

Prompt / Lyrics
[Verse 1] Court date on a Tuesday Cap and gown on layaway Mama circlin’ late fees On the back of a résumé Block talk loud as the sirens Storefront dressed up with violence Liquor sign flicker on eyelids Dreams marked “clearance” in silence Teacher said “aim for the summit” Boss said “watch how you run it” Cop said “hands where I see ’em” Judge read “facts” from a script, didn’t study us Heard a kid practice his alibis On the bus, seat two from the back Said “I wasn’t there” Before he even knew the facts [Chorus] We livin’ by headlines and half-truths Glass ceilings, cracked shoes Same story, new angle on bad news They profit off panic, then blame you I’m tryna write light in the side streets Turn prayers into side deeds If the system ain’t built for my heartbeat Then watch me redraw the concrete (yeah) [Verse 2] She clock in, two kids, one oven Cold world, three jobs, no husband Newsfeed say “values and family” Rent say “pay me or vanish” Politician on stage with a handshake Camera flash, then a scapegoat name Point at her block like a crime tape Never once spell “power” the right way Homie got loans that outlived him Cap tossed up, then a closed casket They framed his face in a slideshow Talked bright future in past tense Preacher said “change starts inside” Law said “stand in this line” Ad said “buy what you ain’t” I said “who benefits from your shame?” [Chorus] We livin’ by headlines and half-truths Glass ceilings, cracked shoes Same story, new angle on bad news They profit off panic, then blame you I’m tryna write light in the side streets Turn prayers into side deeds If the system ain’t built for my heartbeat Then watch me redraw the concrete (hey) [Bridge] Who owns the frame on the picture? Who edits pain from the scripture? If every voice here’s a fixture Why they only quote us as figures? Hands up don’t heal old wounds But hands linked might shift whole rooms If they won’t carve out our seat soon We’ll build our own table in full bloom (yeah)
Tags
rap, Moody cinematic hip-hop with male vocals; smoky jazz piano over dusty drums and deep bass. Verses stay intimate and close-mic’d, with subtle horn swells and vinyl crackle. Hooks widen with stacked vocals, lush chords, and a heavier low-end push. Dynamic drops into near a cappella lines before the beat slams back for impact., smooth, beats, jazz, deep, hip-hop, moody, dynamic
3:17
No
3/8/2026