yeah — southside sunrise, city still sleeping (yeah)
from the corner stoop to the top of the ceiling (uh)
studio lights flicker at 2am on martin ave — i’m scribblin’ dreams on napkins
mama on the line, rent due on the 1st — i turned that pressure into practice (let’s go)
corner lights told stories — mama missed rent, i redesigned a plan (rebuild)
pushed a busted radio, mixtapes in the trunk, palm-worn hands on the van
pawned a chain for gas, slept on couches, name in spraypaint on the stand
late-night hustle on the avenue — i learned to spit truth with a band
cold nights, hot beats, heart synced to the 808 low-end
neighbors heard the piano through the wall, said, "boy, don't stop, go again"
checks bounced, faith didn't — i write receipts in the air with my pen
debt stacked like boxes in the hallway; i climbed over every one of them (climb)
hustle in my heartbeat — cadence like a sermon (uh)
footprints on the pavement — every stumble got me certain
i learned the map by the cracks in the sidewalks, turned losses into lessons
now watch me script the next chapter, new blessings in succession (yeah)
rise and grind — never fall behind (rise)
crown mine — prime time, watch me shine (watch me)
rise and grind — never fall behind (rise)
crown mine — prime time, watch me shine (watch me)
first big show at kingbird hall, lights hit, mama cried in the crowd
manager slid a dm: "we got a stream, they buzzing loud" — i bowed
from microwaved dinners to tabloid whispers — i turned whispers into rounds
heard my name on the radio at 6am — felt like the ground gave me sound
paid the landlord with a check i never thought i’d see, i smiled and lied to doubt
invested in a beat, bought my first mic, recorded the vow, then i bowed out
now ten hands in the crowd chant my hook, vinyl spinning slow and proud
from late-night bus routes to flights with my team — we’re packing town to town (we up)
no fear in my spirit — freighted freight becomes the freight i ship (ship it)
every scar stitched in syllables — i write my fate, never quit
this story keeps unfolding, each verse a currency, each line legit
i flip the pain into power — watch me bankroll the grit (bankroll)
rise and grind — never fall behind (rise)
crown mine — prime time, watch me shine (watch me)
rise and grind — never fall behind (rise)
crown mine — prime time, watch me shine (watch me)
(ah — yeah — let’s go)
i’m the captain of the concrete — charted routes where they said i couldn’t steer
i wear the city like a medal, every corner, every loss made clear
i move like taxes claim the pay — inevitable, calculated, near
line-for-line, i collect checks from the debts i used to fear
battle-ready voice, gold-tooth grin, crown heavy — i volunteer (ha)
no more excuses, no more renting time in other people’s clocks — i own mine.
turn nights into numbers, numbers into notes, notes into shows, shows into tours
from two-dollar dinners to doors opening — now they applaud when i roar
hustle art, hustle heart, every scar’s a chart — i’m
