### **Intro** Yeah… Mama tried to raise a man, streets tried to raise a soldier Listen… --- ### **Verse 1 (16 bars)** Born with a dream but the nightmare came first Sirens sing lullabies, pain got rehearsed Mama on her knees, praying I don’t get cursed While the block taught lessons that the schoolbooks skipped Empty fridge, empty pockets, but my heart stayed rich Learned quick who’s fake when the real ones switch Every corner got a story, every face got scars We was counting stars through the bars of our yards Innocence lost when the homie got dropped Yellow tape memories, whole world just stopped I tried peace, but peace don’t ride alone When the wolves smell fear, better guard your bones I don’t love the violence, I love survival Just a product of a system gone tribal Angel on one shoulder, devil on the other Still searching for myself through the thug in me, brother --- ### **Chorus / Hook (8 bars)** Be like that, be like that, why must I pack a Gat Just the thug in me, yeah, it’s deeper than rap Be like that, be like that, streets where I’m at Just the thug in me, tryna make it back Be like that, be like that, heart full of cracks Just the thug in me, carrying all this past Be like that, be like that, truth in my tat Just the thug in me—yeah, it be like that --- ### **Verse 2 (16 bars)** I seen love turn cold over fast money Handshakes turn to gun smoke, cats acting funny Everybody got a plan till the plan get tested When the pressure get applied and the soul get questioned I write letters to my future like I might not make it Hope my kids read ’em, understand I was sacred Even when I sinned, I still believed in God Just mad at the world for the hand I was dealt Judge see a threat, never see my pain Same chain of events, just a different name I ain’t perfect, just perfectly trapped Between who I was and who I want back Tryna break cycles with my knuckles still tight Pray in the dark, still ready to fight If I fall tonight, let the truth be free I was more than the streets—and the thug in me --- ### **Chorus / Hook (8 bars)** Be like that, be like that, why must I pack a Gat Just the thug in me, yeah, it’s deeper than rap Be like that, be like that, streets where I’m at Just the thug in me, tryna make it back Be like that, be like that, heart full of cracks Just the thug in me, carrying all this past Be like that, be like that, truth in my tat Just the thug in me—yeah, it be like that --- ### **Bridge (Optional – 4 bars)** If tomorrow never comes, let ’em know I tried Loved hard, sinned harder, never once lied I’m a king in the making, even when I bleed Still fighting myself—and the thug in me --- ### **Verse 3 (16 bars)** I dream of beaches where my stress don’t follow No hollow tips, just a full tomorrow But reality knocks with a Glock and a badge Asking questions ’bout a life I never had I’m tired of funerals, tired of tears Tired of living life based on fear Still I stand tall when the odds say fall Learned how to walk through the fire, never crawl My pain made wisdom, my scars made art Turned broken pieces into a beating heart If I smile today, it’s a victory lap Over every night I ain’t make it back I forgive myself for the dirt I did Was just a grown man trapped as a kid If heaven asks who I chose to be Say I fought my demons—and the thug in me --- ### **Chorus / Hook (8 bars)** Be like that, be like that, why must I pack a Gat Just the thug in me, yeah, it’s deeper than rap Be like that, be like that, streets where I’m at Just the thug in me, tryna make it back Be like that, be like that, heart full of cracks Just the thug in me, carrying all this past Be like that, be like that, truth in my tat Just the thug in me—yeah, it be like that --- ### **Outro** To my mama… To the homies I lost… I’m still here, still breathing, still dreaming. It ain’t who I want to be— It’s just the thug in me.
