I was the third brother of five'

Doing whatever I had to do to survive

I'm not saying what I did was alright'

Trying to break out of the ghetto was a day to day

Been down so long' getting up didn't cross my mind'

I knew there was a better way of life that I was just trying to find

You don't know what you'll do until you're put under pressure

Across 110th Street is a hell of a tester

Across 110th Street'

Pimps trying to catch a woman that's weak

Across 110th Street'

Pushers won't let the junkie go free

Across 110th Street'

Woman trying to catch a trick on the street

Across 110th Street'

You can find it all in the street

I got one more thing I'd like to y'all about right now

Hey brother' there's a better way out

Snorting that coke' shooting that d**e man you're copping out

Take my advice' it's either live or die

You've got to be strong' if you want to survive

The family on the other side of town'

Would catch hell without a ghetto around

In every city you find the same thing going down'

Harlem is the capital of every ghetto town

Across 110th Street'

Pimps trying to catch a woman that's weak

Across 110th Street'

Pushers won't let the junkie go free

Across 110th Street'

A woman trying to catch a trick on the street' ouh baby

Across 110th Street'

You can find it all in the street

Yes he can' oh

Look around you' just look around you'

Look around you' look around you' uh yeah