[INTRO — SPOKEN, LOW] Ayo… Listen. I done walked through enough to know who I am. Ain’t gotta talk loud— you gon’ feel me when I step in. (you heard?) (uh) Yeah… [BEAT DROP] AYE! [VERSE 1] Look— I came from nights when the rent felt heavy, Had dreams in my chest but my hands stayed ready. (yeah) Corner-store lights, cold air on my face, Learned real quick everybody ain’t built for your pace. (nah, they not) I don’t chase clout, I don’t beg for a seat, I put pain in the pen, put my truth on the beat. (that’s facts) They was counting me out, I was counting my steps, Now I walk in the room like, “What’s next?” (what’s next?) (come on) Brooklyn in my tone, got grit in my speech, I learned more from the struggle than a classroom could teach. (tell ’em) You can hear where I’m from every time that I talk, Little laugh, little pause— then I’m back on the walk. (uh-huh) (keep going) [PRE-CHORUS] Hold up— I been through pressure, I know how it feel, Kept my head straight when the road got real. (still here) No shortcuts, baby, I built this lane, Every scar on me got a story with a name. (that part) (yeah) [CHORUS] I’m outside, still standing, Whole lotta life I been handed. (look at me) They thought I’d fold, I expanded, Came back strong—now understand it. (you hear me?) I’m outside, still moving, No explanation, I’m choosing. (that’s my choice) Talk all day, I keep improving, New York soul, but the whole world grooving. (aye!) (let’s go!) [VERSE 2] I remember days I was riding with doubt, Trying to figure which road was the way out. (I remember) Now I ride with the music turned up in the night, Top down low, city lights looking right. (ooooh) I talk to God while the wind hit my face, Thank Him for bringing me from that old place. (thank You) I ain’t perfect, nah, I’m proof you can grow, Had to lose some things just to learn what I know. (that’s real) And I don’t need a crowd just to know I’m okay, I got peace in my chest and I’m paving my way. (no pressure) If you knew what it took just to get me right here, You’d understand why I celebrate every year. (come on!) (yeah, yeah) [PRE-CHORUS] Pressure came knocking, I answered the door, Looked at my past like, “You don’t run me no more.” (nah, you don’t) I took every setback, turned it into fuel, Now every move I make got a purpose and rule. (that’s right) (I’m good) [CHORUS] I’m outside, still standing, Whole lotta life I been handed. (still standing) They thought I’d fold, I expanded, Came back strong—now understand it. (UNDERSTAND!) I’m outside, still moving, No explanation, I’m choosing. (I choose me) Talk all day, I keep improving, New York soul, but the whole world grooving. (uh!) (we outside!) [BRIDGE — HALF-TIME] Wait— Let me tell you something. (hold on) I’m not who I was five years ago. (nope) I’m not who I was last year. (not even close) And I definitely ain’t going backwards. (never!) (chuckles) You hear that? That’s growth. (that’s growth, baby) Yeah… I earned this. [FINAL VERSE] So when I step, let the whole beat breathe, I got stories in my voice and the strength underneath. (you can hear it) From the hard days, heartbreak, nights with no plan, I still woke up saying, “God, I know You got me, man.” (He got me) (yes He do) Now I laugh more, stress less, move smarter, Turned every closed door into something much larger. (look what I did) Brooklyn flavor, grown-woman talk, I don’t gotta prove nothing when I walk. (nah, I don’t) (you already know!) [FINAL CHORUS — BIG] I’m outside, still standing, Whole lotta life I been handed. (WE STILL HERE!) They thought I’d fold, I expanded, Came back strong—now understand it. (THAT’S RIGHT!) I’m outside, still moving, No explanation, I’m choosing. (I choose me) Talk all day, I keep improving, New York soul, but the whole world grooving. (AYE!) (LET’S WORK!) [OUTRO — SPOKEN] Yeah… That’s me. (no filter) No mask. No pretending. Just life… and I’m still here. (still here) (still standing) Yeah… Now turn that up. (laughs)
