People always want to know the reason for what they consider senseless violence in the hood. I'm going to break it down for you. This is why we ride. And this is why we ride. And this is why we ride. I gotta say this clear, I gotta say this loud. I should've been dead, don't know how I'm here now. I should've been dead, damn near 40 years ago. How the *** did I survive something that I'll never know? I played the crack game, gang gang guns. Mother***ers told me I'd never see 21. I come from LA, deep in the heart of the hood. Every night the bullets fly, this *** ain't Hollywood. Could be your best friend, mother or brother dead. Cops came through ***, these streets are blood red. So we leave the block and we load the guns. And we want revenge until revenge comes. And this is why we ride. And this is why we ride. And this is why we ride. I made it out the hood, I got a great life. But them bullets fly every mother***ing night. Another kid dies every mother***ing night. Another mother cries every mother***ing night. Ghetto's a deep trap, made to never escape. A place to store the poor, made to never escape. They're all over the world, people go to die. Murders go unsolved, I understand why. They remove hope and then we sell dope. Pain and poverty has us at each other's throat. Families are broken and so we gang bang. A bit from a unity, but most lovesome ever seen. And this is how we die. And this is why we ride. And this is why we ride. And this is why we ride. Aw man, coming up and surviving in the ghetto. The smallest argument grows from little drama to big drama. Next thing you know, somebody's dead. I don't think you can understand. If you've never been in the streets and held your best friend in your arms. Your child in your arms. And watched him breathe that last breath. Cause somebody shot him dead in the streets. You ain't thinking about calling the police. You want revenge. And you want it now. I gotta be honest with you. If somebody were to kill me or shoot me right now. My last words wouldn't be peace. It'd be get those mother***ers. This song is dedicated to all of you who have lost somebody to street violence. I love you. And this is why we ride. And this is how we die. And this is how we die.