Alex Duffy Poet Free verse

Taught By Gangstas

I was always well spoken and knew how to conversate
But at school I was going through too many personal problems to sit down and concentrate
I couldn't pay attention in class, everything the teachers said left my head
I'd go home and  throw on some Hip-Hop, I was taught by Gangstas instead 

Raised in foster care because I wasn't as important to my parents as drink 
I fell in love with Hip-Hop and the way rappers were sharing their ink
The storytelling, messages and the way they were rhyming 
Rakim, Nas, Wu Tang bringing brightness to my life without showing me their diamonds

Lyrical Gangstas became my teachers
Earphones in, I fell in love with every word coming through the speakers 
I couldn't focus in class so they expected to see the kid fail 
But I felt inspired whenever I heard Eminem, Ice Cube and Big L

I was falling and it was rappers who didn't know I exist that managed to reach me
Nas taught me more about life through his lyrics than teachers could teach me
Going to the local music shop weekly
Spending all of my pocket money on a Hip-Hop CD

Most kids want Candy but I didn't care for sweets 
I just wanted to listen to new lyrics and to hear some beats 
Then sit and debate about which rapper is spitting the best words
and which rapper had the best verse

50 Cent released get rich or die trying when I was 11 and that album became my soundtrack 
If he can survive getting shot 9 times, then I can bounce back
I was slowly finding myself right after they said the kid's lost
I was taught by Gangstas and raised by Hip-Hop 

I was always well spoken and knew how to conversate 
But at school I was going through too many personal problems to sit down and concentrate 
I couldn't pay attention in class, everything the teachers said left my head 
I'd go home and throw some Hip-Hop on, I was taught by Gangstas instead

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