Born and Raised

Dem seh a how we live mek we nuh know better yah
Inna di rainy rainy weather, we a guarded 'pon di border
We haffi hol' di order
Still yuh know we dere 'pon we own
Cau' we a likkle, we a search for gold
Nuh mek no bwoy come take we throne
We haffi hol' it strong, yah!

I was born and raised
In a place everyday where bullets nuh stop reign
I was born and raised
Wit' a spliff inna mi mout' and a gun 'pon me waist
I was born and raised
By di pimps an' di hustlers, the homeless, the strays

I was born and raised to know, recognize, slow all di hate

Rudebwoy grown upon his own damn two
Runnin' 'round doin' what the rudebwoy do
Wanna be a bad man
He was born up in the badland
Never knew his father
No one there to give him guidance
Started smokin' marijuana
Hanging out, having all nighters
His mommy never liked it
She told him I won't come visit you in Rikers
She said: you never wan' go Rikers Island
He caught a charge for carrying a gun
For some it's rites of passage
(To the streets we make a marriage)
Concrete jungle with the savages
(We facin' different challenges)
Only the strong will survive
(Living in the belly) 'cause the beast swallow you alive
Preaches couldn't save him (but a gangster still prays)

Keep the humble when you hustle
Live to see another day

I was born and raised
In a place everyday where bullets nuh stop reign
I was born and raised
Wit' a spliff inna mi mout' and a gun 'pon me waist

I was born and raised
By di pimps an' di hustlers, the homeless, the strays
I was born and raised to know, recognize, slow all di hate

What type of nigga, slang and bang in the streets?
(A bad man)
That's the type of company you keep
They say the energy gets circulated
(Vibes get communicated)
The actions and the mannerisms imitated
Sharp dressed (Jah Bless)
When you see 'em salute your highness (Salute!)
He's one of fifteen out his daddy's sack
Him was a true gun man so him come from that
Raised in the ghetto singin' songs of survival
Where we learn to conquer fears and our friends become our rivals
It's a concrete jungle where the savage rules
And violence begets violence, wah yuh do?

Live fast, die young
You never know when the death angel come
Life is shorter than a midget on the curbside
So, lift up your life and enjoy the ride

I was born and raised
In a place everyday where bullets nuh stop reign
I was born and raised
Wit' a spliff inna mi mout' and a gun 'pon me waist
I was born and raised
By di pimps an' di hustlers, the homeless, the strays
I was born and raised to know, recognize, slow all di hate