[Verse 1: Kendrick Lamar]
Lifestyles of the kid who never had %#@!
Living off that bad %#@!, that shoot %#@!, that stab %#@!

Rock a flag and don't give a $#&@ about U.S flag %#@!
George Bush got some nerve, $#&@ a war, we trying to serve
Mother$#&@ing 8 balls, til' we live at the pool hall

And knock billiards out of your business, ya (*##$
That's my surroundings in Compton, have common sense
Smell death in the air, around here, that's a common scent

You know the gunpowder
You know when your homie barely blink, he just done powder
Only at seventeen

You know the common statistic inspired by hoop dreams
Now hire about street schemes, and getting blood money
I try my best to stay focused and hope the city love me

Pray it's not lust, cause if it is, I'd be death in a month
Lord forbid, for the good kid
They took his life

She want her baby back, like a cooked rib
But that's the just life, where I'm from


[Hook: Kendrick Lamar]
If there's a shining star
Hope my city is not too far

So we can live again
See, where I come from is hard
Hope all over again, we can start

So we can live again, so we can live again

[Verse 2: CurT@in$]

I've seen this young'un on the train, I had to pick his brain
He said he on his way uptown to get a brick of caine'
He said he needed a come up, because selling nicks' was lame

He needed a change, so I gave him fifty cent
He looked up at me like I was crazy, I said listen man
I rather give you my last to see you live again

Just cause you change what you pitching, don't make the difference
You gotta get off the mound, and put the game down
Petty thoughts could keep your brain down

I leave you with that jewel, go get the chain now
And put it together
You see coming up, we ain't have that %#@! to keep our mind focused

I love Mike, but it was a hassle trying to buy Jordans
My ^!$$% hustle all day in front of the corner store
To get a pair, ^!$$%s killed him right in front the mall

So all the hustling for nothing man
I threw my pair on the lightpole because of him
Like $#&@ it man


[Hook: Kendrick Lamar]


[Verse 3: Schoolboy Q]
Trying to move foward, though it never stops
A mother's son dead, was killed by some kids popped

Shots, they back and forth
Murder for murder, the beef recycled is light
No idols, bunch of them read bibles

Allies that turned to rivals, ^!$$%s turned street disciples
Smokers get high as Effiels
Addicted to being fiends

Because of the feds as pledge to let our plans spread
Tiny this and if and that if they banging back
Because they

Adapt to being black, strapped and gang tats, look
Rats get mouse trapped
Can't afford to wishing

But hit a lick I bet I earn crack, I heard that
Looking at the sky, hoping a light would shine
Daylight saving times all the time on this block of mines

All the time with this Glock of mines
Swear to God man it ain't a rhyme, I grind for a piece of mine
Co-sign