I knew this guy from ATL Georgia   Said he wanted to be a judge when he grew up   Had a good life livin up in the suburbs   Doin his thang just tryna make him come up   But one day things began to make a bad change   His father left and his mother had to maintain   Moved to the ghetto, joined a gang, and began to slang   Now he found himself caught up in the game      What can u gain from makin up your own rules?   A major change from the things that he use to do   And he even stopped prayin like he use to   Now he doin what he thinks that he gotta do   Now his boys is the only thing that he needs   And mary jane is his only necessity   The state of mind is his only capativity   And now he has to face reality and this mentality   And what he did for the will of stability   His lifes changed so physically mentally   He didnt mean to go through this intentionally   Now he has to face reality   And the ghetto ghetto mentality      Seventeen with a baby mama   Now he's trapped in a life that's full of drama   Still thinkin that he can do what he wants   But he gotta live for his son cause he's still a father   Now hes tryin to make money the best way he can   Trifflin down the streets thinkin that he the man   Dude is blind he still can't understand   How much his life is gettin outta hand      What can u gain from makin up your own rules?   A major change from the things that he use to do   And he even stopped prayin like he use to   Now he doin what he thinks that he gotta do   Now his boys is the only thing that he needs   And mary jane is his only necessity   The state of mind is his only capativity   And now he has to face reality and this mentality   And what he did for the will of stability   His lifes changed so physically mentally   He didnt mean to go through this intentionally   Now he has to face reality   And the ghetto ghetto mentality      What would you do if you gave the world to lose your soul?   Can you relate can you hear the message in these words?   I got the feelin I know you care, and I,   I wanna know if you'd take that chance   Cause trust me boy this is not the end.   If you dont hear the truth then we'll talk again      Now his boys is the only thing that he needs   And mary jane is his only necessity   The state of mind is his only capativity   And now he has to face reality and this mentality   And what he did for the will of stability   His lifes changed so physically mentally   He didnt mean to go through this intentionally   Now he has to face reality   And the ghetto ghetto mentality