I Am Your Future

I'm gonna take you back to 1980
People thought she was crazy for keeping her baby
Being only 13, thinking how she would love a son
Barely a child herself, now she would mother one

When that had come to pass
Some wondered how she had made it by
Some had bets on the side, that she wouldn't live to see 85
But she would prove them wrong, got her son kicking strong
Like the calm before the storm, son was moms when it was on

Back in '86, as he grew up in the mix
Watching his mother hang around men
That slanged her cane to make them licks
Struggling year after year, switchin' daddy to daddy
Last one had him a Lincoln, this one got him a Caddy

Plus a house in the subs and apartments run by thugs
Pushing dubs through them scrubs
'Cause he got a connect with Killa Bud
Little young buck's seen all of that
Then the man had a hand on that crack
And he out there looking for tar that come black
'Cause he knows that smack's gonna come back

He's nothing but nine years old, doin' nothing but what he was told
Always the one that would have to hold
'Til the man let him know that it was sold
Then he would take what rap that would fit the sack
Make them drop and he'd make it back
Imagine that, some place a mack
And not know how he was supposed to act

When them hustling on the street
Don't play them for weak 'cause them will shoot you
We are young killer, gangster, rude boy
Destined for death, yet I'm your future
How can a youth be humble when we live in an age of rage?
Too young and naive to conceive that we're digging an early grave

And by the time the 90s come around
Moms had a frown 'cause the man went down
Kites fly penitentiary bound
And little man's left to hold his ground

Playing his part, staying in school, nothing short of paying his dues
Momma heart's what made him choose, got him a start in breakin' rules
Hitting them books, hanging with crooks
Watching out when that lawman looks
Money's put in them pocket books
And business good 'cause he got the crooks

To make a run, getting it done
With the advantage of being so young
Nobody cared about what had begun
Then by the end of '91

He was a kid in junior high, looking to get some dope supply
Got him a hook-up with some guy, living like either it's do or die
Under the influence of the game
Already been through the love and the pain
Fix it for him, that wasn't the same
Had to maintain or go down the drain

It was a life he learned to live, he never had an alternative
Most forbid the things he did
But what would you do if you were the kid
Growing up around the cut, only exposed to what's corrupt
Nothing could break a boy so rough except the touch of a mother's love

When them hustling on the street
Don't play them for weak 'cause them will shoot you
We are young killer, gangster, rude boy
Destined for death, yet I'm your future
How can a youth be humble when we live in an age of rage
Too young and naive to conceive that we're digging an early grave

About the middle of '93, everyone's packing artillery
So many wanting to be a G, ready to make a delivery
Whatever it took to get in the set, not even worried about regret
And you could pose the biggest threat and catch the most of all respect

He can't stop, he won't stop, even though every spot is hot
Giving it everything he's got, tryin' to keep from gettin' caught
Never the one to be any place long enough to catch a case
After all no time to waste, when doing your business face to face

You're coming equipped to make a lick
You're not about to play the trick
You're puttin' in work to make a hit and keeping it low to stay legit
Moms and dads I'm talking to you, these are the things our children do
Hopin' you're listening, catch the clues
And maybe you'll see the future too

When them hustling on the street
Don't play them for weak 'cause them will shoot you
We are young killer, gangster, rude boy
Destined for death, yet I'm your future
How can a youth be humble when we live in an age of rage
Too young and naive to conceive that we're digging an early grave

We're digging an early grave
I am your future
I am your future
How can a youth be humble when we live in a state of hate
I am your future