I read a book that was titled EARL. It's a biography of a man better known as DMX. It changes my perspective on tough lives. Earl Simmons was born and raised in Younkers New York which could be top ten for worst neighborhoods. Add to a poor surrounding that his Dad wasn't around and his mom was a crack cocaine addict and that makes for a very interesting and tough upbringing. I found it interesting that the book spent a while talking about how his life was going down hill because of anger issues and poor school work and crime. In one of the altercations Earl got into, he actually ended up getting his jaw broken and had his jaws wired shut for 6 weeks. In another phase of his life got into stealing cars and during one day him and his friends ended up stealing a car from each other probably a half a dozen times without knowing it. Through all of his tough times and bad surroundings he ended up working hard and getting a contract to rap.