[Big L] 
Yeah, it's the Big L [bad word] at you once again, in nine-five 
And I dedicate this one 
to all my peoples from Uptown.. and everywhere 
Check it! 
Yo where I'm from it ain't cookies and cream 
There's a lot of peer pressure growin up as a young teen 
You never know when you gonna get wet 
Cause mad clowns be catchin wreck with a tec Just To Get Rep 
Instead of cool friends, they'd rather hang with male thugs 
Instead of goin to school, they'd rather sell [bad word] 
It's best to go the right route and not the wrong one 
Because it's gonna catch up witchu in the [bad word] 
Brothers be all up on us, actin stupid, gettin lifted 
They life is twisted, and most of them are quite gifted 
In other words, they got TALENT; but they'd rather sell cracks 
and bust gats [bad word] the streets actin violent 
To them it's all about hittin skinz and makin some easy green 
Cause that's all they show you on the TV screen 
All they care about is a buck or bustin a sweet nut 
They don't give a (WHAT?) cause they street [bad word]  [bad word]  Big L 
You betta listen when L rhyme; cause bein street [bad word] ll 
get you nuttin but a bullet or jail time 
So pay attention when L rhyme; cause bein street [bad word] ll 
get you nuttin but a bullet or jail time 
[Big L] 
Before the rap contract, I was sellin crack 
Stay strapped with a Mac, I was into alla that 
I started rappin and got nice as [bad word] 
If it wasn't for this I might be doin life in jail 
And some of my peeps are still in the game sellin 'caine 
If that's what you gotta do to maintain, go 'head and do your thang 
But with the cash profit make an investment 
And try not to go to the grave like the rest went 
Cause you can be rich with crazy loot, own a house and nine cars 
What good is that, if you're dead, or behind bars? 
And yo it's not even funny 
I've seen a lot of my peers give up they careers for some FAST MONEY 
They could've been boxers, ballplayers or rap singers 
Instead they bank robbers and crack slingers 
Aiyyo they used to be legit kids, now they [bad word] 
They had dreams but gave em up cause they street [bad word]  [bad word]  repeat 2X 
[Big L] 
I still chill with my peeps in the streets; but most of the time 
I'm in the crib, writin rhymes to some dope beats 
Or either callin up some freaks to bone 
But word up, I try to leave the streets alone 
But it's crazy hard kid, in other words, it's spooky 
The streets be callin me, like the crack be callin Pookie 
It ain't a dumb joke, listen to this young folk 
Cause where I'm from -- you can choke from the gunsmoke 
Stay off the corners; that might be your best plan 
Before you catch a bullet that was meant for the next man 
Or end up with a deep cut 
Or relaxin on a hospital bed, from bein street [bad word]  [bad word]  repeat 2X 
[Big L] 
Worrrd up! 
Aiyyo take it from me, the Big L 
Cause I been through it all, youknowhatI'msayin? 
Stay off them corners you'll stay out of trouble 
And I gotta say rest in peace to all the cats teasin streets 
I'm outta here