Born & Raised

I was the first of three sisters

My older brothers would treat me like a princess

Sporting flattops and hightop sneakers

My feet too small for my brand-new adidas

7 in the evening when my mama calls

Were playing dodge ball up against the berlin wall

That's how I was born and raised

Now mama, look at where I am today

It's alright

Even though we had to struggle

Sometimes

Even if we stumbled

It's all good

Cause I learned how to stay on my feet

It's alright

Even though we had to struggle

Sometimes

Even if we stumbled

It's all good

Cause I learned how to do for me

If my life's like your life, then I want for you to know

There's not a thing in the world you can't achieve

If your life's like my life, you got to keep on keeping on

Cause there's so much more you can be

16 when I first left home

Already hard headed thinking I was grown

Berlin girl, half african, half caucasian

Imagine conflicts I'm facing

Skipped school, went clubbin with them black GI's

Arguments on the phone would make my mama cry

I fell in love with this thug, daddy threw a fit

Only took one year, that nigga's doing a bid

This is back when P.E. gave us identity

A young girl in the streets of west germany

That's how I was born and raised

Now mama, look at where I am today

It's alright

Even though we had to struggle

Sometimes

Even if we stumbled

It's all good

Cause I learned how to stay on my feet

It's alright

Even though we had to struggle

Sometimes

Even if we stumbled

It's all good

Cause I learned how to do for me

If my life's like your life, then I want for you to know

There's not a thing in the world you can't achieve

If your life's like my life, you got to keep on keeping on

Cause there's so much more you can be

Hip Hop Soul was the brand new rage

Became my real love with Mary J.

I took my first steps on a spot lit stage

It was clear I was here to stay

See it wasn't always easy on this path I chose

When it starts getting sleazy don't know friend from foe

That's when I learned to discern and stand up for me

And took control of my own destiny

If my life's like your life, then I want for you to know

There's not a thing in the world you can't achieve

If your life's like my life, you got to keep on keeping on

Cause there's so much more you can be