Dad vs the streets

I remember boots by the door, steel toes caked in grime,

My Dad gone at sunrise, grindin’ overtime.

Sweat on his shirt, grease deep in his hands,

That was a real man, I just couldn’t understand.

He taught me respect, he taught me work for what’s yours,

But I wanted fast feria, I went lookin’ for wars.

While he built with his fists, I was reachin’ for steel,

He stacked pride in his house, I stacked feria to feel.

I ain’t wanna listen, thought the calles knew best,

Thought a cuete on my hip put me above the rest.

But his calloused hands built what I tried to destroy,

He raised up a family, I stayed a lost boy.

⸻

The block sang loud, I was hooked on the sound,

Vatos flashin’ cuetes, bodies droppin’ on the ground.

First fight, first cut, first time blood spilled,

I thought I leveled up, like that pain was a skill.

My first trigger pulled, I thought I became grown,

But it carved out my soul, left me colder than stone.

Didn’t see I was losin’, I just thought I was feared,

But every drop of sangre made my Dad disappear.

I was just a kid actin’ firme at night,

Confusin’ death with respect, wrong with right.

Didn’t hear my ruca cry, didn’t hear my Mom pray,

I let the barrio own me, I threw my youth away.

⸻

Now I sit in this cel, no feria, no shine,

Just a number on my chest, wasted years on my mind.

Steel doors slam loud, nights colder than death,

I count every scar like I’m countin’ lost breath.

My Dad broke his back, I just broke his heart,

He raised me with love, I just tore it apart.

He came home with pain, but he never complained,

I came home with blood, bringin’ sorrow and shame.

I blamed the barrio, said the system’s to blame,

But the truth is, carnal, it was me all the same.

The calles don’t care, they just chew you alive,

I made my decision — now I fight to survive.

⸻

But I ain’t changin’, homie, I’m raisin’ the stakes,

Already broke his heart once, now I’ll do what it takes.

The streets crowned me early, and I won’t step back,

From the cel to the throne, I’ll rebuild my stack.

Vatos whispered my name while I rotted away,

Now I’m back on the block, and they’ll all have to pay.

Every rata that folded, every ruca that ran,

Gonna see what I’ve built, gonna know who I am.

I ain’t askin’ forgiveness, I ain’t searchin’ for peace,

I’m the kingpin now, el jefe of the streets.

If it breaks him again, that’s the price of the game,

Carved in blood and betrayal — they’ll remember my name.

Revilla