Yo way back then, when 50 was a dollar, wearing Lee's and Cotler It all started the same day my parents parted My mama broke it down to me sweet, she said it's me and you baby so we have to make the ends meet My childhoold was just blown up, no chance for being a kid cause I had to be a grown-up One seed against the world, I had to do what I was able, cause my mama was my babygirl I needed a plan, a lemonade stand, anything to help my mama, so she can pay the rent man My mama had two jobs and no sleep, ran down hills and the bills was knee deep And I, used to wonder why she cried, cause through the mad pressure she kept me looking fly And I thought I was coolish, actin foolish, never want to schoolish, smookin woozish And my move was never stable, but even through the drama, mama kept food upon the kitchen table Breaking her back to keep me track, putting kisses on my forehead, lunches in my napsack No question, she knew what it was to be broke, my mama kept her babyboy away from the gunsmoke And see, she paid the price for let me be, so don't f*ckin k** me for wantin mad sh** for free... Just another day in the hood, just another day another day in the hood Just another day in the hood, just another day another day in the hood (another... another victim gone crazy) Another day... staring outta my window... Thinkin about tomorroww... wishing things would clear... No need to rush... I ain't gonna worry... any moment my sorrow... is bound to disappear... Now years gone by, I'm still the apple of my mama's eye No more time for strife, so I had to give life a try So in order to stay on point, I got my first gig burning biscuits at the after-hour burger joint
I couldn't relax, I couldn't fat, cause I only made a buck and the state taxed half of that I worked from day to night and night to die, cause in ninety nine and seven you had to slave to make a decent pay I had a plan of makin riches, movin mama out the ghetto, and make love to all those models b**hes Found out I had a gift for rap, and I was better than all those average n***as, so I wanted to make some track I made a demo with my man scott, called up Mase from De La, and he agreed that the track was hot Gave it to his boss, last name Ross, she fell in love with the rhymes so I thought it was my time to floss Feeling nothing but crazy joy, my dreams became reality, a deal signed with Tommy boy But then when things got strange and sorta drastic, Uptown, the maker of dope on plastic fell short, released without a second thought He was true before he blew, never knew he was getting caught, feeling bad cause I'm jerked now, a victim of the industry, looking for some work now Just another day in the hood, just another day another day in the hood Just another day in the hood, just another day another day in the hood (another... another victim gone crazy) Sometimes I tell my self... I'm better off without you And then I have to face the emptyness, I feel inside without you And find a way to make it through another day Just another day in the hood, just another day another day in the hood (yes yes ya'll) Just another day in the hood, just another day another day in the hood (another... another victim gone crazy)