Coolio

Artis Leon Ivey Jr. (born August 1, 1963), better known by the stage name Coolio, is an American Grammy Award-winning musician, rapper, actor, and record producer. He is best known for the song "Gangsta's Paradise", and the theme song for Kenan & Kel, a Nickelodeon show from 1996 to 2000. more »

Now I've seen places and faces 
And things you ain't never thought about thinking 
If you ain't peek then you must be drinking 
And smokin' 

Pretending not to locin' but you're brokin' 
Let me get you open 
Now little Timmy got his diploma and 
Little Jimmy got life 

And Tamikra around the corner just took her first hit off the pipe 
The other homie shot the other homie and ran away with his money 
And when the other homies heard about it they thought it was funny 
But who's the dummy 

Now you done lost the hustler 
A down-ass brother got replaced by a buster 
And though I got love for ya 
I know I can't trust ya 

'Cause my crew is rollin' home and your crew is rollin' dusta 
And just because of that you act you don't like the brother no more 
Uh, I guess that's just the way it goes 
I ain't tryin' preach 

I believe I can reach 
But your mind ain't prepared 
I see you when you get there 

[Chorus] 
I'll see you when you get there 
If you ever get there 
See you when you get there 
I'll see you when you get there 
If you ever get there 
See you when you get there 

More temptation in faith 
I guess we livin' for the day 
I seen a man get swept off his feet 
By a bullet and an AK 

The situation so twisted everybody gettin' lifted 
I'm just tryin' to take care of my kids and handle my business 
'Cause it way too serious so you gotta pay close attention 
So you don't get caught sittin' when they come and do all the gettin' 

Life is a big game so you gotta play it with a big horse 
Someone's gotta run a little faster coz we gotta lay the struggle 
I'd be a fool to surrender when I know I can be a contender 
And if everbody's a sinner then everybody can be a winner 

No matter you rag collar deep down we all brothers 
And regardless of the time somebody up there still love us 
I'm a scuff and struggle y'all breathless and weak 
I just strived my whole life to make it to the mountain peak 

Always keep reaching sure to grab on to something 
I'll be there when you get there when you wit the sound bumpin' 

[Chorus]

You need to loosen up 
And live a little 
And if you got kids let 'em know how ya feel 
For your own sake give a little 

Oh, you don't want to hear that 
You busy tryina stack 
And keep them from the Jones's is taking advantage of your own 
The realist homies got you but you known them longest 

But some ain't missing a good thing until it's gone 
Could have built an empire if not for the jealousy that divides us 
We prefer to keep our eyes shut to describe when 
It's something wrong and we desire 

So hold your head up high if your poor and righteous 
I know time seems dry and problems seem endless 
But in times of despair we gotta put ourselves together 
And if you feel you're out the game then you need to get back in it 

'Cause nothing worse than a quitter 
You gotta face responsibility one day, my brother 
So gather up your pity and turn it to ambition 
And put your vehicle and drive and stop by my side 

[Chorus] 

As we walk down the road of our destiny 
And the time comes to choose which shall it be 
The wide and crooked, or the strait narrow, 
We got one voice to give and one life to live 

Stand up for somthing or lay down in your game 
Listen to the song that we sang 
It's up to you to make it be 
I guess I'll see you when you see me 

[Chorus]