[Hook: Cole DeRuse] Some people have, somethin' from they past That'll help motivate em to double they pace Humble beginnings, doesn't mean our ending Will end up full of nothin' but struggle and pain But other people have, somethin' from they past That'll make em go astray and not finish the race Fortunate beginnings, doesn't mean the ending Of our journeys will all end in a similar fate [Verse 1: Cole DeRuse] Let me take you back to my beginning When Nintendo was super, bein' played by so many When Nickelodeon released the TV show Ren & Stimpy And when the animated series of Batman was nearing, yeah That year, Jeffrey Dahmer was arrested Freddie Mercury, died from his infection The internet went public with their connection And The Terminator made more money than the rest did But check this, it was also when I was born / Momma was 17, Daddy was 18 The reason they made me, is momma quit taking Her birth control because she wanted someone that could love her more Than anyone had ever loved her before She wanted love unconditional because she was worn The storms poured it was visible on her physical form War torn from the critical cynical scorn That she felt strongly pumping through her chambers of childhood A child should never have to do what she had to do So she made it absolute that I would never go through the same And she made the decision to give me up for my father to raise, uh What a sacrifice for her son Every time I think about it tears begin to run It is motivation flowin' like air through my lungs
And that is why I love the year 1991 [Hook: Cole DeRuse] Some people have, somethin' from they past That'll help motivate em to double they pace Humble beginnings, doesn't mean our ending Will end up full of nothin' but struggle and pain But other people have, somethin' from they past That'll make em go astray and not finish the race Fortunate beginnings, doesn't mean the ending Of our journeys will all end in a similar fate [Verse 2: Ruslan] Little Russian boy, fresh off the boat Never understood how the language was spoke Only thing he knew was the interesting folks All had stereos and the music was dope Six months later, the Soviet fell But he ain't understand cuz the music was well His way to escape, the b-boys would break The artists would paint and the DJ's had crates N.W.A., LL Cool J Momma said knock you out in a cool way 2Pacalypse was Naughty by Nature Yo, MTV raps was finally gettin' major It spoke his language his brain got branded Even though a lick of English he couldn't understand it In 91 it was cartoons and playin' tapes What it takes for a boy to fully a**imilate [Hook: Cole DeRuse] Some people have, somethin' from they past That'll help motivate em to double they pace Humble beginnings, doesn't mean our ending Will end up full of nothin' but struggle and pain But other people have, somethin' from they past That'll make em go astray and not finish the race Fortunate beginnings, doesn't mean the ending Of our journeys will all end in a similar fate