When I grow up I＇ma be a superstar
Ah-ha alright baby
They don＇t know how it feels
（When you＇re out on your own yeah）
（And you＇re lookin for that home）
They don＇t know what it is
（When the world＇s on your shoulder）
（And your baby gotta be a soldier）
Yo I was born in the pro-jects with roaches and rats
And our credentials were our nines and gats
Stay the hell out the hood read the welcomin mats
I remember them days it was hard bein black
Welfare checks and government cheese
Take your family in portrait everybody smile say cheese
And it＇s a wonder how I kept my head from goin under
Sun don＇t shine where there＇s lightning and thunder
Some got ways some got means
But still we all just got hopes and dreams
The two blend together like d**e and fiends
Cope with teens has that new gangster lean
Everybody just wanna be a ghetto star
Fly cribs and drivin them big cars
That＇s all Mr President hear the voice of the youth
I don＇t lie I speak the truth
They don＇t know how it feels
（When you a single mother）
（And don＇t have that significant other）
They don＇t know what it is
（To be in the ghetto）
（And your life be in slow mo＇）
Uhh yeah
Been around the world a couple times with the ReFugees
From the boot of Italy to the land of Pawnee
Fell in love a couple times on the London Bridge
Fast cars fast life that＇s how I wanted to live
What a crusade one of my great escapades
Cut many hearts like the game of spades
But nuttin was as fatal when they blew the World Trade
Now we at war momma tradin lives for grenades
Send in the troops here comes the brigades
American resolve and our hearts＇ll never fade
I know you somewhere out there chillin in the shades
But I hate to be the one to rain on your parade
See God is merciful and God bless his children
That＇s how we gonna reconstruct them buildings
So stop the killings we runnin out of graves
In the land of the free and the home of the brave
They don＇t know how it feels
（To hear our babies cry）
（And watch our mothers die）
They don＇t know what it is
（To see our brothers in prison）
（While they losin their religion）
These eyes of mines are like camera lens
Loved by many but stabbed by my friends
Is this the end Some may cry out loud
But I won＇t worry we gonna make it now
The ghetto fed up but they won＇t break us down
It＇s an eye for an eye what goes around comes around
Do dis for my peeps who couldn＇t speak
Survival of the fittest what happens to the weak
They either in between above or beneath
Tryin to play me like a scrub in a passenger seat
Racial profile to say the least （okay）
There won＇t be no peace in the belly of the beast c＇mon
But we gonna make it through baby
Even though the world is so crazy
And if they ask you tell ＇em it＇s pain times three
Cause it＇s a million of them kids stressin just like me
BABY
They don＇t know how it feels
（To see us go to war）
（And see the people free for no more）
They don＇t know what it is
（To be a black man in America）
（And feel like they＇re comin to get＇cha）
They don＇t know how it feels
（To work for minimum wage）
（As your life starts to fade）
They don＇t know what it is
（To be down to your last buck）
（And no one really gives a mother-HA）
