[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