Where I'm From
Lloyd ft. Ja Rule Lyrics

Nigga, fuck is you talkin' 'bout?
What are you talking about?

Comin' from where I'm from, I'm from
I come from a place where things are tough

Kids get killed in ghettos, shot up over their carmelo's
Children in the ghetto are murdered over their sneakers

While they mom was at home, tears hittin' the pillow
Their grieving mothers are left at home crying

Reverend in the middle of a sermon and funereal
Even the spiritual leaders are affected by the loss of life

Shed a tear 'cause they lost a son the same way a year ago
The reverend has lost someone close in the same manner before

It's the same ego spiritual, we thuggin' in harmony
The community comes together even in times of violence and hardship

They say death brings life, there exchange no robbery
Some believe that death gives birth to new life without taking away from others

If I'm wrong then pardon me, I'm just tired of poverty
Apologies if my views are incorrect, I'm just fed up with living in poverty

Why them niggas in the hood never hit the lottery
Why do people in poor neighborhoods never seem to have luck with money?

Unless they go lottery, first round in the draft
Their only way out is to win the lottery or become a professional athlete

First we dustin' off the rounds and we slip in the mag'
Preparing weapons for a potential conflict

Then slip on the masks, and go out and mash
Disguising ourselves before going out to cause trouble

And we call it feeding our family, ya'll call it a tragedy, damn
We justify our actions by saying we're providing for our family, but others see it as a terrible tragedy

How I could just kill a man
Feeling the urge to commit violence against someone

Watch his blood flow like a river and rinse his blood off of my hand
Imagining the gruesome aftermath of committing murder

If you hearing me speak please lord give me a chance
Hoping to be given a chance to make a better life

And forgive for my sins, 'cause we cleansed where I'm from
Asking for forgiveness for past wrongdoings in a community where violence is prevalent

Me and my niggas ride even when the sun don't shine and it's cold outside
My friends and I stick together through all weather and circumstances

I never run in or hide, 'cause some niggas hate it
I refuse to cower in fear because some people dislike me

But I can't be fadin' 'cause I done made it
I won't give up because I've achieved some success

Instead of struggling, just strive
I'm determined to succeed instead of being stuck in a cycle of hardship

Everybody know that everybody said nobody can hide from beef
Everyone knows that violence is hard to avoid

Except but us, who surprised when these kids get killed on the streets
We're not surprised when children are killed in our community

Look how these animals eat that's how they talk bout us
People speak about us as if we're savages

While they shed they joke and laugh puttin a choke round us
They mock us and exert power over us

Can I get a moment of silence
Asking for a brief period of respect for those who have been lost

'Cause they claimin' it's the murderers that's causing all the violence
Some blame the high murder rates on the killers

But what about the ones that protect to serve our honor
What about the supposed protectors that are dishonoring the community?

Poppin' that blue colla', with shots soon to follow
Police violence soon follows after police put on their blue uniforms

The ghettos in horror, 'cause in this boy shot went back
The neighborhood is horrified when a young man is shot and the killer walks free

And now the neighborhood's hot and he can't move the crack
The aftermath of the shooting causes trouble for those involved in the drug trade

When it's all about the dollars
Money motivates people's actions

And he'll individually get murdered 'cause money is power
Someone could be killed for their riches because of the power it conveys

But then these snitch's get to talking and it's colder than ours
When people start ratting out others, it becomes even more dangerous

Cuffed and crimed on the bus heading straight to the island
Arrested and sent to prison on a boat headed for Rikers Island

He was only thirteen, but tried as an adult in the highest of courts
A young boy was forced to be tried as an adult in a serious court case

Because ain't no more children in the ghetto where I'm from
Kids grow up too fast in the harsh realities of my community

We ain't all killers in prison
Not everyone in prison is a murderer

Matter fact that's a stereotypical thought of livin'
It's a narrow-minded and incorrect view of life

'Cause they don't know about the hood and them love in it
Others don't understand the love that exists in the community

Summer time top down with the wood finish
Driving around in a convertible with nice features during the summer

Pushin' hard uptown windows slightly tinted
Driving in a fancy car with tinted windows in an affluent area

Back to back Benz' and Jeeps, blowin' weed with my niggas
Driving around in luxury cars and smoking marijuana with friends

On our way to a house party, gonna fuck with some bitches
Heading to a party to flirt with girls

Let's get some liquor for shorty who said she make us some chicken
Buying alcohol for a girl who offered to cook for us

And if we get 'em drunk enough we probably could freak 'em
If we get them drunk enough, we might be able to have sex with them

And do it every other weekend
Making a habit of partying and hooking up on the weekends

If I don't have to kill niggas, I never would leave the ghetto
If I could escape the ghetto without resorting to violence, I would

I'm like an angel that put on a halo
I'm someone who wants to do good, despite the tough environment

Cradle the grave of my niggas that we lost in the ghetto
Mourning the loss of friends who have died in the community

'Cause where I'm from in the ghetto we rock white tee's and Nike's
In my community, people wear white t-shirts and Nike sneakers

Roll three dice and name our dope ice cream
Playing street games and giving creative names to drugs

Set trends and ya'll follow our lead
Creating new fashions and other trends that others copy

But in New Yitti niggas follow they dreams, where I'm from
People in New York City pursue their dreams, but it's harder where I come from

Now I lay me down and sleep
A common childhood prayer before bed

And I pray to the Lord, for my soul to keep
Asking for protection of one's soul while asleep

But if I should die before I wake
Acknowledging the possibility of death while sleeping

Pray for the Lord, my soul to take yeah
Asking for the Lord to take one's soul if they die in their sleep

Oh yeah
(Repeating phrase for emphasis)