[Verse One: Tena Jones]
In this world that we in / you can lose or you'll win / but it's never a draw / and as quick as you can make it / it's a hater tryna take it/ don't be thinkin' life is easy it's hard / I got some girls that I know / who get with guys for they doe / but they ain't happy what's the use of the wealth? / Turnin' tricks like a Retriever / what's gon' happen when he leave her? / See that's why you gotta do for yourself / This world move so quick I hyperventilate breathin' / runnin' through the city ain't no time for grievin' / so many hate livin' but too scared to die / hip-hop is the way that we cry / ghetto lullabies
[Hook]
[Verse Two: Ahmad]
Became a sinner right before a winner
When I was born,on the 12th day of October
In uniform, was a soldier when I came out
Walked through the door
See my whole block banged out
We in a war
k**er street but I'll never let it, take me alive
Bought a heat cause I'm gettin' sweated, gotta survive
It ain't cool while my mom pray
For me at home
I be sittin' hittin' bombay
I know it's wrong
Momma tellin' me I need God
And I ain't well
But the homie with the weed got, that clientele
Gettin' money so I want mine
I be like dang, when it's sunny cause it don't shine
On me it rain
I complain cause it ain't fair
Like dying over what you can and you can't wear
Who cryin' 'bout us?
Out of sight so we out of mind
They say a soldier gotta fight so I got a nine
That's bottom line
Ghetto move so quick I hyperventilate breathin'
Runnin' through the city ain't no time for grievin'
So many hate livin' but too scared to die
Hip-hop is the way that we cry
Ghetto lullabies
[Hook]
[Verse Three: Jabu]
I ain't dyin' until I share my diary with this globe / a little mad man sippin' on a brew when it's hot / ghetto taught me how to blaze for the days when it's cold and / mama dead broke and had us thinkin' we not / eyes wide shut stealin' with ridiculous speed / I was rippin' off the tag if it was somethin' I need / somethin' I wanted / we was buyin' chronic to blunt it / started servin' it / profit margin moved to the hundreds / had to stop it though cause Phyllis didn't raise no crooks / not to mention focus shifted to the girls with doe / light-skinned to the mocha it'd be on fa sho' / get the 20 dollar Remy pay a dub for Mo' /
I started slippin' up I thank God I'm still alive / cause if it wasn't for Him this verse'd never hit your soul / and I hope you in control / I know it's hard gotta break free / remember that you can't enjoy ya doe without the RE MI / we move so quick I hyperventilate breathin' / runnin' through the city ain't no time for grievin' / so many hate livin' but too scared to die / hip-hop is the way that we cry / ghetto lullabies
CHORUS