[Verse 1]
I make my moves slow and steady, every step I calculate,
Yeah, I make my moves slow and steady, every step I calculate.
Didn’t come from much of nothin’, now I’m livin’ what I visioned — check Nate.
[Verse 2]
Built it brick by brick in darkness, no shortcuts in my lane,
Mmm, built it brick by brick in darkness, no shortcuts in my lane.
Kings bleed just like the beggars, I just learned to love the pain.
[Refrain]
Life’s a board I’ve been studyin’, every line and every angle I trace,
Yeah, life’s a board I’ve been studyin’, every line and every angle I trace.
Every sacrifice had a purpose, every move a calculated grace.
[Verse 3]
They still chasin’ old illusions, I’m two steps past their dreams,
Yeah, they still chasin’ old illusions, I’m two steps past their dreams.
I’m layin’ bricks for forever, me and my queen move as a team.
[Verse 4]
They tried to pawn me off the table, said I’d break and fade away,
Mmm, they tried to pawn me off the table, said I’d break and fade away.
But pressure made a diamond, I was carved out here to stay.
[Refrain]
Life’s a board and I’m steady, eyes open, watchin’ fate,
Yeah, life’s a board and I’m steady, eyes open, watchin’ fate.
From the grind to the golden gates, every move I make — check Nate.
[Verse 5]
Got a queen who never folded, she believed before the gold,
Yeah, I got a queen who never folded, she believed before the gold.
She saw the kingdom in the rubble, saw the king before he rose.
[Verse 6]
Every loss we turned to lessons, every cut we learned to bind,
Mm-hmm, every loss we turned to lessons, every cut we learned to bind.
We built an empire out of heartbreak, brick by brick, our hearts aligned.
[Bridge]
Ain’t no luck in this reflection, just that vision and that sweat,
No, ain’t no luck in this reflection, just that vision and that sweat.
Faith walked with me through the dark when the whole damn world forget.
They see the glow and all the glory, they don’t see the sleepless nights,
Yeah, they see the glow and all the glory, not the war behind these lights.
Every scar’s another chapter where my name learned how to fight.
[Final Refrain / Outro]
Life’s a board and I’m playin’, every square tied to my fate,
Life’s a board and I’m playin’, every square tied to my fate.
Now I’m the move they can’t predict, I’m the play they can’t create — check Nate.
From the hustle to the heartache, from the fire into the faith,
Yeah, from the hustle to the heartache, from the fire into the faith.
King and queen, our reign won’t break — every forever move: check Nate.
Cheeeeeeck Naaaaate. That’s check maaaaate. Lord, that’s checkmate.
CheckNate
