Verse 1 - E Luv
...I grew up BLACK in Buffalo Grove
Where everybody's uncle was the mayor or the principal
I was too innocent back then to actually comprehend
What was happenin - I'm glad I couldn't fully understand
Can you believe this, I'm faced with racists - at an early age it's
Taught to the kids, by terrible parents - they except it, no questions

Son, the town is gonna test you in and out of the classroom
And you need to play the game until you can make up the rules
Jago-S: Why do certain kids look and stare at me
Jago-S: Whenever we get to the one chapter on Black History
Jago-S: Why did the police tail gate - I so wanted to do a brake check
Don't do that - they'll try to break you, and you can't let them

Do you ever stop and watch how people act
Ever sit and listen to the way people talk - watch your back
Realize that you are better than everybody else by default
Watch who you confide in because that fool may want your spot
You have nothin' to prove to me - you just have to believe
In your abilities - and strive to improve yourself continuously


Verse 2 - E Luv
Jago-S: How come nobody even looks like me
That's really only because of the fact that you're unique
I think I realized that when I was aged 3
Looked in the mirror and to be honest I thought it was sweet
To see that cute Black reflection of the E-L-U-V
Egregious I of a kind - not too many of us on the street

If any, they didn't see it that way - it's hard to beat the stereotype
So, they threw me in a speech class because they thought I spoke "jive"
Let alone the fact that I had been writing books and poetry
Since well before the rest of my peers could even read
You've had it no worse than me - no worse than anybody
Who went through the early half of last century

And no worse than anybody who went through slavery
In retrospect you actually have it pretty easy
Although at face value - or at least initially
During current circumstance, it may not appear to be
Besides, you come from grade A stock - you can't be stopped
People who think they're cool will see you and realize that they're really not


Verse 3 - E Luv
Manhood is about more than what's in your pants
Has little to do with your toughness - more about a mental prowess
It's about more than your net worth and this is worth mentionin'
You will never be poor, maybe broke - but that's a temporary condition
Heed that wisdom passed down through the generations
Maintain your honor - and never forget where you came from

At times you may think your shoulders a little broader
Think I don't know anything and you know just a little bit more
May think you're bigger and badder - it doesn't matter, see
As a matter of fact - nothing I've said to this point was said matter-of-factly
I know it's all just a phase/it don't phase me - your Mom harder than me
Cause you cross her, and you're liable to come up missing - I'm easy

Your Mom and I got your back - only thing we ask in return is that
You give your kids a better child hood than you had
Parents just don't understand but we ain't all that different
I went to class in snow uphill both ways etc, so I know you can
Jago-S: What about girls - I'm thinkin' about askin' Katy on a date
That's a whole other topic we'll discuss another day....