Hard knocks

Chorus: In the streets where we grow, life ain't easy, yo, Struggle every day, trying to make it out the ghetto. Dreams get crushed, but we keep holding on, In this life of hard knocks, gotta stay strong. Verse 1: Born in the struggle, where the nights are cold, Raised by the streets, in a world so bold. Mama working doubles, just to pay the rent, Daddy's gone, locked up, every dollar's spent. Saw my first hustle, when I was just a kid, Learned to keep my head low, just like they did. Gunshots at night, lullabies of steel, In this concrete jungle, it's survival that's real. Chorus: In the streets where we grow, life ain't easy, yo, Struggle every day, trying to make it out the ghetto. Dreams get crushed, but we keep holding on, In this life of hard knocks, gotta stay strong. Verse 2: School was a battle, teachers didn't care, Books were outdated, dreams felt rare. Homies dropping out, joining gangs to survive, In a world of violence, trying to stay alive. Neighborhood watch, ain't for safety, it's for turf, Life's a constant grind, knowing what you're worth. Dodging every trap, trying to stay clean, But the system's stacked, against the dream. Chorus: In the streets where we grow, life ain't easy, yo, Struggle every day, trying to make it out the ghetto. Dreams get crushed, but we keep holding on, In this life of hard knocks, gotta stay strong. Verse 3: Friends lost to bullets, others to the cell, Everyday's a battle, living in this hell. Mama's prayers at night, tears in her eyes, Begging for a change, under the same skies. Hunger in the belly, fire in the heart, Determined to make it, even when it's dark. Every step I take, another chance to fall, But I'll rise above it, answer the call. Chorus: In the streets where we grow, life ain't easy, yo, Struggle every day, trying to make it out the ghetto. Dreams get crushed, but we keep holding on, In this life of hard knocks, gotta stay strong. Verse 4: Cops on the block, always causing trouble, Profiling us, turning lives to rubble. Can't walk home, without fear in my mind, Every step a reminder, of the ties that bind. But I'm more than this struggle, more than the pain, Gonna break these chains, rise in my name. Eyes on the prize, I see a better way, Gonna make it out, to see a brighter day. Chorus: In the streets where we grow, life ain't easy, yo, Struggle every day, trying to make it out the ghetto. Dreams get crushed, but we keep holding on, In this life of hard knocks, gotta stay strong. Verse 5: Now I'm standing tall, against all the odds, Fighting for my future, defying the frauds. Education's key, it's my weapon, my shield, In this battlefield, I refuse to yield. To my brothers and sisters, still in the fight, Keep pushing forward, hold on tight. We are the hope, we are the dream, In this world of hard knocks, we reign supreme. Chorus: In the streets where we grow, life ain't easy, yo, Struggle every day, trying to make it out the ghetto. Dreams get crus Chorus: In the streets where we grow, life ain't easy, yo, Struggle every day, trying to make it out the ghetto. Dreams get crushed, but we keep holding on, In this life of hard knocks, gotta stay strong. Verse 4: Cops on the block, always causing trouble, Profiling us, turning lives to rubble. Can't walk home, without fear in my mind, Every step a reminder, of the ties that bind. But I'm more than this struggle, more than the pain, Gonna break these chains, rise in my name. Eyes on the prize, I see a better way, Gonna make it out, to see a brighter day. Chorus: In the streets where we grow, life ain't easy, yo, Struggle every day, trying to make it out the ghetto. Dreams get crushed, but we keep holding on, In this life of hard knocks, gotta stay strong. Verse 5: Now I'm standing tall, against all the odds, Fighting for my future, defying the frauds. Education's key, it's my weapon, my shield, In this battlefield, I refuse to yield. To my brothers and sisters, still in the fight, Keep pushing forward, hold on tight. We are the hope, we are the dream, In this world of hard knocks, we reign supreme. Chorus: In the streets where we grow, life ain't easy, yo, Struggle every day, trying to make it out the ghetto. Dreams get crus [OUTRO]