| [00:22.225] |
Yeah, it's the Big L |
| [00:24.192] |
Coming at you once again, in nine-five |
| [00:27.051] |
And I dedicate this one |
| [00:28.637] |
To all my peoples from Uptown |
| [00:30.936] |
And everywhere, check it, yo |
| [00:33.249] |
Where I'm from it ain't cookies and cream |
| [00:35.401] |
There's a lot of peer pressure |
| [00:36.792] |
Growin' up as a young teen |
| [00:38.716] |
You never know when you gonna get wet |
| [00:40.798] |
'Cause mad clowns be catchin' wreck with a Tec |
| [00:42.997] |
Just to get a rep |
| [00:44.189] |
Instead of cool friends |
| [00:45.213] |
They'd rather hang with male thugs |
| [00:46.960] |
Instead of goin' to school |
| [00:48.526] |
They'd rather sell drugs |
| [00:49.703] |
It's best to go the right route and not the wrong one |
| [00:52.351] |
Because it's gonna catch up with you in the long run |
| [00:55.118] |
Brothers be on the corners |
| [00:56.432] |
Actin' stupid, gettin' lifted |
| [00:57.918] |
They life is twisted |
| [00:59.149] |
And most of them are quite gifted |
| [01:00.759] |
In other words, they got talent |
| [01:02.451] |
But they'd rather sell cracks and bust gats |
| [01:04.480] |
And run the streets actin' violent |
| [01:06.233] |
To them it's all about hittin' skins |
| [01:07.954] |
And makin' some easy green |
| [01:09.373] |
'Cause that's all they show you on the TV screen |
| [01:11.936] |
All they care about is a buck or bustin' a sweet nut |
| [01:14.840] |
They don't give a (What?) |
| [01:16.208] |
Cause they street struck |
| [01:17.218] |
You better listen to L rhyme |
| [01:19.045] |
Cause being street struck'll get you nothin' |
| [01:20.853] |
But a bullet or jail time |
| [01:22.734] |
So pay attention when L rhyme |
| [01:24.640] |
Cause being street struck'll get you nothin' |
| [01:26.388] |
But a bullet or jail time |
| [01:27.914] |
Before the rap contract, I was sellin' crack |
| [01:30.730] |
Stay strapped with a Mac, I was into all of that |
| [01:33.894] |
I started rappin' and got nice as hell |
| [01:35.908] |
If it wasn't for this I might be doin' life in jail |
| [01:38.984] |
And some of my peeps are still in the game selling 'caine |
| [01:41.370] |
If that's what you gotta do to maintain |
| [01:43.473] |
Go 'head and do your thang |
| [01:44.787] |
But with the cash profit, make an investment |
| [01:47.298] |
And try not to go to the grave like the rest went |
| [01:50.027] |
Cause you can be rich with crazy loot |
| [01:51.598] |
Own a house and nine cars |
| [01:53.192] |
What good is that if you're dead or behind bars? |
| [01:55.924] |
And yo, it's not even funny |
| [01:57.567] |
I've seen a lot of my peers |
| [01:59.008] |
Give up their careers for some fast money |
| [02:01.319] |
They could've been boxers |
| [02:02.927] |
Ballplayers, or rap singers |
| [02:04.436] |
Instead they bank robbers and crack slingers |
| [02:06.856] |
Ayo, they used to be legit kids, now they corrupt |
| [02:09.740] |
They had dreams but gave 'em up |
| [02:11.217] |
Cause they street struck |
| [02:12.460] |
You better listen to L rhyme |
| [02:14.153] |
'Cause being street struck'll get you nothin' |
| [02:15.949] |
But a bullet or jail time |
| [02:17.956] |
So pay attention when L rhyme |
| [02:19.647] |
'Cause being street struck'll get you nothin' |
| [02:21.519] |
But a bullet or jail time |
| [02:23.390] |
You better listen to L rhyme |
| [02:25.219] |
'Cause being street struck'll get you nothin' |
| [02:27.034] |
But a bullet or jail time |
| [02:28.826] |
So pay attention when L rhyme |
| [02:30.664] |
'Cause being street struck'll get you nothin' |
| [02:32.486] |
But a bullet or jail time |
| [02:34.521] |
I still chill with my peeps in the streets |
| [02:36.543] |
But most of the time I'm in the crib |
| [02:38.018] |
Writing rhymes to some dope beats |
| [02:39.977] |
Or either calling up some freaks to bone |
| [02:42.472] |
But word up, I try to leave the streets alone |
| [02:45.199] |
But it's crazy hard kid |
| [02:46.598] |
In other words, it's spooky |
| [02:47.961] |
The streets be callin' me |
| [02:48.974] |
Like the crack be callin' Pookie |
| [02:50.989] |
It ain't a dumb joke, listen to this young folk |
| [02:53.478] |
'Cause where I'm from |
| [02:54.783] |
You can choke from the gun smoke |
| [02:56.528] |
Stay off the corners |
| [02:57.627] |
That might be your best plan |
| [02:59.009] |
Before you catch a bullet |
| [03:00.126] |
That was meant for the next man |
| [03:02.032] |
Or end up with a deep cut |
| [03:04.229] |
Or relaxin' on a hospital bed |
| [03:06.235] |
From bein' street struck |
| [03:07.618] |
You better listen to L rhyme |
| [03:09.348] |
'Cause being street struck'll get you nothin' |
| [03:11.170] |
But a bullet or jail time |
| [03:13.092] |
So pay attention when L rhyme |
| [03:14.873] |
'Cause being street struck'll get you nothin' |
| [03:16.727] |
But a bullet or jail time |
| [03:18.560] |
You better listen to L rhyme |
| [03:20.283] |
'Cause being street struck'll get you nothin' |
| [03:22.126] |
But a bullet or jail time |
| [03:24.050] |
So pay attention when L rhyme |
| [03:25.836] |
'Cause being street struck'll get you nothin' |
| [03:27.711] |
But a bullet or jail time |
| [03:29.603] |
Word up, ayo take it from me, the Big L |
| [03:32.792] |
'Cause I been through it all |
| [03:33.823] |
You know what I'm sayin'? |
| [03:34.853] |
Stay off them corners you'll stay out of trouble |
| [03:37.123] |
And I gotta say rest in peace |
| [03:38.400] |
To all the casualties of the streets |
| [03:40.173] |
I'm outta here |
