[Intro]
Yo, it's real out here,
Let me tell you 'bout the struggle, the hustle,
Listen close, 'cause this life ain't for the faint-hearted.
[Verse 1]
Born on the blocks where the sirens wail,
Dreams turn to dust, man, it's a hard sell.
Every corner's a story, every face a book,
But the pages are torn, can you see the hook?
Pops gone, moms working those late night shifts,
Hustle flows like the blood of a child in bliss.
We’re young, wild, and reckless, but the stakes are high,
Yeah, we're playing checkers while the world plays by.
[Pre-Chorus]
Looking for respect, but it’s hard to find,
Swear at the mirror, but you know it’s blind.
Feeding on pride when the hunger's real,
Caught in a cycle, how we gonna heal?
[Chorus]
This life in the hood, where shadows lurk,
Gotta grind through the pain, put in that work.
Facing consequences, got nowhere to run,
Living by the strap, it's a race we never won.
Behind the bars or sold on the streets,
Counting all the scars, it's a story of defeat.
[Verse 2]
School of hard knocks, got my diploma in strife,
Learned the lessons of survival, man, this ain't life.
Jail cells and graveyards, telling tales of friends,
Watch their spirits rise when this madness ends.
Resilience is key, and we’re banging it loud,
But the weight of the world makes it hard to be proud.
Chasing the green, where the green ain't fair,
Lost so many brothers, man, they ain't even there.
[Pre-Chorus]
Looking for hope, can't see through the smoke,
But who’s gonna save you when it’s just a cruel joke?
We’re kings in this jungle, fighting for our piece,
Yet caught in the grind, craving for some peace.
[Chorus]
This life in the hood, where shadows lurk,
Gotta grind through the pain, put in that work.
Facing consequences, got nowhere to run,
Living by the strap, it's a race we never won.
Behind the bars or sold on the streets,
Counting all the scars, it's a story of defeat.
[Bridge]
But I see a light, far away through the dark,
A spark ignites hope like a fire in my heart.
If I rise, we all rise, let’s break these chains,
Turn the struggles to strength, let it flow through our veins.
[Outro]
So here we stand, facing the trials ahead,
For the dreams that we chase, for the voices unheard.
This struggle’s our story, won’t let it define,
Together we’ll shine, give the world a new sign.