Prompt / Lyrics
[Verse 1] Mama said read the lines they never print Names they never carve in stone but still we built it, brick by brick Teacher skipped the chapter flipped the page, then rang the bell Like our whole bloodline just a rumor they don’t tell Old heads on the corner got more facts than the book They talk Tulsa, talk Panthers say “they took what they took” I’m a black man carrying chapters in my chest They treat my roots like rumor I treat my truth like a test [Chorus] Why my people history always a mystery? (yeah) Hide our pain, hide our wins, that’s a trick to me (that’s a trick) Still we shine through the blind, that’s our victory I’m a black man, living proof, that’s the history Why my people history always a mystery? Turn the page, see the blank, that’s the misery But we write in our names, that’s the remedy (write it in) I’m a black man, breathing loud, that’s the history (yeah) [Verse 2] Granddaddy in the kitchen spilling stories in the steam Marched roads, caught hoses all that courage in his jeans They love our slang, love our swag love the groove in our walk But when it’s time to teach the truth they get quiet when we talk We the cotton and the crown we the genius they don’t cite From the field to the lab from the pew to the mic I ain’t asking for a favor just the facts, let ’em stand You can’t erase what we are I’m the footnote in your plan [Chorus] Why my people history always a mystery? (why?) Cover scars, cover stars, that’s the trick to me But we carving in stone, that’s our legacy (yeah) I’m a black man, walking tall, that’s the history Why my people history always a mystery? Turn the hush to a hymn, that’s our liturgy (amen) From the block to the books, that’s our symmetry I’m a black man, say it proud, that’s the history (say it proud)
Tags
rap, Hard southern trap beat with swung hi-hats and weighty 808s, half-raspy male vocals. Intimate, almost spoken first verse over sparse keys; hook explodes with layered ad-libs and octave doubles. Second verse adds subtle choir pads for uplift, with drops on key punchlines so the vocal can cut through. Big, chantable chorus built for live call-and-response., hip hop
Duration
2:12
Instrumental
No
Created
2/20/2026