Check it out, 1, 2, hey yo, hey yo
  
   I came a long way since back in the day
   From a teenager trying to make a rap in this way
   Ever since I was a kid I had something to say
   Rocking mics was a dream I didn't care about pay
   I sacrificed late nights and going out with my friends
   Just to stay home alone with my pad and my pen
   Had my eyes on my prize, my mind on my goal
   As I carved these rhymes out with my hear and my soul
   I didn't have a CD; all I had was a tape
   On the dole thru my flow was my only escape
   From a world where they didn't wanna see my prevail
   Didn't wanna see me take it all
   They'd rather see me fail
  
   Its like ...
  
   [CHORUS]
   I was down and out
   Struggling
   Wondered how I'm gonna make it thru
   I got a dream (I got a dream)
   Holding old (I'm gonna hold on)
   I can't let go cos I gotta make it come true
  
   Hey yo
   I got a dream to make it big in New York
   Give up the drugs and alcohol
   I didn't want to distort
   My vision to be living life to the full
   And I wouldn't of made it if it wasn't for you
   You picked me up every time that I fell
   When I was going thru hell you told me that I would prevail
   You said I had exactly what it took to be great
   That I was young and in the future would a man I would make
   Its like you saw something in me I couldn't see
   You said I would succeed and be anything I wanted to be
   I'm 23 and I just wanna be me
   Wanna be free
   Wanna be everything I can be
   But I don't have many choices
   Can't afford to be wrong
   All I do is try to stay true to the words of my song
   Just don't hesitate and wait too long
   Cos like a dream when you wake up its gone ... its gone
  
   [CHORUS]
   I was down and out
   Struggling
   Wondered how I'm gonna make it thru (I had no money in my pockets)
   I got a dream (all I had was a pad and a pen)
   Holding old (that's all I ever needed)
   I can't let go cos I gotta make it come true
  
   Hey yo
   It was a sunny day and we were feeling high
   Jamming the song underneath the baby blue sky
   Thinking 'bout in the time when we were so poor
   'Member the kids used to laugh at the clothes we wore
   We always knew one day that things were gonna change
   And from that day I was never gonna be the same
   I went to sleep that night; I dreamt I touched the sky
   And ever since I've been trying to keep my dream alive
   So when you see this Scribe, dropping the Ill'ed rhyme
   To find how I'm living mine in this day and time
   I'm working 9 to 5; I'm slaving over beats
   Its hard work living the dream I hardly ever sleep
   I'm in the rhythm deep, Yo just trying to do my thing
   Its funny when you shine and people hate to see the gleam
   No matter what they say keep on doing what you do
   And don't give up cos only you can make that dream come true
  
   Its like...
  
   [CHORUS]
   I was down and out (I was way out)
   Struggling
   Wondered how I'm gonna make it thru
   I got a dream
   Holding old
   I can't let go cos I gotta make it come true
  
   I was down and out ...
   Wonder how ...
   I got a dream ...
   I won't let go cos I got ...