Northside of the P

Portland nights, wet concrete,

Young dreams under streetlights,

Northside of the P — where I learned to fight,

Where fear and hope learned to speak.

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Born where the rain never quits, sidewalks soaked in stories,

Minority kid with questions, hard knocks for morning glories.

Mama working late shifts, Dad just a ghost in weekend frames,

Brothers fighting shadows, I was ducking shame.

Prejudice in school halls, whispers when I walked tall,

They saw my color, not my struggle, just assumed I’d fall.

But I found peace in rhyme, a mic, and cracked beat drums,

Late nights writing in notebooks, praying God’d hear my hums.

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808s whisper “move,” doors slam but I refuse,

Heart scarred yet alive, Portland streets bruise.

I rise from puddles, break through rust,

I trust my vision, I’m built from dust.

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Northside of the P, made me fight to believe,

Every struggle, every tear, now it’s blessings I receive.

From the rain-soaked streets to the city lights I chase,

Turned my pain into power, now I’m owning my space.

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Fighting for survival, yeah, I seen the corners where we hustle,

Drugs in alleys, broken dreams stuffed in backpack struggles.

Police lights flashing, heart rate cracks like thunder,

Every setback a lesson, pulled me from the under.

Got my first check, bought my first chain, still I remember names,

Friends lost to the night, others swallowed by the games.

But success don’t erase, it magnifies the pain,

Now I shine so bright, but I know where water came.

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They prayed I’d fail, but I built from that weight,

Made scars into medals — I’m changing the fate.

From cold streets to warm stages, city lights and praises,

Northside roots in my veins, that’s the life that raised us.

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Northside of the P, made me fight to believe,

Every struggle, every tear, now it’s blessings I receive.

From the rain-soaked streets to the city lights I chase,

Turned my pain into power, now I’m owning my space.

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Rain hits the window, reminds me where I come from,

Ghosts of that kid still standing, he’s proud of what I’ve become.

If life is the hardest fight, I’m still ready to run,

Northside of the P forever, I’m not done.

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Northside of the P, made me fight to believe,

Every struggle, every tear, now it’s blessings I receive.

From the rain-soaked streets to the city lights I chase,

Turned my pain into power, now I’m owning my space.

Northside of the P… forever I breathe,

Every challenge, every fight, built the man I lead.