[Verse 1: Akrobatik]

He watched his grandmoms get beat by his drunk granddad for bein drunk

Of course he grow up to be a punk

How could he learn respect, when he comes home

To the people that he loves most beefin and gettin wrecked?

See, this is a point where a shorty loses his innocence

His, mind gets raped before he even learns diligence

But, see his momma sparked his hunger to learn

And had him schoolin where the tuition was more than she earned

Creative, he'd write rhymes to escape (uhh)

The sources of his pain documented on tape

And maybe these raps'll lie in time capsules for the future youngsters

To see struggle is consistant among us

No need, he found a career and made it clear (what)

Despite all obstacles he is still here

Now he travels the world celebratin survival

With people he was told was liable to be his rivals

Unifyin through a universal language

And common goals of freedom and escape from the anguish

But don't cross him though, some things never change in us

Bumpy Knuckles told him peaceful cats are the most dangerous

And he was grown by now, so he related back

Cause he done been to hell and made it back without a scratch

Unless you count the technic tables cuttin his name up

Ya boy finessed shit, got his game up and came up

[Hook: El-P] + {*scratches by DJ Big Wiz*}

We keep workin, city stay nervous

Everybody doin they thing, doin

{*scratches*} They thing

{*scratches*} Everybody-everybody-everybody doin they thing, thing

[Verse 2: Mr. Lif]

He went to school without focus so he had to adapt, he love rap

Found some brothers that attract that, whattup Black?

Let's smoke a blunt and drink a forty, and get steamed

And dream of better days; flip flows in many ways

The God got serious though, mysterious flow

Started pumpin herb around campus to get dough

Save up, hit the studio and cut a demo

Peace y'all, he's leavin school, peep the fuckin memo

And his M.O., to rise up to the top of his trade

His tongue was a sharp blade, airwaves were space to invade

He's back in the major city, big lights, late nights

Writin sessions was the essence

But what happens when you change environment but not mentality to coincide?

Niggas fuck around and take a slide

So he's chillin in the park on a dark night

A blunt to spark right, all a sudden noticed this flashlight

Motherfuckin DT's, sleazebags

Sprayin niggas with the Black Flag fingerprintin

Like he's Simpson or some shit

Now look at son sit in a jail cell, witnessin real hell

Nigga in the next cell braggin 'bout his many cases

Roaches racin laps in less than forty paces

Guard staring hard at the young brother, he starts to suffer

As he thought about his father and his mother

It's not him - he's a disciple of Chuck and Rakim

So his chances for survival are not slim

4-point-5 hours passed then released at last

With a sigh and a gasp, and some reigns to grasp

Control your life, hold the strife

He never looked back, now actually he gets hyped

Encores, world tours, when you see him

Recognize that he value his freedom and greet him

[Hook: El-P] + {*scratches by DJ Big Wiz*}

We keep workin, city stay nervous

Everybody doin they thing, doin

{*scratches*} They thing

{*scratches*} Everybody-everybody-everybody doin they thing, thing

[Verse 3: Blueprint]

He freestyled on the side but it was only to clown

And kill time, on the block while he was holdin it down

He was troubled, but his little brother was proud

Called him the best he ever heard since Big and 'Pac was around

Always wondered why the hell his pops wasn't around

All he had was the records that was handed him down

Old clothes from his fam that was handed him down

And some demos he would make to keep his head in the clouds

He'd probably cry if his pops could take a look at him now

He all grown up, swole up, and known 'round town

For doin hold-ups, and smokin up pounds of brown

And killin any competition with over Coke with a smile

One day he rolled up, right after he loaded that pound

That boy owed him so had to let him hold that, blaow!

But what comes around hits home and goes back 'round

He got home and saw his brother soaked in blood on the ground

Moms cryin, a look in her eyes so foul

He knew right then and there he had to change his life all around

Tears flooded, he looked up and crouched down

Called the Lord's name out loud, blacked out, passed out

And woke up to a voice in his head so strong

It was his brother sayin just what he had said all along

Get off the block, put your energy back into your songs

Revenge is wrong, show the world that you grown and that you came up!

[Hook: El-P] + {*scratches by DJ Big Wiz*}

We keep workin, city stay nervous

Everybody doin they thing, doin

{*scratches*} They thing

{*scratches*} Everybody-everybody-everybody doin they thing, thing

{*scratches by DJ Big Wiz fade out*}