"Who Am I" lyrics
(feat. Kendrick Lamar)
Who am I?
Who am I? (Whoo Kid!)
Who can face the words "goodbye"?
And everybody scream po-po, po-po, then I look to the left
I've seen four squad members and it's kicking to the front door
I know it's messed up where I stay, so what I gotta front for?
But my environment made me what I am today
As a child I couldn't behave, ditchin' middle school just to make a good pay
And momma said I gotta make some good grades
And I was like, "I need a fresh high-top fade and Jordans"
'Cause I knew moms and pops, they couldn't afford 'em
So I'll go get 'em the best way
Didn't know how I caught a piece in my crotch, irritate my thigh
Thirteen, got the fiends singin' on the block
Like Al Green, Al B. Sure to be back
After the departure of them police sirens
Sorry mama, blame it on the departure of my father
'Cause my dreams are tinted, 'cause the black and white pillars is painted
Ain't doin' nothin' but making me more anxious to buck some
I'm wishin' I could go back to the days of humpin'
Gettin' bowl cuts in the kitchen, water balloon fights and backflippin'
But now it's more like gangbangin' and set trippin'
Can you see my life? Who am I?
A ghetto child, livin' in this ghetto life
Offer me to settle down, I know that this can't be right (It can't be right)
But I gots to do what I gots to do
Before I asked my ma, she said "who are you?" (Who are you?)
They tried to walk it down in my shoes
I guarantee you won't keep your laces tied (You won't keep your laces tied)
Bet you won't keep your laces tied
I'm the future of the West Coast game
Open the door for players like me
And that's some shit you need to cope
Niggas still hatin' though, stuck up on that bullshit
Never leave the house without the Glock, keep the full clip
Picture me rollin', some picture me slayin'
Shot down in the streets, bullets to the brain
Haters, Dot told me "boy, shake them haters off"
Cut from a different cloth, Jay Rock takin' off
California soul, got to stay up on my LA shit
I'm fresh, pass my white tee, khakis and my kicks
Been through the fist fights, been through the shootouts
Karma come quick, count my blessings when I pull out
'Cause the car might pull up, and the guns might fold out
And a shot might ring out, true colors will pour out
I bled for my block, shed tears for those who was wiped out
The South call it the trap, but I call it the crackhouse
Picked up the microphone, no more movin' them packs out
Came from rock bottom, who was the target, I got 'em
'Cause his problems is my problems
It's all about loyalty, you learn something else about me
Who am I? (Whoo Kid!)
A ghetto child, livin' in this ghetto life
Offer me to settle down, I know that this can't be right (It can't be right)
But I gots to do what I gots to do
Before I asked my ma, she said "who are you?" (Who are you?)
They tried to walk it down in my shoes
I guarantee you won't keep your laces tied (You won't keep your laces tied)
Bet you won't keep your laces tied
I'm a product of these projects, the crack that you cook up
I'm the needle that you shoot up, I'm the Gudda, I'm the Soul
I'm the loud music next door, clothes hangin' on the line
I'm that hollow-tip bullet in the chamber of the .9
I'm the finger when you pull it, I'm the joy that blows your mind
I'm the pain, I'm the love, I'm the dark, I'm the shine
I'm the homies on the block, 100 deep at a time
I'm the bushes where you dump the gun after you commit the crime
Look out on the corners, I'm the smokers running late nights
And them early mornings, I'm the dog off the leash
I'm the weights in the front yard, I'm that project baby with no shoes on his feet
I'm the strong, I'm the weak, nah
Look, I don't represent the weak
I'm the bass in these drums, I'm the snares on this beat
I'm a beast and I'm hungry and my family gotta eat
I'm a real motherfucker, nigga nigga feel me, who am I?
A ghetto child, livin' in this ghetto life
Offer me to settle down, I know that this can't be right (It can't be right)
But I gots to do what I gots to do
Before I asked my ma, she said "who are you?" (Who are you?)
They tried to walk it down in my shoes
I guarantee you won't keep your laces tied (You won't keep your laces tied)
Bet you won't keep your laces tied
Who am I? (Whoo Kid!)
Who can face the words "goodbye"?
And everybody scream po-po, po-po, then I look to the left
I've seen four squad members and it's kicking to the front door
I know it's messed up where I stay, so what I gotta front for?
But my environment made me what I am today
As a child I couldn't behave, ditchin' middle school just to make a good pay
And momma said I gotta make some good grades
And I was like, "I need a fresh high-top fade and Jordans"
'Cause I knew moms and pops, they couldn't afford 'em
So I'll go get 'em the best way
Didn't know how I caught a piece in my crotch, irritate my thigh
Thirteen, got the fiends singin' on the block
Like Al Green, Al B. Sure to be back
After the departure of them police sirens
Sorry mama, blame it on the departure of my father
'Cause my dreams are tinted, 'cause the black and white pillars is painted
Ain't doin' nothin' but making me more anxious to buck some
I'm wishin' I could go back to the days of humpin'
Gettin' bowl cuts in the kitchen, water balloon fights and backflippin'
But now it's more like gangbangin' and set trippin'
Can you see my life? Who am I?
A ghetto child, livin' in this ghetto life
Offer me to settle down, I know that this can't be right (It can't be right)
But I gots to do what I gots to do
Before I asked my ma, she said "who are you?" (Who are you?)
They tried to walk it down in my shoes
I guarantee you won't keep your laces tied (You won't keep your laces tied)
Bet you won't keep your laces tied
I'm the future of the West Coast game
Open the door for players like me
And that's some shit you need to cope
Niggas still hatin' though, stuck up on that bullshit
Never leave the house without the Glock, keep the full clip
Picture me rollin', some picture me slayin'
Shot down in the streets, bullets to the brain
Haters, Dot told me "boy, shake them haters off"
Cut from a different cloth, Jay Rock takin' off
California soul, got to stay up on my LA shit
I'm fresh, pass my white tee, khakis and my kicks
Been through the fist fights, been through the shootouts
Karma come quick, count my blessings when I pull out
'Cause the car might pull up, and the guns might fold out
And a shot might ring out, true colors will pour out
I bled for my block, shed tears for those who was wiped out
The South call it the trap, but I call it the crackhouse
Picked up the microphone, no more movin' them packs out
Came from rock bottom, who was the target, I got 'em
'Cause his problems is my problems
It's all about loyalty, you learn something else about me
Who am I? (Whoo Kid!)
A ghetto child, livin' in this ghetto life
Offer me to settle down, I know that this can't be right (It can't be right)
But I gots to do what I gots to do
Before I asked my ma, she said "who are you?" (Who are you?)
They tried to walk it down in my shoes
I guarantee you won't keep your laces tied (You won't keep your laces tied)
Bet you won't keep your laces tied
I'm a product of these projects, the crack that you cook up
I'm the needle that you shoot up, I'm the Gudda, I'm the Soul
I'm the loud music next door, clothes hangin' on the line
I'm that hollow-tip bullet in the chamber of the .9
I'm the finger when you pull it, I'm the joy that blows your mind
I'm the pain, I'm the love, I'm the dark, I'm the shine
I'm the homies on the block, 100 deep at a time
I'm the bushes where you dump the gun after you commit the crime
Look out on the corners, I'm the smokers running late nights
And them early mornings, I'm the dog off the leash
I'm the weights in the front yard, I'm that project baby with no shoes on his feet
I'm the strong, I'm the weak, nah
Look, I don't represent the weak
I'm the bass in these drums, I'm the snares on this beat
I'm a beast and I'm hungry and my family gotta eat
I'm a real motherfucker, nigga nigga feel me, who am I?
A ghetto child, livin' in this ghetto life
Offer me to settle down, I know that this can't be right (It can't be right)
But I gots to do what I gots to do
Before I asked my ma, she said "who are you?" (Who are you?)
They tried to walk it down in my shoes
I guarantee you won't keep your laces tied (You won't keep your laces tied)
Bet you won't keep your laces tied
Writer(s): Tony Hatch, Jackie Trent
