By the time of age nine I'm already decidin'
If I can protect mommy from the hood by fightin'
Or usin' a knife or a gun when I'm twenty-one

Meaning

Nas recalls on how prepared he would make himself to be to battle the ills and poisons that came with the street life

To help improve the meaning of these lyrics, visit "Reason" by Nas Lyrics and leave a comment on the lyrics box