[Chorus]
The place where I be, it ain't all kimchi
Seeing tags on the wall just to remind me
Same place where they shot up Robert F. Kennedy
Is the same place that brought up a young n***a like me

[Verse 1]
Buildings get bombed on immediately
When abandoned by every kind of graffiti piece
Markets, apartments, restaurants, and stores
Since I came into this world in 1984
See my mom crying on the house phone with the cord
Beforе we was able to switch it for the cordlеss
See my pops chopping up game on that payphone
Checking his pager, responding to clients that weren't important
Sometimes I got the short end of the stick
When it came to me, business or women and he had to pick
I wouldn't change a bit, it helped me grow thick skin
Didn't see him all the time but yo when I did
Constantly dropping gems, never talked to me like a kid
Even though they never lived under the same roof
Separately what my parents both taught me was truth
Discomfort as a youth was something that I got used to
Doing death-defying acts in my early pursuits

[Chorus]
'Cause the place where I be wasn't all kimchi
Seeing tags on the wall just to remind me
Same place where they shot up Robert F. Kennedy
Is the same place that brought up a young n***a like me
[Verse 2]
Mom said you can't wear any old thing
An education on colors if you know what I mean
A little black man is all people gon' see
So watch out for everybody, not just the police
When you black in L.A. hey that's the routine
It's a shame everyday hearing about some shootings
Dominique do your thing, you a young black king
Keep believing in your dreams 'cause your path is unique
People say if you move, are you gonna change your name?
Well it ain't as simple as that so let me explain
I shed blood, sweat, and tears on the sidewalk and streets
So a bitch can't tell me life ain't that deep
Telling jokes on stage 14, 15
Recording raps on tape simultaneously
Bust my first nut, lost my virginity
At the crib going raw with this broad
I was scared as shit, thought I got her pregnant
But I guess from the beginning my pullout game was excellent
Some high school motherfuckers that I trusted as brothers
Broke into my crib and stole shit 'cause they was jealous
And I know who did it
But my pops said let it go
What goes around comes around, right on schedule

[Outro]
The place where I'm found wasn't always called Koreatown
And from back then 'til now the percentage is mostly brown