[Verse 1]
Preacher man on the pew
Ramblin' on about what he don't know
Teacher glarin' at the student
She got that look in her eyes, don't be surprised (Billy, Billy)
The senator is a sinner
Not everybody's a winner winner, no chicken dinner
Long as that flame keep burnin', the world gon' keep on a-turnin'
And so I hustle hard 'cause I gotta
Provide for my momma
Tito he locked up, couple dollars for my partner
My sister she knocked up, need some food and them diapers
So I be on my shit, movin' smoove windshield wiper style
Catch me in my whip, cruisin' through the lights, just
Tryna hit a lick, dude lookin' righteous, I might just
Run up on a n***a with that yoppa out
Try and stop me now and it's all dirt
Hard work

[Chorus]
Hard work in the city
Everybody workin' hard for a penny, it's a
Hard work in the life
Of a student, a tutor, a soldier, husband, or wife
Hard work in the city
Everybody workin' for a piece of pie, it's a pity
Hard work in the life
Everybody tryna make it the right way
[Refrain]
(Hey yo, hey yo, hey yo, hey yo) Hard, hard work
(Hey yo, hey yo, hey yo, hey yo) Hard work in the city
(Hey yo, hey yo, hey yo, hey yo) Hard, hard work
(Hey yo, hey yo, hey yo, hey yo) Hard work in the life

[Verse 2]
Sunroof top with the diamond in the back
Cadillac, black on black
5 room spot with a view like a map
Motherfucker, how you like that?
I still don't have a pot to piss in
They tell me stop, I can't listen
Gotta keep punchin' clocks, just for the children
Because my card ain't clearin' and they all want ice cream
So I'm sideways, like Siamese, on 5 drinks
You got a house on the hill, your car's a coupe
I got bills, I got bills and they all overdue
So hard to move, when your car get the boot
And Granny's sick as shit, 'cause mildew still live all in her roof
These poly-ticks be at our neck, but they ball 'cause of you
I call that shit disrespect, just to call it the truth
I promise never to neglect what I bring to the youth
If I ever need a check, I'll just follow these boots
Hard work
[Chorus]
Hard work in the city
Everybody workin' hard for a penny, it's a
Hard work in the life
Of a student, a tutor, a soldier, husband, or wife
Hard work in the city
Everybody workin' for a piece of pie, it's a pity
Hard work in the life
Everybody tryna make it the right way

[Refrain]
(Hey yo, hey yo, hey yo, hey yo) Hard, hard work
(Hey yo, hey yo, hey yo, hey yo) Hard work in the city
(Hey yo, hey yo, hey yo, hey yo) Hard, hard work
(Hey yo, hey yo, hey yo, hey yo) Hard work in the life