[Intro: Blu]
Uh
Yeah
Uh-huh, uh-huh
Yeah
Uh

[Verse 1: Blu]
I was born in South Central, 1983
My mama and my daddy made me a G
My last name Barnes like the giant AG
And my first name John 'cause my daddy named me after him
Tall and slim, gangster's grin
And I grew the same way thanks to him
He used to write my mom poetry
That became the flow in me
That one day overflowed out of me
From the page to the stage, felt like a billion days
But really I did it all with skill and grace
My mama put art in my heart from the start
Which plays a major part in the music that I chart
I thought that I would becomе an actor or a scientist
Here I am, a rappеr, selling rhymes to kids
I never thought that I would see the whole world
Now I got it in my back pocket to give my baby girl
[Chorus: Iman Omari & Mickey Factz]
I just sit amazed thinking back to days
Growing pains, wouldn't have it any other way (Other way)
Credit to the way I was set up
My people stayed down, never gave up
If I never had either one of you (One of you)
I don't have a clue what I'd even do (Factz)
Big vibes and up to the most high
My people stayed down, never switched sides

[Verse 2: Mickey Factz]
Black boy born in the '80s
Remembering hearing Black Noise, boy, shit was crazy
Pops tried to put a record out
Found out I was on the way, he was stressing out
'Til he got leveled out
Had a plan, fleshed it out
Next thing you know, a junior entered the world
I'm the center, the pearl
Mama brung me out the church
I was stealing dollars right out her purse
Walkman, listening to DMX bark a verse
Science fairs, spelling bees, almost got skipped the grade
Grew my hair out and still couldn't get the fade
Girls said I looked like Urkel with the thicker frames
Misbehaved, I was living in a different phase
Literally from the vicinity of Pun
Got insufficient funds 'cause they giving me the crumbs (Woo)
I found out that the industry is numb
Saw the world and I learned how to give it to my son
Factz
[Chorus: Iman Omari]
I just sit amazed thinking back to days
Growing pains, wouldn't have it any other way (Other way)
Credit to the way I was set up
My people stayed down, never gave up
If I never had either one of you (One of you)
I don't have a clue what I'd even do
Big vibes and up to the most high
My people stayed down, never switched sides