Homegirl, best friend, second mother until the end
learn to fight, learn to write, speak the truth or just pretend
bodyguard walking home from school in the hood you knew all the rules
watching you fight off three dudes and I'm too young to fight these fools
my first example of cool and damn all your friends were cute
holding my hands to cross the street and though you tried to be discreet
in that drive-by at that laundry mat I knew why you had me on my feet
in the days of Malcolm X baseball T's something complex evolved around me
the hood is somewhere hard to be but you made sure it wasn't hard on me
with bills off, dad in jail, stomach empty, or just mad as hell
ain't no secret I'm glad to tell my big sister taught me well
first poet I ever respected a lifeline I never expected
if by the world I felt neglected from you I never saw rejection
from tough love to over protection, thankful for your discretion
thankful for every lesson never less than impressive
if you ever had a doubt now you'll never worry about this question

My first love, my wonder woman, ten months in her stomach
second child, your only boy, when life was wild you provided joy
can't deny I'm a chip off the old block
but you never lied or tried to diss my pops
walking us to school when fools threw rocks
I know you cried but you made the shit stop
never knew why they say you need a man
my mama made me a comic book fan
I got action figures, not lame niggas, no boyfriend trying to hit ya
no weekend granny had to get us cuz you skipped the drama and stayed with us
just you, me, and big sister so fuck the world if they don't fuck wit us
nothing to discuss with the lustful critics
never lose ya trust but i'm staying vicious
whether own boss or doing dishes I'd still feel your well wishes
asking you for help you never fail in wisdom
taking care of yourself and two separate visions
my ambition, my intuition, my whole life, my definition
didn't know her boy would get this fresh with the breath she'd give him
you gave me your best, so I'll express through this rhythm
no part of your presence that was never a blessing an unconditional yes to the original question

Old man, carbon copy, OG, future me
count the dominoes out my hand but there's more to your knowledge I can't see
I still can't believe they say that car hit my dude going seventy
and when you woke up all you asked is "Where's Crystal and Kc?"
I remember trips to visit you, first fell in love with a rear view
never held a grudge cuz what tears do, make you live in fear of what's near to you
so here's the truth no prison blues or missed years can cloud the proof
I'm proud of you, no doubt it's true, on that I'm clear and resolute
help from you came through letters in chains you can't do better
my name I'll change it never, yet remain your son forever
when they claim that I'm too clever spittin game on another level
it all came from what you and Beverly Jane put together
I know about your devils, stories of you became lessons
not every son gets to view his father as a legend
so many become martyrs you fought harder to be a presence
talkin about who I'm proud of if you bothered by the question