[Intro]
One two one two
You think you could turn my voice up in the headphones a little bit?
Yeah I gotta go there
I gotta be there
See it
Ah

[Verse 1: Joell Ortiz]
Some days in the summer, everyday in the winter
You'd found me in that community center
Sign your name on that sheet
And get a dap from Mister Barnes when you entered
Head to the gym and shoot around, get your squadron together
This the one place we can hoop, regardless thе weather
Plus OG's controlled thе outside courts or whatever, so this was our place Chalk on a pool stick fronting
I had that bank shot down pat like Tim Duncan
Learned how to play pool from Mister Turner
He took the time to teach a young boy how to shoot something
That ain't a burner
My eight ball carried a different aura
Hitting them corner pockets stopped my broke pockets from
Hitting that corner, least for a little while
That little smile from a little woman in the kitchen cooking just lit up a mile
Poverty had our stomachs rumbling heavy
We dropped everything when she came out that back screaming
Lunch is ready
Hope it's that pepperoni pizza, maybe it's burgers
That look on miss Munez face made it all worth it
She was just happy she could be of service
I snatched the extra chocolate milk but I ain't outside snatching purses
That community center gave me a sense of purpose
Showed me I could be good at something even when I'm nervous
Taught me life ain't perfect but everyone ain't out to hurt us
In there I was safe, outside it was murder
(Murder, murder, murder, murder, murder, murder,)
[Interlude]
What do you expect a young kid to do if he goes outside
And they don't see nothing but dope dealers you know
Big gold chains, a lot of money and girls you know
They want to grow up to be just like him but the problem is you know
Kids in the ghettos and things they don't have no place to go after school So they just hang on their lives you know
So that's what they see that's their role models
So that's what they want to be like
I feel like the community has to band together
Because that's that's what a solution is

[Verse 2: KXNG Crooked]
Outside it was murder, bangers throwing their turf up
Crossing they enemies out, even hitting the curb up
This is circa eighty-nine, drug dealers would swerve up
Selling that Curtis Blow, chemicals with the perm up
Didn't disturb us, even though them dudes shoot to kill
Drug moving skills got them knowing how wearing Gucci feels
The cars super ill, Caddy on stupid wheels
Hand us a couple dollars out the window of his Coupé de ville
Mama say, stay away from them negus
The preacher used to pray for them n***as
I developed traits from them n***as
But not today cause today I'm on my way to the center
Before the street lights come on don't be late for your dinner
Okay mama, I hugged her and left
She said hallelujah right under her breath
We've been getting on her nerves all day
Take some of that energy outside go play
Ay y'all remember at the community center playing Bingo, Uno
Connect Four, Monopoly?
And Mister Brown gave us lots of love, he gave us food, gave us clothes
And when'd we argue he gave us boxing gloves
Keep your guards up and watch the right, damn now that I think about it
He was teaching us 'bout life yeah
At the community center
It was beautiful when a
Young n***a was safe
Outside it was murder
(Murder, murder, murder, murder, murder, murder,)