Life between the streets

Big Chris found a way of getting paid
packing sacks
avoiding the raid

holden down the block where we grew up
where big SAM got cut
and we caught the school bus

standing on the corner with his cell phone
can't work from home
moms hand too strong

so on the block he makes his cheese
right here on these streets
running from the police

profiling like he's having fun
but it's just begun
a life on the run

cause the folks gone roll
The dope takes a toll
Making men junkies
putting babies in the cold

Behold, the new day is old

Big Chris found a way of getting paid
Selling crack to babies
with their futures unlaid

It's not like Chris doesn't know how to behave
to that crack he's a slave
glass piping to his grave

big Chris came into the world at Grady downtown
parents money was down
they couldn't help but frown

they knew what Chris
was up against
white folk controlling dead presidents

black, broke, and weary
no place to sleep
big Chris had no choice
but to be raised in the streets

no hope of better days
or of restful nights
gotta stay in the fight
cause the money is tight

life never gave Big Chris a chance
who could he have enhanced
with a better circumstance

so don't judge so harshly
our brothers on the block
just be thankful to God
you didn't have to walk their walk