[Verse 1] As a kid, I thought I would grow up and get a gig And stay on a job for 40 years like my grandpa did Lord knows mama tryed to keep me straight Come home from school and get ya homework done so you can graduate No stayin out late, we had to be in when the street lights came on That's when it seemed like everything was goin on It was, I f**ed up and got my first buzz Then I remember, the first time a n***a said cuz I was in now, had dreams of goin to the pen now It was then, that life would never be the same again Momma used to say she wasn't raisin no thug Wit tears in her eyes and she gave me a hug No more lessons, I was introduced to smith & wessons Confession from a drug dealin gang bangin youth Influenced by the thangs that the big homies do Hittin up the hood doin drive-bys too and we steal [Chorus: Soultre] I don't know why, they wanna be gangstas So many drive-bys, they wanna be gansgstas So many of em die, they wanna be gangstas Lord knows I try, they wanna be gangstas [Verse 2] A youngster amongs the wolves and thieves Taught if ya pull out a strap, then squeeze Go out like a hog, never go out on ya knees And if you get cracked, then why did you beef? Never leave ya house without ya heat Never leave ya spouse without some heat Never have ya house up in the street Never conduct ya business from ya home phone The volumes are home grown I'm serious, conspiracy'll hold ya They trippin off some sh** I did 6 years ago in South Dakota 10 years, damn, and didn't get caught with a gram Never use ya name on a credit card scam Double check ya rear view, relocate ya livin quotas every year or two Keep ya workers fearin you, and you could be cosure wit them set rules Never let em know ya next move, smooth [Chorus] [Verse 3] When I think about it, I never did stand a fair chance Hangin on the corner wit them stones in my hand My uncle used to tell me ain't nothin wrong wit fast money Stackin chips and get ya paper, young n***a, don't be no dummy Choke the trigger if anybody ever try to trip If n***as think you scary, then they don't take yo sh** Never back down and no man And while ya makin money, save all that you can - understand? I'm in the hood wit my drink in a brown paper bag Had to raise up from mom's house cause I got her mad She was trippin bout employment and on gettin some schoolin My high school was rough enough, mom who ya foolin? I'm on foot patrol wit no heat I got a seat cruisin but it got a slow leak Stole some flicks and flaffin jeeps, at least now a n***a is mo Portrayed my G all stands for some dough though, ghetto portfolio [Chorus] - repeat until fade