(To all the youth in the world that thinks. nobody understands... Well I understand that). It's been hard for me. Trying strugglin' in the streets. But where I've been- Is no longer where I'm at. And where I'm going- Is not where I'm stoppin' at. It's been hard for me. Trying strugglin' in the streets. But where I've been- Is no longer where I'm at. And where I'm going- Is not where I'm stoppin' at. I grew up as a 70's baby. Brought up in poverty and sin. Makin' jokes at the crazy lady. Never cared how she was dealin' within. I knew all the words to. Micheal Jackson's album as a kid. And when it came to the biggest crusher. No he wasn't my man. At the age of seven years old. A strange thing happened to me. Before I even saw. My life had flashed before me. And I've got the mark to show. And it became a thang of beauty. So I gotta let you know. That my life that my life. It's been hard for me. Trying strugglin' in the streets. But where I've been- Is no longer where I'm at. And where I'm going- Is not where I'm stoppin' at. It's been hard for me. Trying strugglin' in the streets. But where I've been- Is no longer where I'm at. And where I'm going- Is not where I'm stoppin' at. It's been hard for me. Trying strugglin' in the streets. But where I've been- Is no longer where I'm at. And where I'm going- Is not where I'm stoppin' at. Now mama's workin' hard all day. And she said this before she left home. Take care of your little brother. Have the place cleaned when I get home. All these priorities. Me and Tanya had to learn to be grown. But at the time for me. Being grown had seemed so lone. Woke up and I'm seventeen. With nothing going for me. Except the fact that I sing. You know it hurts so much. From all the sights that I've seen. From abusin' the hole in trust. You probably couldn't take some of things. That I've lived in my life. It's been hard for me. Trying strugglin' in the streets. But where I've been- Is no longer where I'm at. And where I'm going- Is not where I'm stoppin' at. It's been hard for me. Trying strugglin' in the streets. But where I've been- Is no longer where I'm at. And where I'm going- Is not where I'm stoppin' at. It's been hard for me. Trying strugglin' in the streets. But where I've been- Is no longer where I'm at. And where I'm going- Is not where I'm stoppin' at. It's hard and the street's a jungle. (I'm telling you I'm telling you). Especially with your pretty colors. (I'm telling you I'm telling you). So stay low and keep it humble. (I'm telling you I'm telling you). Black women hold it down keep your feet on the ground. Black men keep searching and you'll be found. It's been hard for me. Trying strugglin' in the streets. But where I've been- Is no longer where I'm at. And where I'm going- Is not where I'm stoppin' at. It's been hard for me. Trying strugglin' in the streets. But where I've been- Is no longer where I'm at. And where I'm going- Is not where I'm stoppin' at. In this world of continuous bullshit and full clips. Seems all we have to pass down is being useless. Broken homes babies all alone parent's never there. No food no clothes to wear anger everywhere. Ain't no values being taught no productive thoughts. Jealousy rules the world take shit at any cost. Gotta change our state of life keep it worth livin'. God gave us voices to speak and that's our way of givin'. It's so much bigger than the furs and the jewels. What about encouragin' the youth to do well. What about givin' back- what about unifying. Shit we all black- get it together. Everybody's got their trials and tribulations. Learn to change the negative to positive situations. Don't hold the lessons that you learn. Pass it on and except the blessings that could earn. It's been hard for me. Trying strugglin' in the streets. But where I've been- Is no longer where I'm at. And where I'm going- Is not where I'm stoppin' at