I remember waking up, being broke

But still it wasn't breaking us

I remember why I broke the rules

'Cause I ain't really have nobody to look up to

I remember cutting class, being bad

'Cause I ain't have what them other kids had

I remember wishing that I knew my dad

Then I remember wishing I could get him back

For every night that he told me he was coming and he didn't

For every single dollar that my mama and them was missing

For everything I wanted and was told I couldn't get it

And that I had to face it that my daddy was addicted (Damn)

That's right, it wasn't easy growing up

Mama was exposing us to life as she knew it

So we all went through it

I remember being down and out

Sleeping on my homie's couch

In and out of trouble ever since my mama put me out

Damn, it's getting real, damn, it's getting real

Didn't graduate, I'm thinking, damn, I got a deal

So I hit the block, selling rocks just to eat a meal

So I grabbed a Glock, kept it cocked

Peace is being still

In the back of the tracks

My **** stayed with the packs

And if a **** was scheming

My brother stayed with the gat

Yeah, yeah, we stayed in the trap

Yeah, every day in the trap

These hoes was chasing the cheese

So we would stay with the rats

And we was riding down, dipping low

I stayed in the back

In the X5, stunting, we ain't know how to act

Spending money like it's nothing

'Cause we gon' get it back

17, never thought that I'd be getting them racks

I had a dream but I said I wasn't fucking with that

Mel told me I wouldn't make it, I ain't fucking with that

But he told me that it wouldn't hurt to give it a try

Hardest thing out in New Orleans, never seen 25

Right then I woke up, broke out

Told my **** had to roll out

Moved to the A and got motivated

That inspiration don't run out

Heard my brother got gunned down

And it hurt me to my heart

So I kept grinding, I kept pushing

He told me to go far

So I can't stop at no crib, can't stop at no car

Gotta keep going like there ain't no tomorrow

So I'm going hard every day till I got nothing to say

Nothing can stand in my way

I gotta stay to show my **** a different way

I'ma tell the truth and the whole truth

'Cause there ain't no need to lie

And I ain't tryna keep it all inside

So I gotta testify

For you and I, I testify

I'ma tell the truth and the whole truth

'Cause there ain't no need to lie

And I ain't tryna keep it all inside

So I gotta testify

For you and I, I testify

I'ma tell the truth and the whole truth

'Cause there ain't no need to lie

And I ain't tryna keep it all inside

So I gotta testify

For you and I, I testify

I'ma tell the truth and the whole truth

'Cause there ain't no need to lie

And I ain't tryna keep it all inside

So I gotta testify

For you and I, I testify

I testify

I testify