When I grow up, I'ma be a superstar Ah-ha, alright baby (They don't know how it feels) When you're out on your own, yeah And you're lookin' for that home (They don't know what it is) When the world's on your shoulder And your baby gotta be a soldier Yo I was born in the projects with roaches and rats And our credentials were our nines and gats Stay the hell out the hood, read the welcomin' mats I remember them days, it was hard bein' black Welfare checks and government cheese Take your family portrait, everybody smile, say "Cheese" And it's a wonder how I kept my head from goin' under Sun don't shine where there's lightning and thunder Some got ways, some got means But still, we all just got hopes and dreams The two blend together like dope and fiends Cope with teens has that new gangster lean Everybody just wanna be a ghetto star Fly cribs and drivin' them big cars That's all Mr. President, hear the voice of the youth I don't lie, I speak the truth (They don't know how it feels) When you a single mother And don't have that significant other (They don't know what it is) To be in the ghetto And your life be in slow mo', uh yeah Been around the world a couple times with the ReFugees From the boot of Italy to the land of Pawnee Fell in love a couple times on the London Bridge Fast cars, fast life, that's how I wanted to live What a crusade, one of my great escapades Cut many hearts, like the game of spades But nothin' was as fatal when they blew the World Trade Now we at war mama, tradin' lives for grenades Send in the troops, here comes the brigades American resolve and our hearts'll never fade
I know you somewhere out there chillin' in the shades But I hate to be the one to rain on your parade See God is merciful and God bless his children That's how we gonna reconstruct them buildings So stop the k**ings, we runnin' out of graves In the land of the free and the home of the brave (They don't know how it feels) To hear our babies cry And watch our mothers die (They don't know how it feels) To see our brothers in prison While they losin' their religion These eyes of mines are like camera lens Loved by many but stabbed by my friends Is this the end? Some may cry out loud But I won't worry we gonna, make it now The ghetto fed up but they won't break us down It's an eye for an eye what goes around comes around Do this for my peeps who couldn't speak Survival of the fittest, what happens to the weak? They either in between, above or beneath Tryin' to play me like a scrub in a pa**enger seat Racial profile to say the least (okay) There won't be no peace in the belly of the beast, c'mon But we gonna make it through, baby Even though the world is so crazy And if they ask you, tell 'em it's pain times three 'Cause it's a million of them kids stressin' just like me, baby (They don't know how it feels) To see us go to war And see the people free for no more (They don't know how it feels) To be a black man in America And feel like they're comin' to get'cha (They don't know how it feels) To work for minimum wage As your life starts to fade (They don't know how it feels) To be down to your last buck And no one really gives a mother, huh