[Verse 1]
All she had was one son, the hood is where they come from
By the age of 14 his life became undone
Yeah he knew his real dad but he did him real bad
Never did a thing for him ever so he still mad
Longing for his true roots, putting on some new boots
Just a year ago he was on comic books and Fruit Loops
She scared of her own son, calling but he won't come
No longer her baby anymore, this cat is on one
Turn into a little goon, got to deal with him soon
Mamma coming home from work, thugs in the living room
Acting like an older G, he out of control indeed
Can't believe he was sitting on her couch rolling weed
She could smell it all on him, had to call the laws on him
Tears in her eyes, told him you take him 'cause I don't want him
Because of how wild he been, it's a wrap, dial him in
Two nights in the county, now he crying like a child again

[Verse 2]
You was all about your grips, sports so you ain't got to trip
Top student in the school about to get a scholarship
The one they love to bring up, respectful and clean cut
Never seen a teen more focused on his dream, but
Now you wanna leave school, now you wanna be cool
Peaking out the window, fascinated with them street dudes
A good chance you wasting one, tryna be what they become
You got the potential to make millions, but you chasing crumbs
Had you from the word go, all up in that world bro
Getting a little money but you worried 'bout them girls though
Education cancelled, I don't understand you
Fell in love with one the whole neighborhood done ran though
Caught her with another cat, hated to discover that
Ran up on him with a loaded gat and laid the brother flat
That's the picture he'd paint, you in love, she ain't
Moving on with her life, but he in jail so he can't
[Break]
Let me teach you

[Verse 3]
Be a leader, just be a leader
Them stupid fools you following around don't see it either
See you ain't got to sell on dope, fight or do no stealing
If you not feeling what they 'bout to do just say I'm chilling
The punishment for victimizing folks is fast coming
Don't ever let nobody turn you to a crash dummy
You not the first thought or the last man, I saw too many
The ones you running with today won't be around at 20
Or maybe 25, some are lucky to see 30
And if they see it, it's because they locked up, hope you heard me
So now the choice is yours to be intelligent and worldly
Don't be foolish and think you got it figured out this early
You might not know that it's a plan and brothers are in danger
Don't mess over yourself, slow it done, channel that anger
'Cause one bad decision can destroy you when you're done
See the key to getting old is being smarter when you're young
Son