(Verse 1 - Rap)
Yo, started from the concrete, cold air in my lungs
Every step was a heavy lift, felt it in my tongue
Of my worn-out sneakers, chasing dimes in the cracks
No silver spoon offered, just the weight on my back
Rent was a monster, always due before I blinked
Empty fridge lookin' back, I couldn't afford to think
Of quitting, no option, that word ain't in my lexicon
Had to be the engine, the battery, the proton
Working two shifts, barely catching forty winks
On the train with my headphones, plotting, tryna link
My dreams to a reality that felt a million miles away
But I told myself, "It gets better, gotta fight another day."
Used to eat instant noodles, stretchin' pennies 'til they snapped
Now I'm writing the blueprint, building every trap
That life sets for the weary, I sidestep with a purpose
'Cause this hunger in my belly? It ain't superficial.
(Chorus - R&B/Voice)
Oh, the sun don't shine for free, you gotta earn the light
Walkin' through the darkest valleys, fightin' with all my might
My hands are calloused, my spirit's been tested and frayed
Every victory I cherish, for the price that I paid
But I keep my head high, yeah, even when the storms brew
'Cause the blood, sweat, and tears? They're the proof I made it through.
The grind continues, baby, that's the rhythm of my heart
Gonna finish what I started, right here from the very start.
(Verse 2 - Rap)
Remember nights on the floor, notebook and a pen
Writing my escape plan, plotting where and when
I'd break the cycle, the generational fatigue
The constant pressure, the economic league
That kept us down low, whispering "You won't ascend."
But a soul on fire, man, that's a power that won't bend.
Had to become resourceful, the ultimate survivor
A nine-to-five during daylight, at night, a hungry diver
Into opportunities, side hustles and the books
Got my education not from lectures, but from hard knocks and crooks
Who tried to hold me back, but I just absorbed the lesson
Used their doubt as fuel, an undeniable blessing
The tears I cried were not for pity, they were for the release
Of the frustration, the pain, for a moment of peace.
'Cause this is more than money, it's about the legacy I build
Gotta show the next generation that the promise is fulfilled.
Oh, the sun don't shine for free, you gotta earn the light
Walkin' through the darkest valleys, fightin' with all my might
My hands are calloused, my spirit's been tested and frayed
Every victory I cherish, for the price that I paid
But I keep my head high, yeah, even when the storms brew
'Cause the blood, sweat, and tears? They're the proof I made it through.
The grind continues, baby, that's the rhythm of my heart
Gonna finish what I started, right here from the very start.
See, the scars on my soul... they tell the truest tale.
They whisper of the moments... I thought I was gonna fail.
But failure is only permanent when you lay down your shield.
So I stand in the spotlight
Raquan
