Triumphant

I went from hope in my throat to a stone in my chest,

From quotables scribbled to quotients of stress.

They want me open and broken, I button the vest,

Every word got a pulse, every sentence a test.

I don’t perform for approval, I audit the room,

See the fake camaraderie rot in they bloom.

You confuse my composure for lackin’ the fuse,

I just strike with precision, no passion to lose.

I been quiet with killers, been loud with the truth,

Seen crowns get auctioned for power and views.

If I speak, it’s incision, not ventin’ the bruise,

I don’t heal in public, I sharpen in seclusion.

They want access to pain like it come with the fame,

Want my losses explained, want my scars entertained.

But I learned how to starve without eatin’ my name,

Now the hunger talk fluent, the silence got range.

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Two-faced snakes watchin’ the goat (watchin’ the goat)

Crown on my head, never fold, never broke (never broke)

Ghosts of the liars, yeah, I keep ‘em afloat (keep ‘em afloat)

They pray I slip, but I rise with the smoke (rise with the smoke)

(whisper: they pray I fall…)

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Crown heavy, spine steady, I don’t lean for applause,

I been bent by the weight, not the praise or the odds.

They want grace when they fake, want forgiveness on loan,

I just watch karma calculate interest owed.

I don’t chase what declines me, I let it expire,

Seen friendships go silent when truth get inspired.

If the shoe fit, they trip when the lace get exposed,

I don’t kick down doors, I just open the ghost.

My name in they mouth like it payin’ them rent,

I evict every lie with the way that I pen.

I ain’t bitter, I’m better at settin’ the fence,

You don’t cross where I’m headed, you stay where you been.

This ain’t rage, it’s resolve with a surgical tone,

Every bar got a bone, every verse got a code.

If I’m cold, it’s ‘cause warmth kept gettin’ abused,

I don’t bleed for the crowd, I just give ‘em the truth.

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I prayed for direction, got stillness instead,

Had to sit with my thoughts, let ‘em split through my head.

Now my calm look arrogant, peace look like threat,

But I paid every due, every interest, every debt.

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Two-faced snakes watchin’ the goat (watchin’ the goat)

Crown on my head, never fold, never broke (never broke)

Ghosts of the liars, yeah, I keep ‘em afloat (keep ‘em afloat)

They pray I slip, but I rise with the smoke (rise with the smoke)