Verse 1 (16 bars)
I woke up in a deadly world, daybreak full of shards (yeah)
Sirens sing lullabies while I count the scarred cards
Pavement’s chewing soles, mama’s prayers in the dark
Busted windows, late bills, nana’s lullaby in the park
Corner stoop queens whisper numbers, hustle with a grin
Neon halo over alleys where the slow sins begin
Taxi lights flicker like hope on a short fuse
Stomach full of echoes, pockets full of used news
I tape the cracks in ceilings with a prayer and a plan
Clocking overtime in dreams with a pen and a van
Every neighbor got a story, every stoop got a name
Bullet holes like commas, they pause but never tame
I keep the baby’s blanket folded, smell of milk and night
The landlord left a note — another deadline, another fight
But I lace conviction on my feet and step into the rain
If this world wants war, I came to school it on pain (whoo)
Hook / Radio Rap Hook (compact, repeatable)
You can’t get rid of it — but I won’t let it win (won’t let it win)
Saving us, saving home, saving peace within (peace within)
You can’t get rid of it — but I won’t let it win (nah)
Saving us, saving home, saving peace within (we rise)
Verse 2 (16 bars — faster, tactical)
They throw threats like bricks — I trade 'em for building blocks
Night shifts, day shifts, hustle 'til the skyline stops
Cooked ramen on the dash, receipts taped to the dashcam
Quick wins in the margins, play chess while they actscam
I work a double at dawn, freelance till the moon dips
Flip a skill, flip a script, small pay, bigger chips
Threats in the mailbox, strangers in the stairwell
I switch lanes, shadow-trace, leave no scent they can tell
Neighbors growl, cops patrol, vultures orbit the block
I teach my kids corner math, how to move, how to talk
We plant tomatoes in the tub, small green defiance
Patch the roof with songs, let the chorus be alliance
Got a ledger of my losses, but I mark every gain
One kid’s laugh, one healing wound, that's the rooftop rain
So let them come with cold threats, come with teeth and tin
I’ll come colder with a colder crown — I won’t let it win (yeah)
Pre-Bridge Vocal Breakdown (short)
(Ad-libs: yeah, hold up, check it)
Whisper: breathe — count to three — hold the line
Bridge / Halftime Spoken-Word (vivid, victorious)
Halftime — clock slows, memories in slow motion
I see my mother ironing courage into our clothing
A single light in a window where the children draw suns
I memorize that silhouette — that’s where the victory runs
They want to take our nights, steal the hush from our streets
But I learned how to barter mornings with stubborn beats
One definite line: I keep my family breathing, heart first, fists last
We survive the thunder — we make the storm our past
Final Hook (repeat with ad-libs)
You can’t get rid of it — but I won’t let it win (no)
Saving us, saving home, saving peace within (hold on)
You can’t get rid of it — but I won’t let it win (stand up)
Saving us, saving home, saving peace within (we safe)
Outro (resolute, 4
