Released: November 21, 1995

Songwriter: DJ Premier Lil Dap Melachi the Nutcracker

Producer: DJ Premier

[Verse 1]
[Lil' Dap]
My life story strictly business, never blew my chance
Moms kicked me out the house when I was flipping "I'm The Man"
Put the boys on the street, make them walk this beat
Teach them how to eat, and to seek for peace
Son I stamped this name Living Proof 'cause I mean what I say
Bring the fake to reality and make them pay
Yo these ghetto rhyme stories got 'em scared to death
I'm trying to get the fuck out, see what the world's about
Check it, 1986 is when I reached my peak
Take my brothers outta state and tried to make some ends meet
First destination Texas and it's just like that
Making moves with my brothers and there's no turning back
We got thirty-six grams on the scale right now
Getting ready with my brothers time to break the shit down
I'm not about killing my people but you know how it go
Work with me not against me and we'll make mad dough
Wear my co-defendant out when I break down with rap
Hold me back and give me love and now I'm giving it back
A unique sound from the streets and it's just so sweet
My living proof life story, let me break it in peace

[Melachi the Nutcracker]
Yo, I rock on the block with the real hip-hop
As you start to clock... and jock
Yo, I'm coming off with mad rage
Eighteen, and hitting the real stage
But don't worry 'bout me, 'cause I'm making it
And if I can't have it, then I'm taking it
That's how it is, 'cause I'm living trife
Where's my knife? Take a chance with your life
Rappers decapitate, and disintegrate
You I will mutilate, when I penetrate
Go for the one when I say raid
A hitman for hire and I wanna get paid
'Cause bullets are sprayed and anybody is laid
More money is made and that's the family trade
See, I make moves and tell what's the truth
That's why I'm here, to be living proof

[Scratching 4X]
"Leave it up to me while I be living proof"
"Life as a shorty shouldn't be so rough"

[Verse 2]
[Melachi the Nutcracker]
I'm lost, must pay the cost to be the boss
With force, rather get my point across
I'm going off on the mic, insane, out of sight
When I take flight (Like who, kid?) like Mike
And you see, I be rolling like a battlecat
And I'm ready to rip on my combat
Beef, I'm not having that, yo, I pull my trigger back
And all you pussy niggas know where my heart is at
I like to stay down low but yo I flip at times
Like when I'm kicking lines, or busting out nines
It's like that, should I jump off the roof
Sike, 'cause I wouldn't be living proof

"Kick the truth to the young Black youth"

[Lil' Dap]
The moral of the story—what the fuck's going on?
And our seeds won't see 2000 if these niggas keep frontin'
I used to hustle on the block, now I rock for papes
Watch as the world turn, and I will come back
Relieving stress off my brain, I got the la-la for that
Breaking down all subjects, and then all facts
Letting loose everyday, but still, keeping it fat
Bust it, niggas keep on fronting in this game, a'ight?
Scared to death ass rappers don't get no props
Scared to come to the ghetto talkin' 'bout busting shots
See, I can walk around the ghetto, stand in peace and at ease
Get my ghetto crowd open, yo, you know what I mean?
Indeed, see what I see and then you know what I mean
Getting ready for the future so don't fuck with me
My living proof life story niggas I kill it with ease...

[Scratching]
"Leave it up to me while I be living proof"
"Life as a shorty shouldn't be so rough"
"Leave it up to me while I be living proof"
"Life as a shorty shouldn't be so rough"
"Leave it up to me while I be living proof"
"Life as a shorty shouldn't be so rough"
"Leave it up to me while I be living proof"
"To kick the truth to the young Black youth"

Group Home

Group Home is a hip hop duo, composed of members Lil' Dap (birth name James Heath) and Melachi the Nutcracker (birth name Jamal Felder). They were one of the most prominent acts under the Gang Starr Foundation umbrella.