My life, my life, my life, my life   My life, my life, my life      In elementary I used crayons, even chalk   I learned to count money before I could read and talk   And my mama told me son, you need to shine   I couldn't stand at the back, I had to lead the line      I use to make good grades, but I talked in class   In middle school I was late when I walked in class   If the teacher ran a errand, I taught the class   And what I didn't know, I was about to ask      And just because I played ball, I got easy grades   And when I turned thirteen, I got even fades   Everybody wearing Air Macs, Ree's and J's   But all my parents cared about, was B's and A's      In high school, I picked up my pen and pad   I had dreams, of pulling up in a Benz or Jag   I had to get it on my own, I couldn't depend on dad   I had to grow up too fast, but then I'm glad      Because the stuff I know now, I wouldn't believe it   The main goals that I set, I wouldn't achieve it   I'd probably be locked up, or running the streets   I'd probably wouldn't have platinum, in front of my teeth      I'd probably still be mocking, trying to earn a dollar   I'd probably be in the hood selling sherm or powder   But instead, I'm making bread, legal dough   Going to church and staying away from these evil hoes      You only got one life, you better do what you can   'Cause when you turn thirteen, you are a man   And I can't be broke so I'm a rock the crowd   It's up to me, I gotta make my mama proud      You only got one life, you better do what you can   'Cause when you turn thirteen, you are a man   And I can't be broke so I'm a rock the crowd   It's up to me, I gotta make my mama proud      There's a place called heaven and a place called hell   There's a place called freedom and a place called jail   And if you go to jail, they gonna treat you bad   Take your commissary, and beat you bad      So I'm staying out of trouble, I'm chasing my dream   I know you see your little boy on T.V. screens   I'm blowing up, your little boy making it happen   I'm ain't selling dope mama, I'm making it rappin'      So when you go to sleep at night, you know I'm safe   'Cause in Houston everyday somebody catching a case   Like yesterday, my partner went to jail   And he ain't coming home until he fifty seven      He nineteen, so you do the math   I got smart, man, I choose to rap   So when I grow up, my kids can have a good life   That's all I wrote, y'all have good night      You only got one life, you better do what you can   'Cause when you turn thirteen, you are a man   And I can't be broke so I'm a rock the crowd   It's up to me, I gotta make my mama proud      You only got one life, you better do what you can   'Cause when you turn thirteen, you are a man   And I can't be broke so I'm a rock the crowd   It's up to me, I gotta make my mama proud      I gotta make my mama proud   I gotta make my mama proud   I gotta make my mama proud   I'm ain't selling dope mama, I'm making it rappin'