Real Gangsta
SPM Lyrics

She don't know why
The mother is unaware of why her child is suddenly behaving like a gangster

But all she knows
Despite her ignorance, the mother is aware that her youngest child has transformed into a gangster

Is that her youngest child
The specific child in question is the youngest of his/her siblings

Is a Real Gangsta now
The child has become a genuine gangster through various influences and experiences

You see...
This phrase is used to emphasize the previous statement and its significance

He was a good kid all through elementary
At a young age, the child was a well-behaved and academically successful student

A's & B's & had no enemies
The child consistently achieved high grades and did not have any interpersonal conflicts

But he saw all the G's as he walked home
On his way home from school, the child observed gang members in his neighborhood

He couldn't read all the words on the walls though
The child was unable to decipher the graffiti on walls, which may have contained gang symbols

So many letters was crossed out with X's
Many of the letters in the graffiti were marked with X's, which could indicate rival gang territories or members

He wondered but knew not to ask those questions
The child was curious about the graffiti and its meaning, but knew it was best not to inquire further

No pops & his Mom worked to the nail
The child did not have a father figure and his mother worked extremely hard to support the family

She managed to buy him some shoes on sale
Despite their financial struggles, the mother was able to purchase shoes for her son at a discounted price

She didn't know, she bought the wrong color
The mother unintentionally bought shoes in a color that was not associated with the gang culture prevalent in their area

& they stayed in the closet all summer
Because the shoes were not the correct color, the child was too embarrassed to wear them outside and they remained unused

Even though the kid wasn't affiliated
Despite not being an official gang member, the child was aware of the gang culture and its signifiers

He knew what they loved & knew what they hated
The child understood the preferences and prejudices of the gang members in his neighborhood

Now he's in Middle School, same individual
The child has advanced to middle school, but is still the same person with the same experiences

But this is where things seem to get a bit difficult
The middle school environment presents more challenges and conflicts, especially for vulnerable children

This is the life of a young Mexican
The song portrays the experiences of a young Mexican child growing up in a gang-affiliated neighborhood

1 done take me to the 2nd one.
This last line is a non-sequitur and does not have an obvious meaning in the context of the song.

7th grade. Why so much homework?
The child is experiencing the difficulties of middle school academics

Got a pot pie sittin' in the stove burnt
The child's mother is struggling to prepare meals amidst her hectic work schedule

Mama still ain't back from her job yet
The mother is still at work and has not returned home yet

So he eats it 'cause that's all he got left
The child has no other dinner option and eats the burnt pot pie

Then he plays with his little puppy Cinnamon
The child spends time with his pet dog as a source of comfort and joy

His last dog was a victim of a hit 'n' run
The child's previous pet dog was killed in a hit and run accident

There's a knock on his door it's his homeboy.
The child's friend arrives at his home unexpectedly

Your mom's gone? He pulls out a chrome toy.
The friend brandishes a gun upon learning that the child's mother is not home

"Where did you get that from?" The kid asked
The child is questioning the source of his friend's weapon

We broke into a house we got a bunch of shit stashed
His friend informs him that they obtained the weapon and other items through robbery

It was the first time he ever held a real gun
The child has no prior experience with firearms and is handling a gun for the first time

To get one of these you gotta steal one
The friend tells the child that the only way to obtain a gun is through theft

We too young they won't let us buy a gat
The child's friend tells him that they are too young to legally purchase a firearm

Now if they shoot at us we can fire back.
The friend justifies the need for protection by explaining that they can now defend themselves

Who is they & why would they blast at me?
The child expresses confusion about who would attack them and why they would do so

'Cause you from the hood fool, this is family.
The friend explains that living in the gang-affiliated neighborhood automatically places them in the same group and therefore they must protect each other

A year passes now the kids dicky's sag
The child's clothing style has now evolved to embrace gang culture through sagging pants

In his pocket got a knife & a nickel bag
The child now carries weapons and drugs, highlighting his increased involvement in gang activity

& the homeboy that showed him his first gun
The friend who introduced the child to the concept of gang culture and gave him his first firearm

Got killed last week in a burban
The friend was killed in a car (a suburban) last week, likely due to gang-related activity

Puttin' work in 45 jerkin'
The friend was killed while engaging in gang-related activity

Lucky shot hit, popped like a virgin
The friend was killed by a lucky shot that hit him fatally and instantly

Closed casket touched as he strolled past it
The friend's funeral service had a closed casket out of respect for his body's condition following his death

Got his name tattooed on 2 hoes asses
Two women got tattoos of the friend's name on their bodies to honor his memory

So he'll still be remembered often while
The friend's name and legacy will live on through the tattoos

His little bitch gettin' hit doggy style
The child is outraged to learn that women are engaging in sexual activities while his friend is dead

It ain't stoppin' now while his Moms' on the ground
The child is upset that life goes on even though his friend has died and his mother is distraught on the floor

On her knees yellin' "Please Lord not my child
The mother is devastated and pleading for her child to be spared from the dangers of gang life

I want to watch him smile
The mother expresses a simple wish to see her child happy

He can turn his 2Pac up loud
If her child is alive and well, the mother wants him to be able to enjoy his favorite music

He can sleep with his pitbull on the couch
The mother wishes for simple pleasures like her child having his dog with him while relaxing at home

& while the kid is listenin' to her words
The child is present and listening to his mother express her hopes for his future

All he can think about is bloody bloody murders.
The child's mind is preoccupied with memories of violence and experiencing fear for his own life

Yo, man, this is Juan Gotti & I want to tell my people to keep your dreams alive, man.
This line is a spoken message from Juan Gotti, the artist of the song

Believe in yourself.
Juan Gotti encourages listeners to have self-confidence

& Don't follow the blind.
Juan Gotti stresses the importance of independent thinking and personal responsibility

You deserve the best in life, homito.
Juan Gotti reminds listeners that they are worthy of success and happiness

You can have it.
Juan Gotti assures listeners that achieving their dreams is possible with hard work and determination

It's our time now, man.
Juan Gotti emphasizes that this is a critical moment to seize opportunities and strive for success