[Verse 1]
Crime don’t pay
That’s what my grandmamma used to say
Take life step by step and day to day
Stay away from people that talk down on ya
Cuz when you’re down and out they turn they’re back on ya
So folks live by the lord, and die by the sword
Where I’m from surrounded by PoPo’s and liquor stores
Tricks and whores on the corner tricking all for bread
She used to look hella good, now she’s getting paid for head
I’ve seen so much growing up on my turf
Fools dying, and mamas crying, and families feeling hurt
That was my homie, They say only God can judge us
But nowadays it seems like we getting judged by the judges
17 to 30 out from the 40-caliber
Because where I’m from, fools be flashing like a camera
Niggas on hot, getting lit like a candle
'cus I was taught anything in life is a gamble

[Hook]

Life is a gamble, that’s what I was told
Since a youngster, was about 8-years old
Go for your goals, and don’t hate the next cat
Stack your bread, get it together, and be on fat

Life is a gamble, that’s what I was told
Since a youngster, was about 8-years old
Go for your goals, and don’t hate the next cat
Stack your bread, get it together, and be on fat

[Verse 2]
The niggas I looked up to [are] either dead or in prison
Stressing from the system 'cus his mama miss him
Niggas doing time for non-violent crimes
My nigga got 25, 3-strikes for a sac of dimes
And the police trying to shut our operation down
White cars come around 850 bound downtown
Corrupt coppa’s, they love to stop us
And plant work on niggas so they can wash us
Knowing niggas on parole and 3-year joint probation
Next violation - 3 years in the Pen is what you’re facing
You motherfuckers kill my nigga Squee-G
And expect for a nigga to take it easy?
Beat ‘em down if no dope is found
But don’t come around when the killings is going down
It makes me wonder if they the enemy
Because it seems like it
If you catch a case, you niggas best to fight it

[Hook]

[Verse 3]
Fugitive, on the run, wanted in 5 counties
Bounty hunters on a nigga cuz I done jumped bail, was outie
County time ain't for me, needed the penitentiary
100 in G’s and a half pound of weed
If niggas stuck together, we around all this shit
Niggas running the White House, the first black President
Whites in residence of poverty and projects
I’ll bet you all can’t spend a day in that shit
Have you scared straight calling for your mammy to come get you
Natural disaster, like a earthquake or a twister
Shake up the world, make ‘em wake up the boys and girls
And make it a better place to raise my baby girl
You got it twisted like a curl
Think you know everything
I get my money on, and stack a little change
The game’s change just like a fad, but I ain’t mad
Because everybody, Mom’s and families is still sad

[Hook]