Verse 1:

I remember being just another young'n on the block/
After school, daily practicing my jump shot/
Copping magazines every time another dropped/
Studying all of the players, wishing I can be on top/
With my top down/
Straight cruising/
Down in the Bay/
All my homies Hispanic, I'm watching for what they'd say/
Momma watched after me from the window when I would play/
And I'm still doing me til this day/
Okay-ay/
Got me a crew, they should me 'round the locale/
Running around til sundown like “what now?”
Bike riding my pedals/
Take it other levels/
I ain't even notice we was in the ghetto/
“Hello, my name...” stickers on my shirt/
Doing classwork/
7 years old trying to figure out some bad words/
Shorty right behind me talking crazy, learning faster/
I couldn't speak 'cause I didn't know the password.

Chorus (2x's):

I remember when (aye)
I remember when (ah)
See I remember when, when life was so simple (aye)
When life was so simple.

Verse 2:

I remember being just another young'n on the block/
After school, daily practicing my jump shot/
Copping magazines every time another dropped/
Studying all of the players, wishing I could be on top/
But my homie got locked/
Another got popped/
We only 13, tell me when it's gon' stop/
Little did we know (aye)/
It was only getting started/
Police looking at me like a target/
Learned to do less talking in the street now/
It's beef now/
Run your mouth and catch a beat down/
It ain't sweet now/
Did I mention that we're in the A?/
Look in the corner at my mom as she begin to pray/
Another day, another problem (aye)/
Now tell me how we're gon' solve em (aye)/
Got with my homies, they're from Harlem (aye)/
We're riding out by the carload (aye)/
But I remember when...

Chorus repeated

Verse 3:

I remember being just another young'n on the block/
After school, daily practicing my jump shot/
But now I graduated and my homies done stopped/
Boy it's all about the streets, is you rolling out or not?/
And I'd rather write a song expressing my pain/
Ain't really did too much wrong in all of my days/
Done seen too many of my brothers get stuck in the game/
And I done met too many women that's learning my name/
To give it away now/
Rocking the stage with my shades on (I be tripping)/
Parties with ladies on the daily (tell me how you living)/
'Cause I'm just trying to make a way to get paid and live a dream
for my people in the grave (not a bad decision)/
God please show me the road/
Where should I go?/
I'm in territory my eyes never seen before/
Ready for gold by the rainbow/
Rapping to crowds I've only seen at a trade show, know I love it.

Chorus Repeated