff inna mi mout' and a gun 'pon me waist
 I was born and raised
 By di pimps an' di hustlers, the homeless, the strays
 I was born and raised to know, recognize, slow all di hate
 Rudebwoy grown upon his own damn two
 Runnin' 'round doin' what the rudebwoy do
 Wanna be a bad man
 He was born up in the badland
 Never knew his father
 No one there to give him guidance
 Started smokin' marijuana
 Hanging out, having all nighters
 His mommy never liked it
 She told him I won't come visit you in Rikers
 She said: you never wan' go Rikers Island
 He caught a charge for carrying a gun
 For some it's rites of passage
 (To the streets we make a marriage)
 Concrete jungle with the savages
 (We facin' different challenges)
 Only the strong will survive
 (Living in the belly) 'cause the beast swallow you alive
 Preaches couldn't save him (but a gangster still prays)
 Keep the humble when you hustle
 Live to see another day
 I was born and raised
 In a place everyday where bullets nuh stop reign
 I was born and raised
 Wit' a spliff inna mi mout' and a gun 'pon me waist
 I was born and raised
 By di pimps an' di hustlers, the homeless, the strays
 I was born and raised to know, recognize, slow all di hate
 What type of nigga, slang and bang in the streets?
 (A bad man)
 That's the type of company you keep
 They say the energy gets circulated
 (Vibes get communicated)
 The actions and the mannerisms imitated
 Sharp dressed (Jah Bless)
 When you see 'em salute your highness (Salute!)
 He's one of fifteen out his daddy's sack
 Him was a true gun man so him come from that
 Raised in the ghetto singin' songs of survival
 Where we learn to conquer fears and our friends become our rivals
 It's a concrete jungle where the savage rules
 And violence begets violence, wah yuh do?
 Live fast, die young
 You never know when the death angel come
 Life is shorter than a midget on the curbside
 So, lift up your life and enjoy the ride
 I was born and raised
 In a place everyday where bullets nuh stop reign
 I was born and raised
 Wit' a spliff inna mi mout' and a gun 'pon me waist
 I was born and raised
 By di pimps an' di hustlers, the homeless, the strays
 I was born and raised to know, recognize, slow all di hate