[Intro: Nature & Nas]
Yo, yo, yo, son
You ever felt a funny vibe
What you supposed to do?
And ya man's ain't ya mans
And ya friend's ain't ya friends
And ya money ain't yours no more
And n***as wanna count your own money
N***as wanna see what the fuck you got
You know what I'm sayin'
Sometimes I gotta just take long trips and get away from this shit
I can't take this shit no more
This shit right here be fucking n***as like me up, you know hat I'm sayin'
I been exposed to too much for too long
All my n***as out there in the hoods and shit
That be burning that real shit
Put your fucking Phillies in the air
Your Backwoods, your White Owls, your Dutches
And we gon' smoke and we gon' ride to this shit right here, you know what I'm sayin'
This that real shit here
This is the soundtrack to the realness right here
N***as in too deep, know what I'm sayin'
It's all real
What, what, live n***a, what, what, n***a
Yo, ayo, ayo, ayo
[Verse 1: Nas]
I think of dead homie, incarcerated pen pals
I got the feds on me, a constipated mental
Always rains in the ghetto, it's pain in the ghetto
Caskets — do you believe in angels or devils?
Welfare it's dark and there's no help here
Killer cops shooting Black kids to instill fear
But we still here, not afraid, cracks is made, stacks is made
A G'll get you gats to spray
At my man's funeral, it's like nobody cared
But when police get shot, the mayor, everybody there
Graffiti on the lobby stairs, kids with knotty heads greedy
Soldiers fall, faces painted on the wall
I was born to ball, rings you can't afford
Name a clothes line, I done worn it all
To dictate the naked soul of Nas, Henny, 4-5
Hoes with thick thighs be the wives of rich guys
Never trust a bitch 'cause a bitch lies
Enemies close 'cause friends switch sides when shit gets live
Or dealin' with a lot of pressure, I'm in too deep
Life of a thug born and raised in the street

[Chorus: Nature & Nas]
You want war, I'ma give you war (I'm in too deep)
You want peace I'ma give you peace (Raised in the street)
You want love, I'ma show you love (Life of a thug)
There's no love for me in these streets (I'm in too deep)
It's just hustlers in these streets (Raised in the street)
Uh, yo, ayo
[Verse 2: Nature]
When you in too deep, you better climb out and find out
Are you the one they looking at? (You the one they looking at?)
'Cause when you looking back
And show signs of fear if the drama's severe
I see scars starting off at the side of their ear
Ending up by the jaw or the throat, another law broke
I try to patch it, white kids is buying acid
Closing down spots, popping a knot
Heard informants use binoculars, watchin' the blocks
Call 'em phantom on the tapes, I'm the phantom of the wax
Now meet the man behind the music, examine the facts
I use it to my advantage, do this shit every day
Like sneaking gats up in Grade A
Six Flags, catch me getting on the popular rides
If a n***a violate, he getting popped on the line
Small hot ones locked in his spine
Transform, roll out pass it off to my man, no doubt
I keep six disguises, six shirts in the trunk
Imagine, it gets six times worse when I'm drunk
Prepare for death in the first of the month, hopin' to rise
It's right here in front of you, open your eyes
I can't explain it 'cause it isn't normal — is n***as loyal?
I talk about life and live it for you, this shit is soil
Like the dirt that I walk on, you talk on
Used to have love for ya, now it's all gone
(It's all gone, it's all gone)
[Chorus: Nature & Nas]
You want war, I'ma give you war (I'm in too deep)
You want peace I'ma give you peace (Raised in the street)
You want love, I'ma show you love (Life of a thug)
There's no love for me in these streets (I'm in too deep)
It's just hustlers in these streets (Raised in the street)