Oscar Auliq-Ice - Streets & Prayers lyrics

Grew up in the city, life wasn't pretty
Hustling on corners, my crew and fifty
Cold nights, bright lights, dreams
Of the dough
Rivals shooting shots, evading five oh

Hunger in my belly, ambition in my veins
Concrete jungle, feeling the chains
Momma tried to warn me, said
There's more out there
But all I ever knew was this life of despair

Lost in these streets, heavy burdens I wear
Every night I lay down, whispering a prayer
"Lord, if the streets take me
'fore the dawn's break
Keep my soul, for these mistakes I did make"

Seen my brothers fall, seen them rise again
Loyalty's the code, till the very end
Gangsta's paradise, where we write the rules
Cash, power
Respect that's the hustle's tools

Dealing with the deals, trying
Not to get caught
Chasing paper, evading the thoughts
Of a life lost, or a soul sold
But in the game's grip, man, it's a hard hold

Chorus: Lost in these streets, dreams
Turning to nightmares
Eyes to the sky, hoping
Someone up there cares
"Lord, if this night's the last I partake
Guide my spirit, my soul please take"

Tales of the hood, not just sorrow and pain
Moments of joy, love, and gain
But the shadows lurk, the danger's real
Every hustler knows, that cold steel feel

Diamonds and gold, symbols of the grind
Every step I take, legacy I leave behind
Trust's a luxury, betrayal's cheap
In the world of the wolves
Gotta play for keeps

But in quiet moments, I reflect on the cost
All the lives lost, all the souls tossed
To the wind, but I hope for redemption
A street hustler's confession, no pretension

Lost in the hustle, surrounded by warfare
Eyes closed tight, as I say my street prayer
"Lord, when the sirens sing
And the lights fade, remember my heart
Not just the path I played"

In this urban saga, dreams and despair
All I ask Lord, is that you hear my prayer
From these asphalt veins, to
The throne up high
Hear the cries of a gangsta
As I touch the sky