One Brick My Empire

One brick

One step

One sweat drop

One bet (yeah)

Started with a room and a mattress on the floor

Writing in the dark, I was plotting on more

Mom saying "baby, keep your head up sure"

Landlord knocking, I was locking that door

Coupons in the drawer, bills in a pile

Heart getting heavy but I still crack a smile

Dreams in the notebook, coffee and a rhyme

Stacking up the minutes 'cause I’m running outta time

One brick, my empire (my empire)

Lay it down, take it higher (take it higher)

From the mud to the sky, I swear

I put my whole life in this right here

One brick, my empire (my empire)

Each scar, each prayer, each fire

If they ask how I got up here

Tell ’em one brick, one year, no fear (no fear)

Cousin in the system, friend in the ground

Pressure in my chest but I still hold it down

Voices in my head say "boy, slow down"

Voices in my blood say "king, wear the crown"

Long days, little pay, still I stay on it

Turn pain into paint, every stain on it

They laugh at the start, now they watch from the side

Building while they talk, that’s the difference in the grind

One brick, my empire (my empire)

Lay it down, take it higher (take it higher)

From the mud to the sky, I swear

I put my whole life in this right here

One brick, my empire (my empire)

Each scar, each prayer, each fire

If they ask how I got up here

Tell ’em one brick, one year, no fear (no fear)

Who gon’ build it for you? (nobody)

Who gon’ bleed it for you? (nobody)

If they never saw the struggle

They can’t tell you what’s glory

One brick in the rain, that’s faith

One brick when you ache, that’s faith

Look back, whole castle in place

All from one, from one

One brick, my empire (my empire)

Lay it down, take it higher (take it higher)

From the mud to the sky, I swear

I put my whole life in this right here

One brick, my empire (my empire)

Each scar, each prayer, each fire

If they ask how I got up here

Tell ’em one brick, one year, no fear (no fear)