Caesarion,
I stand up and applaud you. I, too, had a rough life and overcame alot of struggle to get out of the "hood" mentality.

I understand exactly what you say, I dis associated all of my former high school friends from my home town. I can't relate to them (the ones not in jail or dead) in any way no more. I feel very out of place as if they think I feel I am better than them.

Anyways, long story short. One very, very powerful trait that we both have is street hustle. Like alot of fastlane thinkers, that "hustle" mentality is something very few have. I've seen some of the best "business minds" sell dope, if they had the same smarts/passion into something legal; they would be living in the hills as you say. I put 50cent in there as an example. He is gifted with a business mind and now opportunity gave him ways to hustle legally. He now owns a billion dollar Vitamin Water company on top of the GUnit clothing he already had.