[Verse 1] I had a homie named Tony 16, 6'2 Headed to the NBA straight from High School My nigga has his ball game on lock But at the same time he was in love with the block All the stuff that came wit it the drugs and the guns, the gangs the slang and all the funds He just got a letter of detent fron the Cavaliers saying how they love him and they wish he was there He had it made like special-ed about to get the bread But chose to do something dumb instead Go to war with the crew on the other side of town And was more ready and Tony got laided down He ain't even have a chance Died before the ambulance even got to him So many went through him I hate to tell the story but that's how it is Growing up in the hood as a kid [Chorus] When you got big dreams Don't listen to what nobody say and don't let nobody turn you away When you got big dreams Keep your eyes on the prize don't fall to the way side When you got big dreams Don't listen to what nobody say and don't let nobody turn you away When you got big dreams Keep your eyes on the prize don't fall to the way side reach for the sky [Verse 2] I knew a girl named Gina that was a hell of a singer And everybody fell in love with her when they seen her Babygirl was on the verge of signing a big deal 18 and life looked so so real She was stuck with a dude that was all bad news And all he ever did was give baby the blues And she was true to a nigga, do for a nigga, pop you and your whole crew for a nigga One night he came and picked her up, told her let's ride That's the same night that he watched her die They was tryna hit a lick but the lick hit back Put a end to the deal and all of that She ain't even have to be there and he knew it wasn't right Now he gotta deal wit it for the rest of his life And the part I don't like he ain't even get grazed But the home girl Gina is laying in the grave [Chorus] [Verse 3] I got a few relatives giving the family drama Always got they hands out when they see me and my mama One could have been a doctor, the other a chef But when he got his own kitchen he was cooking something else Now his life in the drain, a trifling shame He all washed up, wife took everything No car no more, no house And everywhere he go he stole so they throwed him out I was growing up looking up to be like them Now I'm throwing up cash rolling up in the bent I'm stuck with a dream I had since a shorty and I'll be damned if I let another man support me Now Uncle June Buck sick, skinny as hell He got AIDS in his body from the needles he shared Everytime he get his welfare checks he don't care If you wanna see him go to he crackhouse he there [Chorus] When you got big dreams [3x] When you got big dreams don't fall to the way side reach for the sky