[Verse 1]
I was sleepin’ in that car, Lord,
Seat back tryin’ not to feel that cold.
Mm-hmm… sleepin’ in that car,
Countin’ bills I couldn’t fold.
Pocket full of bad debt,
But my head was full of gold.
They said, “Boy, play it safe now,”
“Take what you can, don’t aim too high.”
Yeah they told me, “Play it safe,”
“Take what you can, don’t aim too high.”
But I ain’t never been no victim —
I just clenched my jaw and tried.
[Hook]
I’m still standin’, can’t you see?
God above me, pressure on me.
Whole world heavy, all on my frame —
Ain’t nobody carryin’ me but me.
I carry my name…
Yes I carry my name.
[Verse 2]
I was livin’ day to day,
Paycheck hittin’, then it’s gone.
Couch to couch, car to driveway,
Smilin’ in front, breakin’ alone.
Learned to fight with my body,
But my mind? My mind turned stone.
Early twenties in that cage,
Yeah, I bled but I didn’t quit.
Said early twenties in that cage,
I was hurt but I didn’t quit.
That’s when I knew I was different —
Heart don’t shake, soul don’t split.
Now I wake up on an estate that I own,
Baby warm layin’ by my side.
Thriving businesses, feeding families—
Yeah, I feed ‘em, that’s my pride.
Took debt, turned it into wealth.
Turned that pain into drive.
[Hook]
I’m still standin’, can’t you see?
God above me, pressure on me.
Whole world heavy, all on my frame —
Ain’t nobody carryin’ me but me.
I carry my name…
Yes I carry my name.
[Verse 3]
Now listen —
I still keep some anger
For the ones who laughed in my face.
Mmm… yeah I keep that anger
For the ones who laughed in my face.
It’s lonely when you get this high,
But I don’t bow, I don’t break.
I don’t brag on nothin’ shiny,
That Corvette don’t make the man.
No, I don’t brag on nothin’ shiny,
That car don’t make the man.
What I brag on is my people —
Put some power in their hands.
See, nobody ever taught me,
No one showed me how to stand.
So I’m teachin’ while I’m breathin’,
Reachin’ out with both hands.
Tell ‘em, “God first, no victim talk.
Ain’t stuck — you just need a plan.”
For my woman, for my bloodline,
I’ll go to war, no doubt.
Yeah, for my woman, for my bloodline,
I’ll go to war, no doubt.
You touch mine, I’m comin’ —
Ain’t nothin’ to talk about.
[Hook / Final]
I’m still standin’, can’t you see?
God above me, pressure on me.
Whole world heavy, all on my frame —
Ain’t nobody carryin’ me but me.
If you hear ‘em say “Check Nate…”
That just mean I won the game.
I carry my name.
Yes I carry my name.
[Tag / spoken over the band fading]
I ain’t ask for easy.
I ain’t ask for praise.
Just give me room ‘nough to stand, Lord…
And I’ll carry my name.
CheckNate
