[Pre-Intro]
[Intro]
[Male Vocal]
Verse 1
Grew up where the sirens sing lullabies at night,
Streetlights flicker hope, but the shadows bite,
Concrete dreams, scraped knees, mama prayed hard,
Pops gone early, learned life dealt cards,
Town business, everybody know the code,
Mind on survival, heart feel heavy like gold,
Backpack full of stress, not books in my lane,
Seen tears hit the pavement, rain feel like pain,
Neighbors yelling “stay sharp,” don’t lack, don’t slip,
Young ones posted deep just to feel legit,
I was raised by the block, by the talk, by the stare,
Oakland air thick with grit and prayer.
[Bridge]
Verse 2
Corner store prophets, game free with the talk,
“Move smart, not loud,” when you walk that walk,
Dreams big but the odds stayed shady,
Helicopters humming like the sky gone crazy,
Homies said we kings even stuck in the mud,
Town love deep, yeah it run in the blood,
Every loss carved lessons in my chest,
Tryna be better while the city test,
Heart torn between peace and the pride,
Had to learn real quick how to read who lie,
Still standing ten toes, never fold under pressure,
Oakland made me hard, but it taught me measure.
Chorus
Oakland streets raised me, scars and all,
From the flats to the hills, yeah I heard the call,
We survive, we ride, through the smoke and pain,
Town blood in my veins, yeah I’ll always remain,
Oakland, Oakland, heart of the flame,
Still chasing them dreams while we dodging the rain.
[Male Vocal]
Oakland, Oakland, heart of the flame,
Still chasing them dreams while we dodging the rain.
Verse 3
Lost a few soldiers to the fast lane curse,
Same story replayed in a different verse,
Candles on corners, names in the air,
City cry silent, but the pain stay there,
Had rage in my chest, punk chords in my head,
Trap beats mixed with thoughts I never said,
Felt numb some nights, felt alive in the pit,
Tryna find light where the dark stay lit,
Everybody got a story, not all get heard,
Some scream through actions, some through words,
I chose the pen, let the scars talk back,
Turned survival mode into a track.
Verse 4
Town slang in my talk, keep it solid, no cap,
Real ones recognize, fake fall back,
No crown on my head but my mind stay royal,
Learned quick loyalty come with turmoil,
Seen bros flip sides over envy and fear,
Same ones saying “family” disappear,
Still I move with love, but I peep the signs,
Oakland wisdom sharpened over time,
From BART rides dreaming out the window pane,
To nights writing hope through the struggle and strain,
This city taught me strength don’t always roar,
Sometimes it’s quiet, still asking for more.
Still chasing them dreams while we
[Bridge]
Chorus
Oakland streets raised me, scars and all,
From the flats to the hills, yeah I heard the call,
We survive, we ride, through the smoke and pain,
Town blood in my veins, yeah I’ll always remain,
Oakland, Oakland, heart of the flame,
Still chasing them dreams while we dodging the rain.
Still chasing them dreams while we dodging the rain.
