Brick Dust

I came up on cracked steps

And a bent front screen

Mama kept the bills stacked

On the side of the fridge

I learned to read the room fast

By the shift in the grin

If you talked real big there

You was quiet by ten

Pockets full of loose change

And a borrowed gold chain

Same shoes, same route

Still I made my own lane

Cold hands on the bus rail

Fog on the glass pane

I was built from hard days

You was built for the frame

Now they lean when I speak

Like they know what I mean

Too much weight on my back

Still I move like a beam

I don't need your stamp

I don't need your praise

I been sharp with the lines

Since the old school days

Brick dust, brick dust

We still here, we still here

Brick dust, brick dust

Made it out, made it clear

Hands up, chin up

Hear the whole block cheer

Brick dust, brick dust

We still here, we still here

I seen friends turn smoke quick

Over pride and a look

Seen a hand turn cold

On a page in a book

I kept one eye open

When the fake ones came

Smiles full of velvet

But the soul felt strange

Now the stack look bigger

But my mind stayed calm

Same kid from the corner

With a plan in his palm

I don't fold for the noise

I don't chase for the fame

I just write what I lived

Then I stamp my name

Now they lean when I speak

Like they know what I mean

Too much weight on my back

Still I move like a beam

I don't need your stamp

I don't need your praise

I been sharp with the lines

Since the old school days

Brick dust, brick dust

We still here, we still here

Brick dust, brick dust

Made it out, made it clear

Hands up, chin up

Hear the whole block cheer

Brick dust, brick dust

We still here, we still here

Tell me who they were

When the lights went low

Everybody a king

When the cameras roll

I kept my face straight

Kept my steps on time

Turn pain to a pattern

Turn a loss to a sign

Brick dust, brick dust

We still here, we still here

Brick dust, brick dust

Made it out, made it clear

Hands up, chin up

Hear the whole block cheer

Brick dust, brick dust

We still here, we still here