Iron in Our Veins

[Verse 1]
Born in the field, but I’m forged like a field marshal
Chain on the neck turned charm, that’s a real reversal
Cotton in the hand, now it’s cashmere in the condo
Used to pick white, now we headline in Toronto
Whip in they hands, now the whip in the driveway
Took what was driven on backs, made it our highway
Auction block talk, now we block out stocks
Turned “sold for a dollar” to gettin’ sold-out spots
They tried to brand us, now the brand worth millions
They tried to break us, now we break glass ceilings
Read us as property, never read us as prophets
Now the only book they study is the way that we profit
[Chorus]
We came from chains to chains on the dresser (yeah)
Turned all that pressure to diamond investor
From back of the bus to the front of the ledger
Iron in our veins, every letter a lecture
We made that pain into paintings and anthems
Every last lash turned to laps that we ran in
From field to the throne, that’s a hell of a spectrum
We bend but don’t break, and they still can’t forget us (yeah)
[Verse 2]
Great-great hands in the dirt, mine on a business plan
Used to divide us in fractions, now we the bigger brand
Auctioneer yellin’ our price, now we set the fee
Plantation plots turned plots in a movie scene
They took our drums, now the drums run the planet
Stole our tongue, now the tongue make the canon
“Boy” in they mouth, now it’s “Sir” in the email
From counted as cattle to counted in retail
From “don’t you read” to degrees on the wall
From hush in the chapel to a roar in the hall
From burning our churches to tours in arenas
From crop row scars to couture in the cleaners
[Chorus]
We came from chains to chains on the dresser (yeah)
Turned all that pressure to diamond investor
From back of the bus to the front of the ledger
Iron in our veins, every letter a lecture
We made that pain into paintings and anthems
Every last lash turned to laps that we ran in
From field to the throne, that’s a hell of a spectrum
We bend but don’t break, and they still can’t forget us (yeah)
[Bridge]
From the root to the roof, we rise
From the bruise to the suit and ties
From the “stay in your place” to the stage and the prize
Made a whole new world from the hurt in our eyes (oh)
[Chorus]
We came from chains to chains on the dresser (yeah)
Turned all that pressure to diamond investor
From back of the bus to the front of the ledger
Iron in our veins, every letter a lecture
We made that pain into paintings and anthems
Every last lash turned to laps that we ran in
From field to the throne, that’s a hell of a spectrum
We bend but don’t break, and they still can’t forget us (yeah, yeah)

rap, Velvety East-Coast-meets-trap bounce; swung hi-hats and thick sub lines under warm Rhodes and filtered soul sample. Verses double-time yet laid-back, black male vocals with nimble internal rhymes; hook widens with stacked harmonies and subtle gospel pads, bass surging harder each chorus for a victorious, chest-thumping lift., smooth