From Hand-Me-Downs to Headliner

[Verse 1]
Used to count change on the bus seat
Share one meal, split it like a must-eat
Holes in my shoes, rain in my socks
Dreams in my head, all I had in stock
Landlord knock, mama say "we praying"
Fridge light bright, but it stayed vacant
Hand-me-down shirt, tag still ripped
Only thing fresh was the hope on my lips
[Chorus]
From rags to riches, I stitched my story
Blood on the laces, now I walk in glory
They ain't see the nights, they just see the ice
Paid for every shine with a sacrifice
From rags to riches, I flipped that pain
Turned every closed door to a household name
If they want the truth, better read these stitches
Every scar on my skin screaming rags to riches (yeah)
[Verse 2]
I was writing verses in a broke phone screen
Cracks on the glass like lines on a scene
Had to skip sleep, clock in, then clock out
Practice on breaks, rap soft, no shout
Homies fell off, some folded, some stayed
Some got caged, some laid in the grave
I kept going, even when my faith thin
Last in the line, still swore I'd win
[Chorus]
From rags to riches, I stitched my story
Blood on the laces, now I walk in glory
They ain't see the nights, they just see the ice
Paid for every shine with a sacrifice
From rags to riches, I flipped that pain
Turned every closed door to a household name
If they want the truth, better read these stitches
Every scar on my skin screaming rags to riches (oh)
[Bridge]
I remember couches, now it's condos
I remember quiet, now it's packed shows
Same old soul, just a new position
Still that kid that believed in the vision (believed in the vision)
[Chorus]
From rags to riches, I stitched my story
Blood on the laces, now I walk in glory
They ain't see the nights, they just see the ice
Paid for every shine with a sacrifice
From rags to riches, I flipped that pain
Turned every closed door to a household name
If they want the truth, better read these stitches
Every scar on my skin screaming rags to riches

rap, Grimy boom-bap drums with a thick sub bass foundation and sparse piano stabs, male vocals locked in a mid-tempo pocket. Verses start almost spoken, then rise into sharper double-time bursts. Hook explodes with layered gang vocals and a pitched vocal chop shadowing the main line. Subtle vinyl crackle and distant crowd chants creep in by the final chorus for a triumphant, street-anthem feel.