[Verse 1] My brother had a Magic Starter jacket, me I wore Golden State Cold winter disregard the wind and make a fashion statement Meant to me something more, back when I had something to prove But the materials used only impressed a few Kinda depressing, the view, poor kids in December Man I remember, thoughts used to enter What if I was in the same position skippin' dinners To cope most got soaked livers But you don't got hope and you won't give up Who am I to complain about my pain I know it ain't the same if I had to live the same, I'd be insane And the world keep pa**ing me Hearing God speak, and he asking me: "Whatchu doin' with this time that I'm giving you? You could be change, stop waiting on a miracle" I'm sorry God, but I don't think it's time yet My heart and mind aren't aligned yet I wanna do what you design I'm afraid to fall when I start to climb The world seen through my 9-year old eyes [Verse 2] My brother wore a Michael Jordan jersey, I had Tim Hardaway Gettin' whoopin's until we learned a smarter way Watching Soul Train, Don Cornelius If I seen somethin' dope I would mimic it Had SNES, I wanted Genesis They Mortal Kombat had blood when they finished him Listening to Illmatic, didn't understand half of "Halftime" But I still rapped it, a cla** act like Kid N Play Fifth grade, scheming on a girl who was built for her age Maybe buy her some chips, or some candy and sh** Maybe I could hold her hand or put my hand on her hips, heh And maybe walk her home, and when her mother answer Ask, "Can I speak to her on the phone? Can I speak to Alisha?" You gotta put me on like Bonita, Bonita, Bonita [Verse 3] My brother started wearing suits, I'm stuck in these jeans Still his little brother with these hip hop dreams Not sure if he sees what this hip hop means Hip hop means more than what hip hop seems Since a snotty-nose run and hide or play space How to hold dominoes, made some mistakes, seen a lotta growth Seen the cars, broads, and where the crime lead Seen d** turn parents into zombies Making scratch like what Primo did To keep me laced like Primo, know the lingo, kid So my momma didn't hafta work, come home, her soles hurt Used to make my soul hurt My homie tried to quit his dirt cold turk', like thanksgiving leftovers If I make it, I bet we won't be stepped over Gettin' older, I miss the little things Chillin' with my little brother watching TV eatin' chicken wings It's crazy how the time fly, here today, gone tomorrow The time we got is all borrowed Before I give it back some things will rearrange Hope the game don't change me when I change the game [Outro] My brother had a Magic Starter jacket, let me take you back then Close your eyes, imagine, imagine, imagine... Tell you what happened, happened, happened... Tell you what happened, happened, happened...