I`m tryin` to make it through these hard times
I`m tryin` to make it through these hard times
I`m tryin` to make it through these hard times
I`m tryin` to make it through these hard times
I`m tryin` to make it through these hard times
I`m tryin` to make it through these hard times
I`m tryin` to make it through these hard times
Hard times, hard times

You never know how much you miss a person, until they gone
Like to hear it? Hear it go, I`m rehearsing, gotta sing my song
I know I`ve done some wrong, but I can`t get right
`Cause life is like a big fight
I`m stickin` and movin`, tryin` to get my s**t right
My family`s been houndin` me, friends they done turned against me
Kinda like they hearts was on a full tank, but now they empty
And they say I`ve changed, but like twins I`m just the same
It`s because of my job, mo` money, mo` prob in this dirty game

This industry f**ked up, that`s right I said it, and it`s fake as ever
Keep real ni**az around me, stay "Space Age 4 Eva"
Poppa never went and jumped the broom, never got that one degree
But if you looked down from heaven, you`d still be proud of me
Your son was DUI, but my momma made it by
I didn`t shed no tears when you left me but the rest of the family cried
Trials and tribulations, ruined my concentration
Losin` my patience, hard times for goodness sake`n

I`m tryin` to make it through these hard times
I`m tryin` to make it through these hard times
I`m tryin` to make it through these hard times
I`m tryin` to make it through these hard times
I`m tryin` to make it through these hard times
I`m tryin` to make it through these hard times
I`m tryin` to make it through these hard times
Hard times, hard times

As this Valium slowly starts to kick in
Them subconscious, subliminal thoughts, start tickin`
This whole world around me, diseased, and crumblin`
Babies doin` dope `cause daddy did it right in front of them
Everybody wanna blame music for they bad kids
Sittin` up in the court talkin` `bout Eminem made me do what I did
My own hard times rolled in like the fog
Try to think of others, but I can`t get past my own thoughts

My momma in 1967, pickin` cotton
While other blacks was gettin` liberated, boycottin`
My old man was a player, ain`t no hidin` that
He started tootin` then he graduated to smokin` crack
I never saw him, never needed to see that muh`f**ker
He left me and my mother stuck down here in this f**kin` gutter
I tattooed it on my arm so I can`t forget it
It`s in my mind and my heart so I`m forever with it

I`m tryin` to make it through these hard times
I`m tryin` to make it through these hard times
I`m tryin` to make it through these hard times
I`m tryin` to make it through these hard times
I`m tryin` to make it through these hard times
I`m tryin` to make it through these hard times
I`m tryin` to make it through these hard times
Hard times, hard time

A drum machine, the old fo`-track and a pack of new tapes
In the middle of 1988, in a corner cafe
We made beats and hung with old heads and stayed out late at night
Do talent shows, fo`-way split the dough, that was our way of life
My momma stayed, home full time so she could raise me
Knowin` without a household father, things could get crazy
Sometimes I listened, sometimes I thought I knew it all
But nevertheless, momma was with me through it all

I graduated out of nothin`, not out of school
It was like twelve, thirteen, forteen years I`m thinkin` cool
I might as well, be focusin` on me tryin` to get paid
Usin` these rhymes I`ve been writin` since in the seventh grade
Our team played and had physical sex with minimum wage
It was just like a piece of pussy, it f**ked me long as I stayed
But still I prayed, Lord I`m tryin` now please help me out the water
It can`t get no harder
Help me to get back up and get my s**t tomorrow

I`m tryin` to make it through these hard times
I`m tryin` to make it through these hard times
I`m tryin` to make it through these hard times
I`m tryin` to make it through these hard times
I`m tryin` to make it through these hard times
I`m tryin` to make it through these hard times
I`m tryin` to make it through these hard times
Hard times, hard times

I`m tryin` to make it through these hard times
I`m tryin` to make it through these hard times
I`m tryin` to make it through these hard times
I`m tryin` to make it through these hard times
I`m tryin` to make it through these hard times
I`m tryin` to make it through these hard times
I`m tryin` to make it through these hard times
Hard times, hard times