[Verse 1]
Born in a hallway
Mom yelling, bills late
Pops gone, steel gate
Blocking out the real safe
Fridge light, nothing but the frost on it
Doctors said "he small"
World said "that’s all, homie"
Hand-me-downs, three sizes too big
Walk to school, whole route just violence and kids
Teacher talkin’ ’bout college like it’s right there
He just stare at the board
Thinkin’ ’bout night air
[Chorus]
Cold world raised me
Never had a hand to save me
Every door locked, they played me
So the streets became my safety
Cold world raised me
Turned this hunger into gravy
If they never gonna pay me
I’ma take it ’til it pay me
[Verse 2]
Fifteen, first flip, brown bag, bus stop
Hand off shaky but the cash made his blood hot
Phone buzzing, new names, new routes
Whole block know his face, new clout
Chain from the mall look heavy in the photos
Girl on his arm, red nails, sipping SoCo
Older homie laughing, "Lil bro, you the man now"
But he see the fear every time that the van round
Mama find crumbs in his room, start praying
He lie to her face, "I’m good, I’m just playing"
But the rent due, baby brother need shoes
"Either I break laws or we all lose"
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
Now it’s late nights, tinted rides, corner store glow
He counting blue strips, heart cold like the snow
Two phones, one ring, "come quick, it’s a setup"
Whole life gamble, every step is a bet up
Girl in the passenger, lashes, perfume
Ask him, "how long you gon’ live in this doom?"
He just laugh, flash teeth, touch the metal
"Far as I can, ’til the dirt, til the petals"
Sirens in the distance, future getting loud
He see kids on the block trying to be him now
Small boy in his hoodie, same frown, same stance
He think, "Nobody saved me
He might get a chance"
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
Drugs on the table
Diamonds on his chest
Money on his mind
Demons in his head
Girls say they love him
But they love the shine
He stare in the mirror
Ask, "Who am I?"
[Chorus]