My teacher asked me what I wanted to be when I grow up
And I got in trouble for saying *****, mind your business!
But that’s an endless word that I hear at home
That’s what a grown man, that’s not my daddy, calls my mama
And my big brother says it when he rapped his favorite Lil’ Wayne song
So it can’t be wrong because I want to be just like my big brother
Even though he’s dead now, I want to…
Play those same games that he and Mary Jane played on the street corners
That’s why I can’t wait until I get older
Cuz I want to be a ****** when I grow up
I want to be what white people think when we show up
Blow up and be another thug, demanding love
Because that’s the only way you can get respect
Protect your own by narrowing your mindset
I’ll grow up and have lots of girlfriends
Who’ll give me more than a second chance
Then I’d get them pregnant and never show up again
I’ll spend money on anything but an education
Use my potential and creative imagination
To settle for illusions created by today’s hip hop nation
Dreams that never really escalate
But will only keep me on the streets or locked up by the state
Instead of a doctor
I’d rather examine the female anatomy
Happily explore their bodies until I contract a different alphabet
H-I-V
Instead of a lawyer
I’ll just be an amateur liar
For that, I wouldn’t even have to be a full grown man
Cuz I see boys playing with grown women all the time
And they call them trifling, whatever that means…
Instead of a teacher
I’d rather use my mind for more important things
Like how to bring more money into these pockets
Blame the system because they always try to stop it and
Be the same ****** that only lives for a profit
Instead of a army soldier, I’d be a street one
Using my freedom to dance in the clubs
Be the alpha-thug that’s drugged on ego
Mean mug who I think aren’t real ******* and start useless fights
Later deciding who’s getting killed tonight
Man I can’t wait to grow up!
And if I die for a stupid reason
My homies will keep believin’
That I’ll always stay bleedin’ for my hood
Because that’s the most precious thing that comes before my life
Never having a wife or a legitimate family, now that’s a gangster’s paradise
I’d go down as a legend if I died at a young age
And I’ll be placed in that ghetto hall of fame
The one that doesn’t make history, but only brings it shame
I won’t be named the next Dr. King
Because I’ll never appreciate his dream
And I’ll never be as smart
To stand up for a cause like Rosa Parks so
I’ll just stay conformed to the storms of what people think being black means
Go from being the drug dealer to being the drug fiend and
Somebody said you don’t have to sing to be an American Idol
Because I have the potential to become something America doesn’t expect
A majestic black man who makes a difference and who reaches success
But old people always want to address slavery
Even though I wasn’t born back then
And even though my ancestor’s skin was torn back then
I can only build present history
Based on the terrible actions black people put before me
Programming me to be what profiling has in store for me
And I think maybe some grown men are still wishing to grow up
Even though time never slows up
And every time my eyes close up,
I dream of the direction I want to take
I want to be just like my big brother
Another black number, buried six…feet…under
Copyright 2008
And I got in trouble for saying *****, mind your business!
But that’s an endless word that I hear at home
That’s what a grown man, that’s not my daddy, calls my mama
And my big brother says it when he rapped his favorite Lil’ Wayne song
So it can’t be wrong because I want to be just like my big brother
Even though he’s dead now, I want to…
Play those same games that he and Mary Jane played on the street corners
That’s why I can’t wait until I get older
Cuz I want to be a ****** when I grow up
I want to be what white people think when we show up
Blow up and be another thug, demanding love
Because that’s the only way you can get respect
Protect your own by narrowing your mindset
I’ll grow up and have lots of girlfriends
Who’ll give me more than a second chance
Then I’d get them pregnant and never show up again
I’ll spend money on anything but an education
Use my potential and creative imagination
To settle for illusions created by today’s hip hop nation
Dreams that never really escalate
But will only keep me on the streets or locked up by the state
Instead of a doctor
I’d rather examine the female anatomy
Happily explore their bodies until I contract a different alphabet
H-I-V
Instead of a lawyer
I’ll just be an amateur liar
For that, I wouldn’t even have to be a full grown man
Cuz I see boys playing with grown women all the time
And they call them trifling, whatever that means…
Instead of a teacher
I’d rather use my mind for more important things
Like how to bring more money into these pockets
Blame the system because they always try to stop it and
Be the same ****** that only lives for a profit
Instead of a army soldier, I’d be a street one
Using my freedom to dance in the clubs
Be the alpha-thug that’s drugged on ego
Mean mug who I think aren’t real ******* and start useless fights
Later deciding who’s getting killed tonight
Man I can’t wait to grow up!
And if I die for a stupid reason
My homies will keep believin’
That I’ll always stay bleedin’ for my hood
Because that’s the most precious thing that comes before my life
Never having a wife or a legitimate family, now that’s a gangster’s paradise
I’d go down as a legend if I died at a young age
And I’ll be placed in that ghetto hall of fame
The one that doesn’t make history, but only brings it shame
I won’t be named the next Dr. King
Because I’ll never appreciate his dream
And I’ll never be as smart
To stand up for a cause like Rosa Parks so
I’ll just stay conformed to the storms of what people think being black means
Go from being the drug dealer to being the drug fiend and
Somebody said you don’t have to sing to be an American Idol
Because I have the potential to become something America doesn’t expect
A majestic black man who makes a difference and who reaches success
But old people always want to address slavery
Even though I wasn’t born back then
And even though my ancestor’s skin was torn back then
I can only build present history
Based on the terrible actions black people put before me
Programming me to be what profiling has in store for me
And I think maybe some grown men are still wishing to grow up
Even though time never slows up
And every time my eyes close up,
I dream of the direction I want to take
I want to be just like my big brother
Another black number, buried six…feet…under
Copyright 2008