From the Floor to the Penthouse

Started with a dollar and a doubtful look

They ain’t see a legend, just a dirty hood

Hand-me-down shoes, tread barely on

Now they quote my life like it’s holy songs (yeah)

Mama countin’ change on the kitchen tile

Landlord knockin’ like a hostile trial

Fridge light bright on a half loaf

I was talkin’ big plans over canned toast

Same hoodie, five days, that was my fit

Bus pass, long ride, dreamin’ I’d quit

Whole block laughed when I said I’d shine

Now the same ones wait in a backstage line

From the floor to the penthouse, look at me now (look at me)

Turned every “never gon’ happen” to “how?”

Came from nothin’, had to build it out the drought

Now my name in they mouth, they can’t count me out

From the floor to the penthouse, step by step

Every little “L” that I took made a check

Came from nothin’, now I’m standin’ on the sum

From the bottom of the map to the top where I’m from (yeah)

Used to write bars on a court receipt

While they served warrants up and down my street

Homie did a bid, say the time too slow

Told me, “Run far as you can, don’t choke”

So I took that pain, made a blueprint

Turned late-night tears into new prints

Now the chain on my neck from the stress I broke

Every shine that you see from the nights I froze

Auntie in the crowd with her hands up high

Say she proud when she sees how I changed my life

Same lil’ kid they said wouldn’t be much

Now I sign my name on the keys we touch (skrrt)

From the floor to the penthouse, look at me now

Turned every “never gon’ happen” to “how?”

Came from nothin’, had to build it out the drought

Now my name in they mouth, they can’t count me out

From the floor to the penthouse, step by step

Every little “L” that I took made a check

Came from nothin’, now I’m standin’ on the sum

From the bottom of the map to the top where I’m from (yeah, yeah)

This for every night we ain’t eat right (real)

Every bus ride, every fist tight

If you standin’ where I stood, don’t fold

Turn your hardest days into solid gold (solid)

From the floor to the penthouse, look at me now

Turned every “never gon’ happen” to “how?”

Came from nothin’, had to build it out the drought

Now my name in they mouth, they can’t count me out

From the floor to the penthouse, step by step

Every little “L” that I took made a check

Came from nothin’, now I’m standin’ on the sum

From the bottom of the map to the top where I’m from (from the bottom)