Long Live Eighty8

[Intro]
World been dark since you left
Long Live Eighty8
(yeah)
Why my brother gotta die?
[Verse 1]
Why my older brother gotta die?
You was just laughin' on the line, askin' “you alright?”
Now I’m starin’ at your face on a shirt, that ain’t right
Got the call, dropped the phone, silent scream, cold night
I remember you in Jordans, scuffed toes from the court
You was trappin’ just to keep the lights on in the porch
You said “I’ll take the hell, lil bro, you stay in school”
Now you layin’ in the ground, how that make sense, who made rules?
Got your name tatted on my arm, ink burn, that sting
Talk to God, but He quiet, what that mean, what that bring?
Mama eyes red raw, she don’t sleep, she just pray
I been drownin’ in this pain, take a pill, fade away
[Chorus]
World been dark since you left, I can’t lie
Got your daughter in my arms, askin’ why
Long Live Eighty8, that’s for life
If you lookin’ from above, be my guide
World been dark since you left, I can’t lie
Got your daughter in my arms, askin’ why
Long Live Eighty8, that’s for life
If you lookin’ from above, be my guide (yeah, yeah)
[Verse 2]
I got your daughter now, she got your smile, that grin
She be runnin’ through the crib, little dimple in her chin
She say “where my daddy at?” I freeze, can’t speak
Say he livin’ in the sky, he just visit every week
Keep your hoodie on the chair, still smell like your smoke
Every time I walk by, feel the weight in my throat
I’m just tryna be the man that you wanted to be
So I’m savin’ every dollar, put it up, that’s for she
You used to tell me “don’t cry, we gon’ make it one day”
Now I’m talkin’ to your grave, raindrops on your nameplate
Homies say “spin back,” talkin’ ‘bout payback, pride
But revenge don’t raise kids, it just make mamas cry
So I’m ridin’ for you different, I’m protectin’ your seed
I’ma build her up strong, teach her books, not the streets
Every birthday, light a candle, let it drip, let it blaze
We gon’ scream your name loud, let it echo for days (Eighty8)
[Chorus]
World been dark since you left, I can’t lie
Got your daughter in my arms, askin’ why
Long Live Eighty8, that’s for life
If you lookin’ from above, be my guide
World been dark since you left, I can’t lie
Got your daughter in my arms, askin’ why
Long Live Eighty8, that’s for life
If you lookin’ from above, be my guide (Long Live Eighty8)
[Bridge]
Why my brother gotta die, tell me that, tell me that (why?)
Took a king from the block, he ain’t never comin’ back (nah)
But your blood in her veins, so your story still alive
I’ll protect what you loved till the day that I die (on God)
[Chorus]
World been dark since you left, I can’t lie
Got your daughter in my arms, askin’ why
Long Live Eighty8, that’s for life
If you lookin’ from above, be my guide
World been dark since you left, I can’t lie
Got your daughter in my arms, askin’ why
Long Live Eighty8, that’s for life
If you lookin’ from above, be my guide (Long Live Eighty8)

rap, Moody trap ballad with male vocals, spacious 808s and a haunting, detuned bell melody. Verses ride a swung hi-hat grid with deep bass swells and filtered pads; chorus widens with stacked harmonies and airy ad-libs. Occasional pitched-down doubles on key lines, subtle reverb throws at the ends of phrases, and a late-song dynamic lift with extra percussion to push the emotion., beats, world, hip hop