I've been on a mission since I can remember, runnin' this race, on a chase for paper/ Eludin' the laws, and dodgin' these haters/ Hopin' these wicked ass streets don't take us/ Everyday hustlin' grindin' strugglin' and climblin' to the top of the pile/ Since '89, been down for mine, H2'n it/ And it ain't no stoppin' me now/ My mission for bein' a baller was deeply rooted in the blood/ Had no choice to become a thug, always was broke and that's how it was/ Lil' man wants fortune, out here servin', heaven would'a thought, what's the time of my life?/ Little did I know, right around the corner, I would have a lot of lonely nights/ Layin' in my cell, tossin' and turnin'/ Mad at the world for all the wrong reasons/ And my demons wasn't leavin' til I really got to know Steven/ Even then, I still didn't get the picture/ Cause a nigga came home, did the same old shit, got shot in the head, sixteen, tryin' to get richer/ Started listenin' to what my mom was sayin/ And she said, "Baby boy, you know it's a better way. Always strive for brighter days. And even tho', you know none of us'll ever be perfect, bow your head and pray, cause you can overcome one day, day."