Very relatable, just replacing the basketball with “advanced” programs placed in low income districts to raise test scores. But everything else, from the shift in my environment to the shift in awareness hit very close to home. Makes me appreciate this music that much more.
I basically had the same upbringing. Just in Chi-Town instead of NY. Between ball and just growing up around so many different types of human beings basically allowed me to organically learn how to talk, relate, and interact with everyone. Shit, I'm a pretty anti-social dude but I'm rarely uncomfortable in new places for too long because of my ability to converse and befriend the people around me, regardless of where I'm at.