Hey celly, pass me that paper and pen over there

Write my boy right quick

That's clean

Dear son, how you doin' out there, boy?

This your pop, I was just puttin' together a few lines to let you know

I miss you, boy

Your mama told me that you're uh, playin' basketball now

Lettin' your hair grow

Hey, man, you just keep your head on straight, alright?

So many young boys in here that come through everyday, you know?

They call 'em "new boots"

Hm, they get handled rough sometimes, I wanna help 'em but then you know

I got too much to risk, can't do it like that

Hey, she told me also, man, that you've been havin' some problems in school, man

You know you got to tight then that up that, right? Don't you?

Get everything the people tryna give you up in there, they owe you that

I don't never wanna see you in this place

Ayy, but write me back though, alright? Write me back

Your pops

I hear them cats screamin', "New boot, new boot!"

I know what that means (What?), a **** that's green just hit the wing (Hm)

And everybody starin' like vultures

Booty bandits standin' in one spot like sculptures

Different cultures all make up this pen

It's a hell on earth, this the second time I've been in beats with them

Refused to, spit me free

But this the first time that it's hit me deep

'Cause my son just turned 17 years old (Mmm)

And I still got a nickel 'fore I sees parole

And all he know is what he saw me do in the streets

Makin' sure that my family had somethin' to eat

But I've been gone several years and hard times fell on 'em (Damn)

Mama got man friends, claim she don't want 'em

But the bills keep comin' and these tricks will pay

So if pussy get the bills paid (The chick will lay)

I told my son, "Stay strong, keep runnin' the pill

'Cause if you cross man's law, you gon' be runnin' for real"

But he done saw me cop dope (Mmm), and saw me chop dope

And I tell 'em, "Choose somethin', son, please not dope" (Nuh-uh)

And I wonder, if he even listen sometimes? (Yeah)

Or does he feel in stow these are all just lines?

I pray sometimes, before I grab my pad and my pen (Uh-huh)

'Cause I don't want my son to ever go out bein' a new boot

No how, no way, no strain, no game

Man, I'm goin' through a thang, got a number for a name (Uh-huh)

And my kids actin' up, join a gang, and quit school

You think I'm 'bout to risk it just to help a new boot? (Yeah)

No how, no way, no strain, no game

Man, I'm goin' through a thang, got a number for a name

And my kids actin' up, join a gang, and quit school

You think I'm 'bout to risk it just to help a new boot?

Dear daddy, how you doin' up in there?

Them cats, they be foolin' up in there?

Mama say you losin' your hair, is that true? Is you worried about us?

We gon' be alright, I got hustle, daddy, plus

I'm a fo' trade now, we take what we need

See my set'll die for me through thick and thin, tight as weed

Don't get mad, I know you said that gangs was for suckers

But these dudes is real, see they came to bring the ruckus

By the way, I'm think I'm bout to drop outta school, it's too borin'

Plus I'm 'bout to move out too, mama whorin'

Plus I got this spot and it's hoppin' on Miller

Laws can't stop the fiend from poppin' this thriller

By the way, I put some scrilla on your books and sent pictures

So you can see how long my hair done got, pop, I miss ya

But I'ma be alright until you get home

Consider me your clone, it's on, alright?

No how, no way, no strain, no game

Man, I'm goin' through a thang, got a number for a name

And my kids actin' up, join a gang, and quit school

You think I'm 'bout to risk it just to help a new boot?

No how, no way, no strain, no game

Man, I'm goin' through a thang, got a number for a name

And my kids actin' up, join a gang, and quit school

You think I'm 'bout to risk it just to help a new boot?

I hear these cats screamin', "New boot, new boot!"

I know what that means (What?), a **** that's green just hit the wing (Hm)

But I'm in the between and the hard rock and the hard rock

I don't want my son to fall on the, hard knock

I shoulda covered up the game (Yeah), covered up the 'caine (Yeah)

Then maybe I could cover the shame

'Cause I'm the blame, subliminally

And now my son's in the streets, feelin' my pain from mimickin' me

It's been two weeks since I've heard from him (Damn), and so I write him

For him not to respond to my letters is not like him (Hm)

It's got my nerves on the blink, and I don't know what to think

I'm drinkin' Pretties all day and I ain't sleppin' a wink

I'm at my sink when I heard a yell, "New boot"

Rang out from one of the cells

What the hell? (Hm) I might as well have some fun

I'm gon' go down to the dayroom and check me one

I strips down to my boxers and I lace up tight

In case one of these new boots decides to fight

But when I made it past it one row, I saw this crowd

Apparently, this new boot must've stood his ground

Then the crowd fell silent, I'm like, "What the heck?"

Somebody yelled, "J-Flex done broke his neck!"

But when I made it past the crowd, the body went numb

'Cause the new boot on the ground was my son (Damn)

No how, no way, no strain, no game (I never meant for it to happen like this)

Man, I'm goin' through a thang, got a number for a name (Man, I can't believe)

And my kids actin' up, join a gang, and quit school (It happened like this)

You think I'm 'bout to risk it just to help a new boot?

No how, no way, no strain, no game (Now my son)

Man, I'm goin' through a thang, got a number for a name (Got the new boot)

And my kids actin' up, join a gang, and quit school

You think I'm 'bout to risk it just to help a new boot? (I never meant for it to happen like this)

No how, no way, no strain, no game

Man, I'm goin' through a thang, got a number for a name

And my kids actin' up, join a gang, and quit school

You think I'm 'bout to risk it just to help a new boot?

No how, no way, no strain, no game

Man, I'm goin' through a thang, got a number for a name

And my kids actin' up, join a gang, and quit school

I shoulda took the time just to help that new boot