Lyrics

HOW IT BE
By ILL-J & B-STAR

VERSE 1:
ILL-J: I remember?back in the days when money was an issue
And if you ain?t have it, all the honey wanna diss you
Wonder what I?ve been through
More than you know.
Had to wear the same clothes three days in a row
Same pants?different top
Never having a lot
Never flashing a knot
A lotta trash in the spot
Taking baths with a pot
Just to save the water
Always asking for stuff
Cause the change was shorter
Yeah
Always thinking, Mom, how we gonna eat
Same clothes, same sneakers on the feet
Winter was cold, couldn?t turn on the heat
I had a bed, but I had holes in the sheets
And the parts on the car always stayed broke
I ain?t mad though, we had more than a lot of folks
The Lord gave a lot to me
And just remember that?s how it be.

Hook:
B-Star: Growing up not having enough, all the trials that we had was tough
That?s how it be
ILL-J: Electricity off, no heat, and its pissing you off
That?s how it be
B-Star: Damn refrigerator is empty, nothing to my name, not even a penny
That?s how it be
ILL-J: When it rains and ya roof be leaking, listen up this is the truth we speaking


VERSE 2:
B-Star: Back then, times wasn?t good at all
I remember nights when I had to sleep in the hall
Some days wasn?t eating at all
I was broke as hell, son, I had to peek in the stores
No window shopping?nice clothes rocking
Going to the strip to have nice hoes flocking
None o? that
I was the ace of my squad
Every night on my knees straight praying to God
Sometimes I wanted to end my life?it was a thought?
Only thing my father did was send child support
He wasn?t around to see me play my favorite sport
He didn?t come?he didn?t call?he didn?t write?
And what?s worse, two ladies taught me how to fu***** fight
And I?ll always love them for that
Even in the worse times, family always had my back,
And even when I?m rich, I still can?t repay them for that
But I?ll try
How it be (continued)

Hook:
B-Star: Growing up not having enough, all the trials that we had was tough
That?s how it be
ILL-J: Electricity off, no heat, and its pissing you off
That?s how it be
B-Star: Damn refrigerator is empty, nothing to my name, not even a penny
That?s how it be
ILL-J: When it rains and ya roof be leaking, listen up this is the truth we speaking


VERSE 3:

ILL-J: Did you ever have to catch rain drops with a pot?
And can?t get a cab, they don?t stop on ya block
Or can?t pay ya bills anymore
And when you get hungry, you gotta go out and steal from the store

B-Star: Did you have to share a room with three brothers?
Cold New York nights are even colder when you need covers
Can?t bring a girl home, cause you are never alone
AT&T disconnecting the phone

ILL-J: And even when you get dough, the stress still affects ya
Everytime you answer the phone it is a bill collecter
TV messed up can?t watch the show
Can?t buy another one
I ain?t got the dough

B-Star: Did you ever see your mom cry? When you asked you mom why?
We ain?t got no food supply
Have to lie to get a job at fourteen?
You can?t imagine all the trials that your boy seen?

That?s how it be?(3 times)