Thru It

I was putting days in
Worried we end up in a days inn
Doing anything not to cave in
Mid February stress level on mayhem
Looking at ma like what we gon do
First the lights now this too
But by that time I already knew
A letter a the door meant we was making big moves
We was on our fifth move, by fifth grade
I had been to ten schools by the 10th grade
Working three jobs just to get the rent paid
Putting up damn near half what the rents paid
Lawd please, tryna tell ya we was at worst low
Vermont ave on the first floor
Saw my mother going through her purse teary eyed
Giving all she had to put me in a fur coat
I don't even got the words to tell you what that feels like
You don't wanna know
Looking back like damn that was real life
Show and tell, wouldn't go to class cause I had nothing to show
What you wanna see, a food stamp?
Cause the truth is
Past few months we been living off a few cans
Walked to the school in some cooked Shaqs
Nikes in my book bag
Cause in my hood, that's the only way you was walking through it

Man I was going thru it
No way around it, I was going thru it
Man I was going thru it
I'm well but I tell you at the time it was hell going thru it

What's the word
Already overcame the worst
Everybody on this wave as of late
I'm sure as hell never finna surf
Less I'm in Hawaii with some Anastasia Ashley or Cassies
Catching everything they throwing at me
Familiar with the lows and struggle but I'm savvy
Unfamiliar flows nobody else could ever match me
You gotta understand I done been through a whole lot
When you got drive they gon road block
Planted me a seed, grew into dream
Still growing, told me it would stop ha
No it's not
Started in a railroad apartment, I'm trained for this
I ain't ask for it, it just came to this
If the sun don't shine, Imma reign through this
I ain't give up early, boy I stayed for this
Tryna tell ya we ain't have a lot to work with
There's an awfully lot of pain beneath the surface
Mama praying out her heart in Sunday service
At the time I ain't know her tears would birth a greater purpose
Cause now I'm looking back and I saying it was perfect
From where I stand can't even tell you it was worth it
It just made me a completely different person
When all is said and done the only thing
That's for certain is the fact we made it through it

Man I was going thru it
No way around it, I was going thru it
Man I was going thru it
I'm well but I tell you at the time it was hell going thru it