Peer Pressure - Mobb Deep

As a young black teen, everyday I, deal

With the pressure and mixed up is how I feel

I walk the streets with a fuck you attitude

And when it comes to my peoples, you ain’t half as rude

Follow the crowd or be a leader, take your pick

Now I’m smokin' buddha philly blunt style

A frustrated and confused young juvenile

King of the project blues so I choose

To take a piece of the action

But my sober state of mind won’t let it happen

So, 24/7 is the number one stresser

Dealin' with the peer pressure

Most don’t understand how it is

In the world of today growin' up as a young black teen

I used to dream, of bein' a architect

Easier said than done, believe me it’s hard to get

Out of the projects, without forgettin' where you came from

My parents told me from day one

Finish school and avoid all obstacles

But my environment makes it so impossible

For instance, build a strong social life

Without messin' up, still tryin' to live right

Like in junior high, I used to wonder why

Certain females went out with certain guys

Then one day, it all dawned on me, yo

You gotta be down and have it goin' on, see?

I wasn’t down with the mainstream or should I say their team, huh

Now I’m gettin' steamed

Gotta find a way to get accepted by my peers

So now I’m sippin' on beers

Buyin' new gear, nuthin' but the best

Forget Levi’s, strictly Polo and Guess

But how would I make the cash?

It gotta be easy and it gotta be fast

Thinkin' to myself «Does that make me lesser?»

Just, dealin' with the peer pressure

Around my way there’s a kid that most don’t understand

How he lives, is it negative or positive?

He has a grade A average

But when he’s on the streets with his friends, he’s a savage

A freshman of high school, daily attendant

He never got in trouble, never did he get suspended

Good little Kenny, who would believe?

He dropped out of school to start to smoke weed

I saw the signs but I didn’t pay attention

Because he got offended every time that I would mention

The drinkin', the smokin', the low school grades

And sleepin' in class, laid back with his black shades

Nowadays, you catch Kenny hangin' in the hallways

With his crew, findin' more ways

To break out of school and hit the block and get buckwild

Stay out of the way of a mad child

'Cause he’s a product of hell

Kenny never fell but he’s gonna fall overall

So, let’s take a trip to the ghetto

Where Kenny got drunk and bought a burner off his man, so

He pulled the trigger and the suicide note read:

«I'm glad it’s finally over and I’m finally dead

And no more do I have to feel lesser

Or deal with the peer pressure»