[Verse 1]  I'm gonna take you back .. to 1980  People thought she was crazy for keepin' her baby  Being only thirteen thinking' how she would love a son  Barely a child herself .. now she would mother one  When that had come to past some wondered how she had made it by  Some had bets on the side that she wouldn't live to see '85  But she would prove them wrong .. corazon kickin' strong  And like the calm before storm so was mom when it was on  Back in '86 .. as he grew up in the mix  Watchin' his mother hang around men  that slang the cain to make them licks  Strugglin' year after year switchin' daddy to daddy  Last one had him a Lincoln .. this one got him a caddy  Plus a house in the subs and apartments run by thugs  Pushin' dubs to them scrubs 'cuz he got a connect with killa bud  Little young buck seen all of that  then the man had a hand on that crack  And he out there lookin' for tear that come black  Cuz he know that smack on a comeback  He was nothin' but 9 years old doin' nothin' but what he was told  Always the one that would hafta hold  Till the man let him know when it was sold  Then he would take what wrapped in the paper sack  Make the drop and he'd make it back  Imagine that to play the mac  And not know how one's s'posed to act    [Chorus]  When them hustlin' on them streets  Don't play them for weak cuz them will shoot ya  Real young killa gangsta rude-boy  destined for death yet O'm your future  How can the youth be humble  when we live in an age of rage  too young and naive to conceive that them diggin' an early grave    [Verse 2]  And by the time the nineties come around ..  Mom's had a frown since the man went down  Kites fly penitentiary bound and lil' man's left to hold his ground  Playin' his art stayin' in school ..  Nothin' short of payin' his dues  Mamas heart's what made him choose ..  Got him a start in breakin' rules  Hittin' them books hangin' with crooks ..  Watchin' out when that law man looks  Money's put in them pocket books  And business good 'cuz he got them rooks  To make the run getting' it done ..  With the advantage of bein' so young  Nobody cared about what had begun ..  Then by the end of '91  He was the kid in junior high ??  Lookin' to get some new supply  Got him a hook up through some guy  Livin' like either it's do or die  Under the influence of the game ..  Already been through the love and the pain  Feelin's to him that one in the same ..  Gotta maintain or go down the drain  It was the life he learned to live ..  He's never had an alternative  Most forbid the things he did ..  But what would you do if you were the kid growin' up  Around the cut only exposed to what's corrupt  Nothin' could break a boy so rough  except the touch of his mother's love    [Chorus]    [verse 3]  Around the summer of '93 ..  Everyone's packin' artillery  Do many wantin' to be a "g"  Ready to make a delivery  Whatever it took to get in a set ..  Not even worried about regret  It's who could pose the biggest threat  And catch the most of all respect  He can't stop ..  He won't stop ..  Even though every spot is hot  Givin' it everything thing he's got ..  Tryin' to keep from getting' caught  Never the one to be any place  Long enough to catch a case  After all no time to waste  When doin' your business face to face  He's comin' equipped to make the lick ..  Not about to play the trick  Puttin' in work to make the hit and keepin' it low to stay legit  Mom's and dad's i'm talkin' to you ..  These are the things our children do  Hopin' you listen and catch the clues then maybe    [Chorus]