Yeah, it's 97 going into 98 And I've been doin' this for mad years, payin' dues This is my heart, my purpose in life and finally I'm on Which brings me to realize that the tough life That I had only made me stronger, true A ha ha ha ha I know this much is true A ha ha ha ha I know this much is true Growin' up didn't want to have nothing to do wit' you Make you hittin' everybody went to high school wit' you Wanna play you close and jump in the pool wit' you I don't know what to do but this much is true And in the hood, they all like to knock your career And turn right around when you hot a gear I played Midas and told them that it's God I fear That the man upstairs, he control this here And it's funny how, soon as the money piles Everybody wanna play with that brother now Run me down, but when the doe gets low Only a few friends roll, you know And mama, bless her heart, she used to give me strife Said, "Lynisse, please do something with your life" And how it's gon' play out, I don't have a clue All I know is this much is true, true A ha ha ha ha I know this much is true A ha ha ha ha I know this much is true And I remember when, I used to feen for calls When I hit number one I had to scream out calls Used to see my Mama strugglin', worn from work Told her when I made it big she never goin'-a work I used to wish at night that my brothers in the street Hustlin', shit, they would live to the light And see another day somehow, find another way I vow To all my soldiers I hold you down From standin' in the rain to the rovers now I'm screamin' your name to warn you That the rollers is around To on-stage throwin' it down No matter where you at represent your hood No matter where I'm at I'm representing my hood And how it's gon' all play out I don't have a clue All I know is this much is true, true A ha ha ha ha I know this much is true A ha ha ha ha I know this much is true I've opened up my eyes to a brighter day Nobody in the block gave their life away We all tryin' to take it easily And everybody wanna make it seems is free Today it's all good and it seems so strange Since you look up in the hood now things done changed Kids they used to be wheelies for blocks Is out ridin' their bikes, doin' wheelies for blocks And bitches on the bench, still gossipin', who's she slidin' in Who's she slidin' with, outside partyin' Old timers in the back playin' dominoes Kids freestyling, all kinds of flows Girls flow through with designer clothes It's day now but you know how nighttime goes And how it's gon' play out I don't have a clue All I know is this much is true, true A ha ha ha ha I know this much is true A ha ha ha ha I know this much is true You know it's true A ha ha ha ha I know this much is true A ha ha ha ha I know this much is true You know it's true A ha ha ha ha I know this much is true A ha ha ha ha I know this much is true You know it's true ...