Verse 1: Back in the day where I'm from in the slum it was ill Drive around the corner catch a view to a kill Move up the block on the O they slang rocks When niggas get hot they lickin' shots at the cops Come with me (uh ha) I take you back to 1983 It was shell top sneakers and it was all about me Me growin' up makin' a man out of myself Kindergarden's cool I'm thinkin' about makin' to the 12th Semester went by, by 5th grade I'm strugglin' My mind was on bitches and smoke I'm not functioning On waht I need to be to get me through The world is a school, and me? Fuck it I'm rollin' with the crew Now boom there it is I'm labelled as An eleven year old, a 5th grade fast ass A year went by (uh ha) and I'm still bad as hell I got a taste of jail nothin' major I'm only twelve My grandmas pissed off not understandin' what's happenin' But come with me, creep into the darkening (Back in the day) It's southwest Fuck with Jamal you catch two to your chest Contest if a nigga want to fool I be the leader of the new school I straight rule That was (back in the days) the days of wayback But nowadays it's all about million stacks (word) Hook (x2) Verse 2: It all started on December 25th 1991 on the Illadelphiatic streets Jamal took a step up and gave his rep to someplay Prayin' that I make it to this day I met this female her name was El Said she liked my style of rap we chatted for a little while Told me haps on how to make the snaps She said she lived in Atlanta where business booms like rockets And she had connects outta sockets We exchanged numbers and I was off to the crib Cause January 1st I had to start my bid (for what?) For being a wild unruling child A week my granny sent complaints to the juevenile Finally January 1st, the day I hated My granny flew away to Georgia I got reinslated Now I'm off, no more sun for a year of two No more get high no more lampin' with the crew (what could you do?) Nothin' so I lamped for about 20 months and a half Then I got amped (what?) I'm losing my mind, I can't take (what) All of this bullshit I'm about to break (Where?) Atlanta where they got some wealth to share Hits the poster with my granny I got some tracks to tear So I did it, soon as I got home I did it Then I got that bitch Janey Ace to get the ticket and I'm out Hook (x2) Verse 3: A wild little shortie on the straight looney expedition Gut a nigga (uh ha) who ever thought I'd be in this position I went from rockin' basement paprtys to placements to all these Opportunites, I got to GA o.k. and I got situated Reinstated in school and fell El too I never forgot my number one plot Was for me to rock the crowd and make my granny proud No doubt I had to shape up or ship out Never to be a failure so I found another route At last to get the cash And then massed to meet El in North Cacalac She had this black little juvenile wild as hell that got busy It's real so we packed up and bailed to the city Together to shop around the sound and get down With my nigga D hooked me up with E and I'm on Hook (x5