i love my life
N.O.R.E. Lyrics

Yo I grew up like the regular thug sold drugs
I grew up in a tough environment and sold drugs to make a living.

Wasn't proud about it, but this is what I gotta do
I didn't feel proud of what I was doing, but there was no other option for me.

I copped the Jordan's, and the Fila's, too
I bought some expensive sneakers, like Jordan's and Fila's.

Yo, I loved the Bo Jackson's, the orange and blue
I had a particular love for Bo Jackson's orange and blue sneakers.

Used to snatch Lee patches, now I wear Cartier glasses
I used to steal Lee patches, but now I wear Cartier glasses to show that I've come a long way.

Thinkin' that the earth's axis,
I used to be very self-centered, thinking that the world revolved around me.

Revolves around my waist.. and how the fuck I feel
I was so focused on myself that I thought the world revolved around my waist and how I felt at any given moment.

Yo I played ball for Vince, yo I handled the pill
I played basketball for Vince and had good ball-handling skills.

Then it dawned on me, came strong on me
I had a realization that hit me hard.

I belonged with these, niggaz thuggin' with me
I realized that I was meant to be with the other guys who were also involved in thuggish activities.

So I switched crews, started rollin' with the older dudes
I changed my group of friends and started hanging out with older guys.

Drinkin' brews, did what they say, and paid dues
I drank beer and did what the older guys told me to do, in order to earn their respect.

My hands dirty, trying to keep little Lea
I had to do dirty things to provide for my daughter Lea.

And got jerked, the first time I tried to re-up
I got ripped off the first time I tried to buy more drugs to sell.

People my age, tried to say slow my speed up
My peers told me to slow down my drug dealing activities.

'Cause I smoked bogies, staked on weed up
Because I smoked cigarettes and was high on weed.

[Chorus]
I love my life, even though I've sold drugs in the past. I've sacrificed a lot and played the game for keeps. I pray and try to control the streets.

These is the days of sparkin', I used to roll with Rob Profit
I used to hang out with a guy named Rob Profit during a time when everyone was smoking marijuana.

Troy Outlaw, Freddie Bedrock, and Joe Wood
These were other people who I used to hang out with back then.

Runni'n in Timbo's ???, shine shoes
I'm not sure what Timbo's refers to, but I used to shine shoes to make some extra money.

Section Two, part of Iraq I grew up at
I grew up in Section Two, which was a part of Iraq where things were tough.

Had to learn how to slapbox, instead of a gat
Instead of using a gun, I had to learn how to fight with my hands in a slapbox match.

I never knew rap, all I knew was crack
I didn't know anything about rap music, just how to sell drugs like crack.

Yo there's rules to this game, and people to blame
There are certain rules to selling drugs, and certain people who are to blame for the problems in that world.

When you see another little brother doing the same
When you see another young person selling drugs just like you did.

As you used to
Just like the way you used to sell drugs.

Growing up like you
Growing up in the same tough environment as you did.

Palyin' skully, with his heat out, cellular phone
Playing a game called skully with his gun out and a cell phone nearby.

Getting little drug money, but got the world sewn
Making a little bit of money from selling drugs, but thinking that he had everything under control.

I recall, cause he gonna die
I remember him clearly because he will eventually die.

Yo, I cry
I feel emotional and cry when I think about these things.

It's hard to, get tarred up with God jewel, part two
It's hard to escape the drug game and start a new, better life with God's blessings.

Smily got shot up to (Rest in peace)
A person named Smily was shot and died. Rest in peace.

Aiyyo, you realize that you miss a nigga (miss him)
You realize that you miss somebody who has died.

When you realize (realize) that you never gonna see him again
When you come to understand that you will never see the person who died again.

[Chorus]
I love my life, even though I've sold drugs in the past. I've sacrificed a lot and played the game for keeps. I pray and try to control the streets.

Aiyyo, its totally, up to the team, to me
It's up to us as a team to succeed, but ultimately it's up to me to make it happen.

So don't, make a move if you don't ask me
Don't take any action without first consulting me, because I'm the leader.

I'm, casually known, halfly blown
I'm known by many people, but only half of me is engaged in what I'm doing.

In Miami, cause now Uncle Wise came home
I'm in Miami because a person I call Uncle Wise came back to town.

Jello, copped me a Role', copped them one, too
A person named Jello helped me buy a Rolex watch, and bought one for himself as well.

You keep it real with a person, keep it real with you
If you're honest with someone, they will be honest with you in return.

Use confidence, Thugged Out aimed for dominance
To succeed in the drug game, you need to have confidence and aim for dominance.

Nostradam' in this, he slits wrists just like Glomerus
Nostradamus is referenced here (not sure why), but it's clear that a person named Glomerus is doing something dangerous and possibly suicidal.

??, Grenad', iced out for Tito
Not sure what the missing word is, but there's a reference to a grenade here, and Tito is wearing some kind of iced-out piece of jewelry.

Puerto Rico, we live life now cause we know
We live life to the fullest now because we know how harsh life can be.

The other side of the fence stay friendly
People on the other side of the law (police, etc.) are friendly as long as you don't break the rules.

Its just war in there, done, there ain't no Henny
It's a constant war on the streets, with no time to relax and have a drink of Hennessy.

I can't live that, déjà vu, I did that
I can't go back to living that old life, it's like a déjà vu that I've already experienced and moved on from.

I gained stats, rumblin' cats over Kit Kats
I've gained status and respect by fighting and defeating other tough guys.

Now I spit raps, park my Benz where the chicks at
Now I'm a rapper, and I drive my Benz to places where there are lots of women around.

And just live with a big stack
I live comfortably now with a lot of money.

[Chorus: x3]
I love my life, even though I've sold drugs in the past. I've sacrificed a lot and played the game for keeps. I pray and try to control the streets.