They try to make me feel bad cause I dont wanna live in this fucked up neighborhood. Cause I refuse to deal dope to take care of my children. You know! Live how I live, its only cause Ive been through it Verse one Why is it wrong that I long for a life with no violence? Or sirens following sounds of gunshots firing? Innocent folks dying, living here grows tiresome Jobs Im qualified for froze hiring So I am just simply a product of my environment So, screw retirement, Im barely getting by with this On a wish, wing and a prayer, I wanna make this rap thing a career But its the same love ballad Ive been singing for years So my lady dont seem to care Cause the false hopes and promises, weve both seen our share But I know theres gotta be some way for me to profit more I know theres life waiting outside these projects doors When I explore my options, Im coming up short I try to vent to my friends but what the fuck for? I scream my dreams they seem less impressed with it I guess my boys are just well dressing pessimists Busy chasing estrogen, they sexually charged If destiny called they probably too lazy to check messages Dont get me wrong, I aint ashamed to be hood Understood? but itll be good if I could see less of it Less aggressiveness, way less police greetings A new neighborhood would change the way police greet us From a hey, boy to a simple hello, sir They wouldnt see me as some ignorant Negro first But nowadays Im fed up hearing my old earth Tripping cause Im in between jobs trying to soul search See Ive looking up and down but theres no work Filling applications out, dropping off resumes but even though Im too talented for that peasant pay Realistically, Im a peasant in present day Without money, I just cant afford to hesitate Plus Im hungry, trying to put us in a better place thats really what I need to do Im sick of living in an area where people wont even deliver pizza too And these security gates they break daily So my lady and my neighbors dont feel safety My homies seem complacent with wasting away Or just partying til the date they placed in a grave But even though I dont got a pot to piss in I got a mission, Im optimistic gotta drop the negative views blocking my vision Gotta pocket some quick dollars like its nobodys business Racing against the clock, feels like Im chasing the second hand Im to the point Ill take any job that you recommend forget about the fact Ive been on multiple tours Im not too highminded to work at a grocery store or any place Im employed, I got pride, dont think that mine is missing what kind of man is ashamed to make an honest living? I mean, my children got food, clothes, shelter and Imma be embarrassed? come on what kind of times you live in? where dope dealers get more respect than 9 to 5ers What kind of man would be ashamed to make an honest living? Chorus It feels like Im struggling and barely getting by The attitude around me is live and let die My boys, they just wanna get drunk and get high But I just wanna make me an honest living I just wanna make me an honest living I just wanna make me an honest living Live how I live, its only cause Ive been through it
honest, living, live, ashamed, le