Where I'm From
Cam'ron Lyrics

I'm from where the hammer's rung, New's cameras never come
I'm from a place where gun violence is frequent, but mainstream media ignores it.

You and your man houndin' every verse in your rhyme
Some people from my hometown are obsessed with rap and trying to be the best MCs.

Where the grams is slung, niggas vanish every summer
Drug dealing is common, and people often disappear in the summer due to violence or incarceration.

Where the blue vans would come, we throw the work in the can and run
When we saw police vans, we hid our drugs and tried to escape.

Where the plans was to get funds and skate off the set
We wanted to make money and leave our neighborhood behind.

My goal was to make money quickly, so I sold drugs that were still wet.
I was willing to take risks to achieve my financial goals.

I from the other side with other guys don't walk to much
I'm from a place where it's dangerous to walk around too much.

So they ran up town and sought them dudes to trust
Some young women from my area looked for more reliable men uptown instead of dating local guys.

I'm from where the beef is inevitable, Summertime's unforgettable
Violence is common, especially in the summer when tensions run high.

Boosters in abundance, buy a half-price sweater new
Thieving is rampant, and people will buy stolen goods at a discount.

Your world was everything, So everything you said you'd do. You did it, Couldn't talk about it if you ain't lived it
In my hometown, people will judge you based on your actions, not your words.

I'm from where niggas pull your car, and argue all day about Who's the best MC's, Biggie, Jay-Z, and Nas
People are quick to call out someone for lying or exaggerating, and hip-hop is a big part of our culture.

Where the drugs czars evolve, and thugs always are
Drug lords are constantly changing, and violent people are always present.

But most times find themselves locked up behind bars
However, even the toughest thugs often end up in prison.

I'm from where they ball and breed rhyme stars
In my hometown, basketball and rap are two things that can help someone escape poverty.

Cough up a lung, where I'm from, Marcy son, Ain't nothing nice
Living in Marcy Projects is tough, and there's nothing pleasant about it.

Mentally been many places but I'm Brooklyn's own
Even though I've experienced other things, I'll always be from Brooklyn.

I'm from the place where the church is the flakiest
Even religious institutions are unreliable in my hometown.

Where you can't put your vest away and say you'll wear it tomorrow
It's never safe to assume you won't need your bulletproof vest the next day.

I'm a block away from hell, not enough shots away from straight shells
My neighborhood is dangerous, and even being close to where violence occurs is risky.

An ounce away from a triple beam still using a hand-held weight scale
Even though I've had some financial success, I'm still using outdated equipment to weigh drugs.

Where the Liqour Store's and the base well, And Government, fuck Government, niggas politic themselves
Liquor stores and drug dealers are plentiful, and people don't have faith in their government.

Cause they hop out of vans and spray things
Police often come in large groups and use excessive force.

And life expectancy so low we making out wills at eight-teen
People from my hometown don't have high life expectancies, and some are already preparing for their death as teenagers.

Where how you get rid of guys who step out of line, your rep solidifies
If you can handle people who disrespect you or cause problems, your reputation becomes stronger.

So tell me when I rap you think I give a fuck who criticize?
I'm not worried about criticism because I come from a tough environment where people don't care what others think.

We'll never know / One day I pray to you and said if I ever blow, Let 'em know
We may never know the truth, but if I ever become successful, I'll tell people about my upbringing.

Mistakes ain't exactly what takes place in the ghetto
There's no room for error when you're trying to survive in a dangerous environment.

Promise fulfilled, but still I feel my job ain't done
Even though I've achieved some success, I feel like there's still more I need to do for my community.

I'm from where they cross-over and clap boards
Basketball is a big part of our culture, and people celebrate a good crossover move by clapping.

Lost Jehovah in place of rap lords
Some people from my hometown have lost their faith in God and instead look up to famous rappers.

From where the Pimps, Prostitutes, and the Drug Lords meet
My neighborhood is filled with pimps, prostitutes, and drug lords who all intersect.

We make a million off of beats, cause our stories is deep
Despite our tough environment, some of us have found success in the music industry by telling our stories.

Niggas get lost for weeks in the streets, twisted off weed
People from my hometown sometimes disappear for weeks due to drug use.

And no matter the weather, niggas know how to draw heat
People from my area are always ready for violence, no matter the circumstances.

Whether your four-feet or Minute size, it always starts out with Three dice and shoot the five
The game of craps is popular in my hometown and can bring people of all sizes together to play.

This time around it's platinum, like the shit on my wrist
Now that I'm successful, I have expensive jewelry and other luxuries.

And this glock on my waist, y'all can't do shit about this
I carry a gun for protection, and nobody can stop me.

Niggas will show you love, That's how they fool thugs
Some people in my hometown will act friendly just to take advantage of you or trick you.

Before you know it your lying in a pool of blood
You can quickly become a victim of violence in my hometown.