[Verse 1: Malik]
Back in the day I stayed paid I slayed and slanged
Them thangs never had shit, no I never had a fuckin' thing
I didn't have mines to spend time or curl back
I needed that fast money so I had to react
Got go handle my hood 'cause my sea mileage is all that
I hustle when I had to so my pockets could stay kinda fat
Never was a crab - I never was a bummer
Just do what I gotta do and break a n***a off some
Correct, correct go even so a brother-
I just make em holla until he feels pain
Gimme your sneakers, money, clothes, rings, and your fuckin' chains
Cuz I-I I never could have shit
Who'd ever think I'd have this?
I wasn't sure i had a window to throw out my pot of piss
Now-Now-Now this verse is to show whose life was worse
That's why I'm a bad boy ghetto bastard and always have to curse

[Chorus: Malik and Jamal]
Back in the day when I was a teenager
Back in the day when I was a teenager
Back in the day when I was a teenager
Back in the day when I was a teenager

[Verse 2: Jamal]
For Christmas I wish for a tip, my daddy never played catch
My mommy was addicted to crack because she had no self-respect
I used to walk the streets sometimes and never ate
Until my grandma took me away but still I wasn't safe
But something changed, I had someone to care for me
But still I never had a male influence around me
My momma, grandmama, auntie and uncle were strung out
The only time I got love is when I had money or some drugs
I found all the ones I got left like a beaver
Until I start stealin that's when my people starts to wonder
"Where you got it? How you got it? Can I have it?
Will you give it to me so I can make some ends by sellin it?"
Most of the time i used to give it to 'em
That's when my Uncle Ed crossed over and made ducats by the minute get it?
I'm never packin pop tarts for lunch
I'm packin .38 Specials that's why they call me Mr. Hotshot
[Chorus: Malik and Jamal]
Back in the day when I was a teenager
Back in the day when I was a teenager
Back in the day when I was a teenager
Back in the day when I was a teenager

[Verse 3: Malik]
In Holly Hill they hate to see you smile, love to see you frown
Can't get yourself up out the ghetto
Tryna keep the next family down
But you know, that's how it ever was
If you can't have it you got it from the one who does
My mother did what she had to do to satisfy
Guess what they gotta do? Dude, my first packages went by
More sales and we was making money we couldn't stay in the 'jects, had to get up and go
N***as couldn't stand to see that - started snitchin to 5-0
In other words, rattin' like a mouse
They listened and listened, then they ran up in the fuckin' house
Trashed the crib, the whole thing was a mess
They was takin everybody down puttin them in the DSS
Josetta shed tears, it was a cryin' shame - right?
That's when I met Naughty By Nature and they told me that everything is gonna be alright

[Chorus: Malik and Jamal]
Back in the day when I was a teenager
Back in the day when I was a teenager
Back in the day when I was a teenager
Back in the day when I was a teenager
[Verse 4: Jamal]
13 on April 26 of 1992
But to my family it's just another day another week
Jamal, fuck you
It's the same shit different day so I just leave and go get sensimillia from the neighbors
If I can, I shoot some hoop with my n***as on the corner
And ask them who they think the next goner's gonna be
Me or some markhead n***as around the way?
Cuz they front they shit like they shit don't stink
I knew much better when I was a kid I stayed on the DL
But still I always heard people scream Jamal when shit went down
It's like when shit went down I was the number one suspect
It wasn't because of me it was because of my uncle Trevor
Never lived a normal everyday kid life
Instead of after school activities I'm on the corner shootin dice at night
If you ain't from around don't come around
Because you won't leave with a smile you'll leave with a frown
On your face as you hear the words of a nine millimeter
Back in the days when I was a teenager