[Intro]

Where are they?

They were supposed to be here, like, more than an hour ago

I swear, these niggas is always late

Must be a black thang

Waitin’ over here in the tenderloin where I see all sorts of crack slangin’

Makes me think that I should wait in another place

Have to find these niggas ‘fore I lose my face

[Chorus]

Word is born in the tenderloin

(Word is born)

Word is born in the tenderloin

(Word is born)

Word is born in the tenderloin

(Word is born)

Word is born in the tenderloin

(Word is born)

Word is born in the tenderloin

(Word is born)

Word is born in the tenderloin

(Word is born)

Word is born in the tenderloin

(Word is born)

Word is born in the tenderloin

[Verse 1]

Yo’ the tenderloin is a tender place

Yo’ the tenderloin is like outer space

It’s kinda crazy that you never know what you’ll see

That’s why I comin’ to all you that there are no trees and it’s

All concrete and it’s all kinda hard walk

Through the tenderloin with our bodyguard

Because there’s folks selling crack and doing all kinds of things

Folks selling gold, and phony diamond rings

And you can go to Original Joe’s and get yourself a steak

Or you can go around the corner and you’ll get yourself a plate of that

Cheap fried chicken and macaroni and cheese

In the tenderloin you can do what you please

You’ll never know what happens

You never know what you’ll see

Walkin’ down the street sayin’

“Yo’ it smells like pee and there’s

Broken glass and there are people sleepin’

There are people chokin’

There are people creepin’ you”

Never know what you’ll get into when you’re there

And if you are not ready you say you might get a scare

Yo ‘cause

[Chorus]

Word is born in the tenderloin

(In the tenderloin)

(I’ve been waitin’ for more than three hours now)

Word is born in the tenderloin

(Word is born)

(For these niggas and I’m tellin’ you)

Word is born in the tenderloin

(Word is born)

(If I have to wait for one more minute)

(Watchin’ this fool)

[Verse 2]

Yo’ I’m 25 in the tenderloin And I’m in the city now but I grew up on the farm with

Chickens and cows, folks sayin’ “How ya doin’?” and I

Thought I would move and I thought I would groove into the

Big city where it was mo’ gritty jungle trees hoverin’ over as concrete

And city streets

No dirt roads, no outdoor commodes

In San Francisco, things, man, are never that slow

That’s the verb

I’m gonna speak it ‘cause you know I heard the word

They my peoples

Also ya equals

Crackheads and dreads and CEOs that treads ignorin’ their cups but makin’ the Boxster

Tenderloin’s rough so in SF

I represent for the cuts

I represent for the cuts

My diamonds are words, not the bling-bling

And they are a few of my favorite things

I’m 25, a disturbance to your atmosphere, and I’m

Waitin’ for you to open your ears to hear

I’m spittin’ words about the tenderloin

Markin’ in 6, pugnaciousness

Hoes and tricks

And baby that’s as good as it gets

And that’s as good as it gets

But then they find folks down and out

Searching for clout

In the city with a whole lotta wealth

Lookin’ for some love, and self, and better health

So I’mma always kick it in the tenderloin

‘Cause where my folks is at is where the word is born

Born

[Outro]

Word is born in the tenderloin

In the tenderloin

Word is born in the tenderloin

So, you gonna bring yo’ ass or what?

For far too long, motherfuckas tryna sell me fake gold rings and shit

I don’t like gold I like silver

Pssh, no I don’t wanna give you my shoes

What the fuck make you think I’mma give my shoes right off of my motherfuckin’ feet?

That make me sick

I swear if the next crack king ask me for some motherfuckin’ clothes

I’mma just fuckin’ turn around and smack the shit out of a motherfucka’

I tell you

God damn it these fuckin’ tenderloin hoes