[Verse 1]
Same block
Same store front
Mama yelling from the window
“Be home before it’s dark”
Dice game in the hallway
Spray paint on the brick wall
Shorty fell for a tough talk
Didn’t know how low he’d fall
He flash chains, flash steel
Laugh loud, eyes cold
She saw fear in his crew
Every time his hand froze
One night, corner got quiet
Wind moved that yellow tape
He pressed up on her, wild
She said, “Watch how you play”
[Chorus]
This ain’t your movie, this our street
You bleed like us when you think you king
You point that piece, we point receipts
Real ones talk, not hide behind heat
Back block lessons, concrete speaks
Heart more heavy than your magazine
You call it war, we call it weak
Real ones talk, not hide behind heat
[Verse 2]
He pulled up by the bodega
Talking slick, wrong tone
She stood firm, chin up
“Better chill, go home”
He reached, whole block flinched
Kids froze by the bus stop
Old heads staring from the stoop
Ready if it jumped off
She locked eyes, heart booming
Thinking ’bout her little niece
If he fired in that crowd
Who would ever see peace?
So she raised up her voice
Shook the fear off her breath
“Put your pride on the pavement
Or walk away, save your chest”
He laughed, tried to play crazy
But his fingers shook slight
Whole crowd saw the tremble
He wasn’t built for that night
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
Graffiti names on the wall
Every one, a broken home
Every shot, another story
Of somebody left alone
She said, “You ain’t my ruler
You just loud and hurt”
Turned her back on the chaos
Left his ego in the dirt
[Chorus]