[Verse 1]
The only way to change me is maybe blow my brains out
Stuck in the middle of the game, can't get the pain out
Pray to my God everyday, but he don't listen
The poverty bothers me
But mama's working wonders in the kitchen
Listen! I can hear her crying in the bedroom
Praying for money but never think would she be dead soon
Am I wrong for wishing I was somewhere else
I'm thirteen, can't feed myself
Can I blame daddy 'cause he left me?
Wish he would've hugged me
Too much like him, so my mama don't love me
On my own at an early age, I'm getting paid
And I'm strapped, so I'll never be afraid
Where did I go astray?
I'm hanging in the back streets
Running with G's and dope fiends, will they jack me?
Can't turn back, my eyes on the prize
I got nothing to lose, everybody gotta die
Say good-bye to the bad guy
That one you fucked, when you pass by
Buck-buck from a Glock let the glass fly
Do or die walk a mile in my shoes and you'd be crazy too

[Chorus] X3
With nothing to lose
[The D.O.C] I got raw when I came to Cali
I got nothing to lose
[Ice Cube] That’s why I got gang-related rhymes
Got nothing to lose
[The D.O.C] I got raw when I came to Cali
Got nothing to lose
[Ice Cube] That’s why I got gang-related rhymes
[Verse 2]
I thank the Lord for my many blessings
Though I'm stressing keep a vest for protection
From the barrel of a Smith & Wesson
And all my n***as in the pen', here we go again
Ain't nothing separating us from a MAC-10
Born in the ghetto as a hustler, older
Straight soldier, bucking at them bustas
No matter how you try, n***as never die
We just retaliate with hate, then we multiply
See me striking down the block hitting corners
Mobbing like a motherfucker, living like I wanna
Ain't no stopping at the red lights, I'm sideways
THUG LIFE, motherfucker, crime pays
Let the cops put they lights on, chase me, n***a
Zig-zagging through the freeway, race me, n***a
In a high speed chase with the law
The realest motherfucker that you ever saw
I'm living raw, till they bury me, don't worry me, I'm high
Living like I ain't afraid to die
And you could walk a mile in my shoes and you'd be crazy too

[Chorus] X3
With nothing to lose
[The D.O.C] I got raw when I came to Cali
Got nothing to lose
[Ice Cube] That’s why I got gang-related rhymes
Got nothing to lose
[The D.O.C] I got raw when I came to Cali
Got nothing to lose
[Ice Cube] That’s why I got gang-related rhymes
[Verse 3]
Ain't no escape from a deadly fate
And every day there's a million black bodies put away
I'm starting to lose hope, it seems everybody's on dope
Mama told me to leave, 'cause she was broke
Sometimes I choke on the indo, creeping out the window
Alone, on my own, I'm a criminal
Got no love from the household
I'm out cold, on the streets screaming 'Motherfuck peace!'
I got nothing to lose, and something to prove, what do I do?
Live the THUG LIFE, n***a, stay true
I wonder when they kill me, is there a heaven for a real G?
Lord forgive me, if you feel me
'Cause all my life I was dirt broke with no hope
Little skinny motherfucker wanting dough
I hated cutting suckers with my razor blade
But everyday it's a struggle to get major paid
Anyway, it's so hard on a n***a in this city, no pity
And ain't no love for the scrubs that be buying dubs
If you could walk a mile in my shoes then you'd be crazy too

[Chorus] X3
With nothing to lose (21313038)
[The D.O.C] I got raw when I came to Cali
Got nothing to lose
[Ice Cube] That’s why I got gang-related rhymes
Got nothing to lose
[The D.O.C] I got raw when I came to Cali
Got nothing to lose
[Ice Cube] That’s why I got gang-related rhymes
[Outro]
They wonder what type n***a be a THUG LIFE n***a
We be the craziest, motherfucker!
You know!
They wonder what type n***a be a THUG LIFE n***a
We be the craziest!