Hard Streets - T-Bone

See I was only 16 such a tender age 
A young seed leaving my home in search of ghetto fame 
Mom’s begging me to stay, crying but yo I gotta make it on my own now 
I’m tired of hustling, plus I’m almost full grown now 
Packed up my bags in now pursuit of my dreams 
Gave her a kiss then wiped the tears from eyes so that she couldn’t see 
Jumped in the car starring up at the stars 
Rhyming for hours hoping one day I’m a hear the applause 
Now I’m 17, still broke loc, no money 
Holes in my shoes and people laughing cuz my clothes crummy 
No food to eat so now I’m digging in the trash can 
Eating left over food from last week in tha bags man 
I never thought that it could get this hard, pray to God 
Then I get to stepping, cuz I know that I’m called 
I told myself I gotta keep the faith living inside, knowing I’ll make it one day 
So I can’t just lay down and die, I gotta try man! 

Chorus 
What are these hard streets doing to me 
Ghetto running through me 
Thicker than blood, down in the mud 
Trying to come up, these hard streets do it to me 
Ghetto running through me 
Thicker than blood, down in tha mud 
Trying to come up another day 

It’s 1991 getting older now 
Kicked out my crib nowhere to live 
Wit problems and the world on my shoulders now 
If I go home mom will think I’m a loser 
And if I call the homie then he’ll think I’m trying to use em 
So now I’m stuck, sleeping on my managers sofa 
Even though I know he’s ripping me off 
Trying to play me like a game of poker 
Congested wit depression I proceed to try and count my blessing like 
The fact I’m still alive, I could have died on these mean streets 
Cuz they ain’t kind, so many killers and dealers committing horrible crimes 
Dope fiends, drive-by’s, muggers and drug smugglers 
No one expecting me to make it cuz I’m from the gutter 
A young G from the streets of killa cal, 
Where riders pack heat and smoke weed as a juvenile 
It’s all good though, I’m out to prove em all wrong 
Reach for the stars, and show em one day I’m a be the bomb! 

I’m sick of all the heartaches, let downs, broken promises and feeling hopeless 
I’m tired of being rejected and all the disappointments 
Feeling like I ain’t worth a dime 
Partners telling me I’m the greatest, but there’s no deal to sign 
Crying, devastated and confused at the same time 
My mind is telling me to quit and God’s saying try 
My heart is telling me it’s over and I’ll never rhyme 
But something’s telling me prevail and it will be fine 

Bridge 
See there’s always so much drama 
From tha block or ya babies mama 
In these streets that’s where my peeps be running that game 
Why ya trying to run me over, like I’m trying to snatch ya corner 
In these streets gotta get your grind on 
All day long gotta grind get ya hustle on