Street Life
Skee-Lo Lyrics

Last year when I went home, got in my car and got gone
Last year, after returning home, I left in my car and drove away

Hit the streets and shot on, 18 years since I'm gone
I roamed the streets and had fun, as it has been 18 years since I left

Call my homie Jerome, spoke to his brother Tyrome
I called my friend Jerome and spoke to his brother Tyrome

Who seemed a little distant cause my calls were not persistent
Tyrome appeared to be distant as I had not kept in touch with him enough

He say Rome went to prison for resistin' arrest
Tyrome mentioned that Rome was imprisoned for resisting arrest

And mamma had a problem wit her chest, what, cardiac arrest
My mother had chest problems and suffered from a cardiac arrest

I was hurt and ain't even been here a week
I was upset, and I had only been there for a week

And after all that bad news I couldn't speak
I was left speechless after hearing all of that bad news

And my toes went weak and my legs went numb
I felt weak, and my legs became numb

It gets crazy in the streets tryin' to live wit no funds
It is chaotic trying to live with no money in the streets

Don't cheat you don't eat, your case you can't beat
If you don't cheat, you will not eat, and it will be difficult to win your case

Public defenders is there to make the deals go sweet
Public defenders aim to make the deals favourable

For the prosecution it's like an execution
For the prosecution, it is like an execution

But you can make it if you're patient and avoid confusion
However, you can be successful if you are patient and avoid confusion

It took a while for me to learn this and stay on my feet
It took me a while to understand this, but I managed to stay strong

But if this rappin' don't happen for me I'm goin' back to the streets
If I am unsuccessful in my rapping career, I will return to the streets

Before the day that I blew up back when I grew up
Before my success, when I was growing up

Back when I had a shag chewin' gum wearin' chucks
When I had a shaggy hairstyle and wore Chuck Taylor sneakers while chewing gum

Before I even thought about makin' the big bucks
Before I even considered making a lot of money

I was busy throwin' rocks at cars and dump trucks
I was preoccupied with throwing rocks at cars and dump trucks

Even now I can hear her mamma callin' my full name
Even now, I can recall my mother calling me by my full name

Me and uncle Joe would be watchin' the Bulls game
My uncle Joe and I would watch the Bulls game

Before they had Jordan when all you needed was change
This was before Michael Jordan became famous and all you needed for candy was change

To get yourself some candy, some pickles and sugar canes
You could purchase candy, pickles, and sugar canes with your change

Even then I could feel the streets movin' all through
Even then, I could feel the influence of the streets all around me

My veins and everything I seen absorbed in my brain
These experiences were strongly ingrained in my memory

I'm not afraid to tell it my brother I'm not ashamed
I am not embarrassed to share my story with my brothers

You take a look at me now and look at where I came
Look at me now and see how far I have come

Robert Taylor, 4500 on State Street in Chicago
I grew up in Robert Taylor, which is located at 4500 State Street in Chicago

Where most of the hoodsters and thugs be
Most of the gangsters and criminals resided here

If it hadn't of been for all the people that loved me
Without the love and support of many people, I would not be where I am today

And for god's grace life get cruel and ugly in the streets
Without God's grace, life can be harsh and difficult in the streets

It's all good
Everything is good

But people don't, got it misunderstood, street code is
However, people misunderstand that the street code is

Simply you stick to your own hood
You should stick to your own neighbourhood

Stay in your own woods and chop your own tree
Stay in your own area and mind your own business

And if something jumps off pretend you didn't see
If something happens, pretend you did not witness it

Keep your mouth shut up, for you get knocked up
Keep quiet, or you might get in trouble

Ain't no since in tryin' to get somebody else locked up
It is not worth trying to get someone else in trouble

And that's the truth
That is the truth

That's why I send messages to the youth
That is why I send messages to the younger generation

Hope the lord makes a way out
I hope the Lord provides a way out

Forget the gang and stay out
Forget about the gang and stay away from it

Cause everybody wants to live in the sunshine
Everybody wants to live a happy life

If not right now at least at one time
If not now, at least once in their life

Look back in your mind remember you was a kid
Think back and remember when you were young

Remember before you grew up how innocent you lived
Remember how carefree and innocent life was before you grew up

From big wheels to big thrills and big heights
From riding big wheels as a kid to experiencing big thrills and heights

From innocent to killin' your brother for Air Nikes
From being innocent to committing murder for Air Nikes

And I can't believe that none of these things don't
I cannot believe that none of these situations

Strike y'all brothers in the head like this ain't right
Do not awaken a realization in people's minds that this is not right