[Intro]
Mama said “come home”
Street said “stay”
Two worlds tugging
Same worn Jays (yeah)
[Verse 1]
We was sharing one plate
Four hands, three forks
Dad left, front door
Never came back north
Cold tap, hot tears
Same hoodie all year
Learned math in the hallway
Different kind of career
Old heads on the corner said
“Lil man, you smart”
Then they put a couple grams
Right into my palm
Told me, “Flip that, feed yours
Then you’ll be grown”
I was thirteen
Carrying a whole zip home
Feds ride slow, lights low, we froze
Stash in the sole of my busted old shoes
Prayed on a bus stop, eyes to the sky
Ask God if He listen when the broke kids cry (huh)
[Chorus]
I was raised by the block, by the cold, by the code (by the code)
Had to eat, had to grind, had to carry that load
Hands dirty, heart heavy, but I did what I could
Turned a child to a man
But it ain’t feel good
Lost bro in the night, watched his soul leave his eyes (damn)
Now his name on a shirt, mama asking me why
Same streets that fed us, took him out for the show
We was just tryna live
But the price came slow
[Verse 2]
Me and D on the same step
Sharing one dream
He just wanted new kicks
I just wanted to leave
Posted by the bodega
Laughing at nothing
Pocket full of little rocks
Thought we was hustling
One text, wrong addy
Hit my line, said “slide”
Told bro, “Wait here”
He said “Nah, I’ll ride” (come on)
Two hoods over
Every face looked strange
Didn’t peep that the vibe off
Till they called out his name
Metal flashed, time cracked
Everything turned red
I ain’t even hear shots
Just his body go dead
Held him in my hands
While he drowned in his breath
He said “Tell my mom sorry”
Then he slept
[Chorus]
I was raised by the block, by the cold, by the code (by the code)
Had to eat, had to grind, had to carry that load
Hands dirty, heart heavy, but I did what I could
Turned a child to a man
But it ain’t feel good
Lost bro in the night, watched his soul leave his eyes (yeah)
Now his name on a shirt, mama asking me why
Same streets that fed us, took him out for the show
We was just tryna live
But the price came slow
[Bridge]
How you tell a little kid
“Don’t sell, don’t flip”
When the fridge all echo
And the rent on the slip
How you tell a hurt heart
“Just pray, don’t bang”
When the only thing paying
Is the hand-to-hand
[Chorus]
I was raised by the block, by the cold, by the code (by the code)
Had to eat, had to grind, had to carry that load
Hands dirty, heart heavy, but I did what I could
Turned a child to a man
But it ain’t feel good
Lost bro in the night, watched his soul leave his eyes (rest up)
Now his name on a shirt, mama asking me why
Same streets that fed us, took him out for the show
We was just tryna live
But the price came slow