[INSTRUMENTAL — lead violins over muted guitar, claps skipping in] [VERSE 1 — careful flow, measuring every word] Lil' Perez pinned a badge on last May Same kid who used to steal Hot Wheels from the Rite Aid down the way Block don't know how to hug him no more, half embrace Some dap him up, some cross the street — I see both in my face He came to the cookout in uniform last June Held his paper plate like armor, left by noon His mama cried at the pinning like he shipped off to war In a way he did — the war's just at the corner store [HOOK — heavy-hearted chant, call and answer] That's my man (my man), that's my man (my man) Same dude from the cul-de-sac, just with a badge on now That's my man (my man), that's my man (my man) I love him and I watch him different — figure it out somehow [VERSE 2 — flow opens, the history] Me and P got followed through the mall in '04 Security tailed us from Foot Locker to the food court door Now he's on the other side of that same flashlight beam I asked him how it feel, he said "it's complicated" — man, what's that mean I want him home safe nightly, that's my brother, that's my heart And I want him to remember which porch he started from — that's the hard part We play dominoes on Thursdays, badge off, at his place Two rules at the table: no politics, no case [VERSE 3 — slowest flow, the stop] Last month he pulled me over — taillight out, legit Both of us was joking 'til we both went quiet with it Flashlight in my window, I seen him clock my face Heard him in my own voice say "slow down, be safe" Didn't ticket me, just tapped the roof and told me fix the light We ain't spoken since that Thursday — both processing that night His mama still sends me plates, my mama asks about him still Two families, one fence between — and the fence is getting real [HOOK — heavy-hearted chant, voices stacked] That's my man (my man), that's my man (my man) Same dude from the cul-de-sac, just with a badge on now That's my man (my man), that's my man (my man) I love him and I watch him different — figure it out somehow [OUTRO — chant fading, violins alone] That's my man (my man) ... (still my man)
