Out the Mud in the A

Yeah

From the bottom, boy

(out the mud, out the mud)

Food stamps

Mama at the laundromat, folding pain

Section 8 walls so thin

You could hear the rain

Couch bed

Three cousins on it, sharing space

Roaches on the cereal box

Still we said grace

Marta bus late

Missed shifts, she still walked in

Grease stain shirt

But her pride stayed tucked in

I was bagging groceries

Dreaming of a gold plate

Writing raps on receipts

By the old gate

West side summers

Hydrants open, socks wet

Whole block broke

But our laughs hit like a jet

Hand-me-down shoes

Talking back with every step

Teacher said "statistics"

I said "watch what happens next"

Came out the mud in the A, yeah I did that (I did that)

Turned all the pain into pay, had to flip that (flip that)

Used to have lint in my pockets, now the bill stack

I made a promise I would never ever live that

Out the mud in the A, how I slid back

From the bottom of the map, brought the grid back

They wrote me off, now they watching where I sit at

I made a promise I would never ever live that

Waffle House nights

Splitting one plate, four forks

Uncle hit a lick

Then he vanished in the court

Blue lights flash

Like they searching for a ghost

Sirens sang lullabies

Up and down the post

I done seen homies

Trade future for a quick win

Twelve years old

With a burner and a big grin

I was on the porch

Pen bleeding in a notebook

Told the block "give me time

Watch how this hook cook"

Had to dodge traps

Both legal and the street kind

Predatory loans

And the powder on the seat line

Boss talking crazy

Like he owned my whole life

Quit on my break

Now my songs pay the light

Came out the mud in the A, yeah I did that (I did that)

Turned all the pain into pay, had to flip that (flip that)

Used to have lint in my pockets, now the bill stack

I made a promise I would never ever live that

Out the mud in the A, how I slid back

From the bottom of the map, brought the grid back

They wrote me off, now they watching where I sit at

I made a promise I would never ever live that

For the kids on Bankhead

Counting change at the store

For the moms on Campbellton

Sleeping close to the door

For the pops on Old Nat

Praying "please, not jail"

I’m the proof this red clay

Grow roses as well (yeah)

Came out the mud in the A, yeah I did that (I did that)

Turned all the pain into pay, had to flip that (flip that)

Used to have lint in my pockets, now the bill stack

I made a promise I would never ever live that

Out the mud in the A, how I slid back

From the bottom of the map, brought the grid back

They wrote me off, now they watching where I sit at

I made a promise I would never ever live that