03’ Adolescence (Live)

I got a story for y'all

Yeah
Listen

I grew up, a fucking screw up
Tie my shoe up, wish they was newer
Damn, need something newer
In love with the baddest girl in the city
I wish I knew her
I wish I weren't so shy, wish I was bit more fly
I wish that I could tell her how I really feel inside
That I'm the perfect nigga for her
But then maybe that's a lie
She like a certain type of nigga
And it's clear I'm not that guy
Ball player, star player
I'm just watching from the side
On the bench 'cause my lack of confidence won't let me fly

I ain't grow up with my father
I ain't thinking 'bout that now
Fast forward four years or so from now, I'll probably cry
When I realize what I missed but as of now my eyes are dry
'Cause I'm tryin' stay alive, in a city where too many niggas die
Dreamin' quiet tryna dodge a suit and tie
Who am I?
Ayy, who am I?

Sing
Things change, rearrange and so do I
It ain't always for the better, dawg, I can't lie
I get high 'cause the lows can be so cold
I might bend a little bit but I don't fold
One time for my mind and two for yours
I got food for your thoughts to soothe your soul
If you see my tears fall, just let me be
Move along, nothing to see

Always did shit the hard way
My nigga slangin' in the hallway
Burn CDs or trees like this was Broadway
Times Square, kept the dimes there in the locker
Some Reggie Miller with more brown hairs than Chewbacca
Whispers that he got it for the low-low seller
Dime for a dub, them white boys ain't know no better
Besides, what's 20 dollars to a nigga like that?
He tell his pops he need some lunch and he gon' get it right back
I peeped game, got home snatched my mama keychain
Took her whip, the appeal, too ill to refrain

I hit the boulevard, pull up to my nigga front door
His mama at home, she still let him hit the blunt though
I told her hello, then sat with my nigga and laughed
And talked about how we gon' smash all the bitches in class
I complimented how I see him out here getting his cash
And just asked, "What a nigga gotta do to get that?"
"Put me on"
He just laughed when he seen I was sure
17 years breathing, his demeanor said more

He told me, "Nigga, you know how you sound right now?"
"If you weren't my mans, I would think that you a clown right now"
"Listen, you everything I wanna be that's why I fuck with you"
"So how you lookin' up to me when I look up to you?"
"You 'bout to go get a degree, I'ma be stuck with two choices"
"Either graduate to weight or selling number two"
"For what? A hundred bucks or two a week?"
"Do you think that you would know what to do if you was me?"
"I got, four brothers, one mother that don't love us"
"If they ain't want us, why the fuck they never wore rubbers?"

I felt ashamed to have ever complained
About my lack of gear and thought about how far we done came
From trailer park to a front yard with trees in the sky
Thank you, mama, dry your eyes, it ain't no reason to cry
You made a genius and I ain't gon' take it for granted
I ain't gon' settle for lesser, I ain't gon' take what they handed
Nah, I'm gon' take what they owe me and show you that I can fly
And show a girl what she missing, the illest nigga alive
Who am I?

Things change, rearrange and so do I
It ain't always for the better, dawg, I can't lie
I get high 'cause the lows can be so cold
I might bend a little bit but I don't fold
One time for my mind and two for yours
I got food for your thoughts to soothe your soul
If you see my tears fall, just let me be
Move along, nothing to see
Never felt better
If you ask me