[Intro: Cam'ron]
Ayo, I never claim to be hard, tough, no homo
Gangsta, none of the above
Just a kid from 140th and Lenox Ave, Harlem USA
Trying to make his way in the world, ya heard?
You know through the trials and tribulations that life brings
I lost some friends, incarcerated, some are gone forever
You know you can't expect everything from everybody
So get up, get out and get something
That's what I did

[Verse 1: Cam'ron]
Before I had the hammer cocked or Santana rocked
Little Jerv, Grandpa Terry, Grandma Dot
Uncle Carl, Uncle Ted, Uncle Steve, Uncle Bill
Cousin Steve, Cousin Bill up on the hill, now
My Aunt Normy, I don't speak to my Aunt Dida
Or my Cousin Bathsheba; love my mother, Frederica
Neighbor Freda, daughter Raven and Nicka
Down another doorbell was that n***a Wardnell
He gave birth to the best MC you never heard
Leather after leather and was clever with whatever words
Derek Armstead, Bloodshed from C.O.C
He did damage, road managed by G-O-D
A.k.a. DukeDaGod, he was stupid hard
Sixteen, a bitch dream, had stupid cars
Cutlass 68', hooptie 75'
Still drive some bullshit, I don't know why
I love the n***a though, for him put Cris' in the air
First one dis 'em in here, I swear I'll risk my career
That's a fact, dick, ain't talking no rap shit
I'm talking that MAC clip, n***as will back-flip
Act sick, my dude studied the Sabbath
No beef, veggie n***a, maybe some catfish
He could have my house, he could keep my Mauris
He could drive my cars, this a Eastside Story
[Break: Cam'ron]
That's why my dudes love me, I let them do them
You either gon' be rich or famous fucking with me...probably both
If you happen to brush shoulders with me by accident, play Lotto
9 out of 10 times you gon' win, n***a

[Chorus: Nicole Wray]
Play the game, sure to win
They all up on me, know they wants my ends
I sacrifice, I roll the dice
I love my hood, I love my life

[Verse 2: Cam'ron]
See, a boss I'm prepared to be
When I walk away from a confrontation
I ain't scared of you, I'm scared of me
I got a gun - you don't, so it's flares you'll see
After that, a five-thousand volt chair for me
So I move carefully; n***as don't care for me
Who care? I don't; you share, I won't
Calm down, breathe again
I don't do extortion unless I'm on the receiving end
Talk to my money, first time I heard her speak
That's word to me, told me I deserved to eat
Moved to a killer Ave, right from a murder street
Rocked Adidas Forums, even though they hurt my feet (that's fucked up)
I don't look in the sky, never mind stars
Know some fine stars right behind bars
Snags, Black, Doe on house arrest
Zeek, Sheek, won't even throw out the rest
They wanted my ass, right along side Zeek
Turn myself in? Nope, play hide and go seek
I'm gone, put the clip in the chrome
Yeah, I'm just like a fly, see the shit that I'm on?
And hour after hour, I would chill at the after hours
Where they flash the powder, no bath or shower
In that same spot, realized math is power
So I point at the mansion that is ours
[Chorus: Nicole Wray]
Play the game, sure to win
They all up on me, know they wants my ends
I sacrifice, I roll the dice
I love my hood, I love my life