Now as we're gathered around
Let me tell you a little story
It goes something like this...

He was raised in the gutter where his dreams quickly fade
Spent his early days being caught in the wrong place
At the wrong time, a small frame but a strong mind
His moms hooked on the pipe and the teachers had gone blind
To the struggles he was facin' ... Shaped by a society
That never gave a f*ck if he would sit alone at night and plead
For a better life, or just a peaceful night
His parent thought he slept but every time he would hear them fight
The passing lights on his curtain made him fall asleep
And he would finally find peace, lost in his dreams
Where he could live the life that he deserved
Away from the pain, trouble and all the hurt
But as he grew he knew he’d had to face life
Way too young to be on his own, you know it aint right
What can a n*gga do for the little homie
The path to become a man is lonely…

I was raised in the ghetto
I never thought I'd see
A better day
So I sit and pray

I'll always stay in the ghetto
Cause it made me a g
That's who I be

Now as I look back nothing but my dreams remain
Witness remorse and tears of ogs as they leave this game
So many blinding lights in this fast life tryin to sway me
And lately they try to paint me as another n*gga goin crazy
How can we sit back and watch as theyre livin well
While drugs turn the streets of philly into a living hell
Fiends barely breathin facin their demons
What could this mankind achieve if we just had a reason... To
And as my lost dreams turn into heart bleed
I gotta to make sure to keep a piece under the car seat
Cus we're goin crazy and we gotta eat
How can we be at peace if n*ggas still aint get a piece?
Livin my days in these streets is a test
But as I pray I thank the lord for every single breath (im blessed)
My destiny is death and still they dont know me
The path to become a man is lonely

I was raised in the ghetto
I never thought I'd see
A better day
So I sit and pray

I'll always stay in the ghetto
Cause it made me a g
That's who I be

[2pac poem : the rose that grew from concrete]

Reach for the sky
Make sure your dreams never die
And give em a reason to smile