"Growing up in the.."
"Hood"

[2mex]
Los Angeles, mid-city in fact
I used to run around the swap meet with my liquor store hat
Before I ever even rapped I would be there just loitering with my Raiders Starter jacket trying to get some embroidery
All my homies older than me
Always looking over my shoulder makin’ sure that I know what I needed to know to be, I'm not a veterano OG
I just studied at the Good Life to be a better MC
Knock on wood that I never went to prison
Did a couple days in county, quickly in and out the system
To me, LA will always be that chillin' villain-ism
These new gangsters get their feet washed at the catechism

[LMNO]
Tube socks and Cortez or flip-flops
Where you hear the surfinest dude screaming “bee-yatch!!”
Jheri curl mullets, skaters and gangsters who ain’t afraid to pull it
With so much marijuana in the LBC it’s kinda hard not hooking up a bag of tree, kids sagging at three
Wrappin a sheet around a dead body in the street
Went to Toejam’s, bustin' listening to beats
Most the rap I listened to came from the East
Except for ATL, CPO and King Tee
Saw a bunch of In-n-Outs with DJ Speed, MixMaster Spade, DJ Train and Eazy-E (RIP)
The telescope’s out, anyone can be reached
Word to RBX, there’s no stars in Long Beach
[Chorus: Ariano]
You made me who I am
Taught me how to be a man
I’mma make you understand
My life…

[sample]
Growing up in the..

[Key Kool]
South Bay of LA, North Torrance, behind the
Roadium swap meet, used to go record shopping
I bought mix-tapes from Dr. Dre
Saw the beginnings of N.W.A
B-Real stayed on the next block
B.O.O.Y.A.A. Tribe was a blue city crew when they pop locked
Hung at the mall, but not to shop
Used to B-Boy and get down at Del Amo
You know the one in Jackie Brown, what’s up Tarantino?
Gardena was the only city with casinos
Raised on all types of cultures, so we know
The best thing in LA is the people, is the people

[Chorus]

[sample]
Growing up in the..
[Dannu]
East side of SD, southernmost Cali
Spring Valley, graffiti walls and dirty alleys
Next door to Mexico, traffickin’ heavy flow
AKA Dago, crystal meth capital
Samoans popping in the seventies
Drop trucks and lowriders, fuck the Bentleys
Mentally sick one nine, peace to Southside and Skyline
Mission Bay to O-side culture class collide
Los Torres Pop Warner kept us off the scene
Bangers and slangers learnt the meaning of a team
Dirty ass cops living dead off the blocks
So we street sweeping, keep cleaning up hip hop

[sample]
Growing up in the..

[Zen]
Projects, two apartments
When Darryl Dawkins darkness falls on the block
With heat walking the street
There’s more to the peeps than guarding the wheat
Break bread n***a, we all got to eat
Ghetto prophets speak in codes to those that know
Each one, teach one, promoted some souls
Out of Turkish ropes, Tacchini suits
Nugget rings and finger waves to boot
Gold spokes on the pearl white El Co
With an indigo hue no cue for knowing
Who’s behind the tinted windows
Chosen few out of the many holding truth
Old and new school goodlums stroll into view
[Chorus]