I Know What It's Like

(album: Iron Works - 2011)

Like, there's little trick to this shit

I know what it's like hungry, thirsty
I know what it's like grungy, dusty
I know what it's like trust me
I know what it's like

I mastered the street ways, with a mask in the PJs
Learned to die for last and let your heat blaze
Huddled with the crew drew up some unique plays
Could take us out of ghetto but y'all know the cliches
I bagged chicks with a laugh and some deep waves
It's the groomed hood
At first glance like I'm doing good
Can't school me, I'm out your class like a truant should
I live slow days, fast nights
Hundred year half life
I flash bright graphite for the past sights
Little snacks ain't enough, grew up with bad appetites (hungry now)
We known in Brooklyn to be home cooking
Selling plates under the drapes, if homes looking
Get paid in cash, no taxes
Mastered art of war like I went to Annapolis
I live in non-fiction, this one of the chapters
This flick documentary shit, no actors
I play the game naturally, go practice
Predators, roll in packs like raptors
There's no savings accounts, favored amounts in a mattress

I know what it's like hungry, thirsty
I know what it's like grungy, dusty
I know what it's like trust me
I know what it's like

I live a blue-collar life
Hunger headaches, I ain't eat for two solid nights
Want jerk chicken and rice
But I was two dollars light
So I go in the store, grab shit and blew out of sight
If ribs start showing, I be the true violent type
On the corner where they licking at each other like the true college dykes
Trying to get up on some ninjas with them new silent pikes
Knuckle game up the par, a few thousand fights
I tuss some hood rats, ran through housing mice
Rock kicks from '86, you can browse my Nikes
Was grimy then
Never thought you'd see me when it's reporting the war I'm more when Nore was on CNN
Champagne taste, bottled water budget
The man I became, my grandfather would have loved it (rest in peace, God)
So I dodge flicks and I keep large clips
'Cause I've been through hardships that only God can fix

I know what it's like hungry, thirsty
I know what it's like grungy, dusty
I know what it's like trust me
I know what it's like

My City don't sleep
Streets watch way before they speak
But if you weak, [?] powder speak
It will not allow you to eat
But if you strong in the struggle and wanna bubble
Born in rubble, these corners here long to huddle
Hold you with everything it's got
Provide you with the tools to acquire a knot
Clock till you live and hot
Easy to get in, hard to relax or even try to stop
Cause the gutter is a faceless mother, get too big, she embrace another
That's for niggas out here trying to erase they brother
Cause they want full attention and love
They put the inf' on they snub
In the Post tomorrow, read the events of a thug
See, when you poor, a couple of thou' look decent
Hunger how you go all out against a precinct (every one of them niggas, every one)

I know what it's like hungry, thirsty
I know what it's like grungy, dusty
I know what it's like trust me
I know what it's like

I'm from Brownsville, so I know what it's like
My man from Story Ave, he know what it's like
My girl from Hell's Kitchen, she know what it's like
My nigga from Fosterville, he know what it's like
My manz from Bed Stuy, they know what it's like
If you from Fort Green niggas know what it's like
They from East New York, they know what it's like
I think niggas in Compton even know what it's like
You from the hood, you know what it's like
Even rich niggas might even know what it's like but I doubt it
'Cause we poor and we know what it's like
It's hard out here, nigga, you know what it's like