[Intro] Uh… yeah… Closer than close, you already know Same faces, new masks, different roles Word up… streets talk, I listen Keep ‘em right where I see ‘em… Closer… [Verse 1] Same dudes I broke bread with plottin’ my fall Now I keep ‘em in my vision like they stuck to the wall Used to trust every word, every dap, every hug Now I analyze the love, is it real or a front? I done seen loyalty die over envy and greed Seen a brother turn snake just to fill up his needs So I play it lowkey, never showin’ my hand Let ‘em think they in control while I’m shiftin’ the plan I ain’t paranoid, I’m just movin’ with sense When you come from the bottom, you learn to be tense Every joke got a jab, every smile got a crack Every “I got you” feel like a knife in my back So I keep ‘em close, yeah, closer than kin Let ‘em circle the throne but they never get in It’s survival, my rival could be next to me now So I nod, keep it cool, never show ‘em my doubt [Chorus – Male R&B / gritty chant hybrid] Keep ‘em close, closer… closer than most Friends turn ghost, enemies I keep close Closer… yeah, I keep ‘em in sight Smile in the day, but they lurk in the night Keep ‘em close, closer… no trust, no peace Eyes wide open, never sleep in the streets Closer… yeah, that’s how it be So I keep my enemies right next to me [Verse 2] Had a homie switch sides for a taste of the shine Now he watchin’ my grind like it should’ve been mine I can see through the fake, all the cracks in his tone He congratulate loud but he hate in his soul But I let him hang around, let him think it’s cool Every move that he make just confirm he a fool See, the game ain’t loud, it’s quiet and slick You don’t expose the snake, you just watch how it hiss I been ten steps ahead, playin’ chess with the vibe While they stuck on checkers, I’m controlin’ the tide Every circle I step in, I’m scannin’ the room Too many cold smiles bring a feelin’ of doom So I sip my drink slow, keep my back to the wall If it go left, I’m ready, I ain’t slippin’ at all Ain’t no love in this jungle, just predators lurkin’ So I stay observant, every silence be workin’ [Chorus – Male R&B / gritty chant hybrid] Keep ‘em close, closer… closer than most Friends turn ghost, enemies I keep close Closer… yeah, I keep ‘em in sight Smile in the day, but they lurk in the night Keep ‘em close, closer… no trust, no peace Eyes wide open, never sleep in the streets Closer… yeah, that’s how it be So I keep my enemies right next to me [Verse 3] Now my circle small, but my vision wide I can see betrayal ‘fore it even arrive Ain’t no need for revenge, I just tighten my space Let ‘em fade on they own, I don’t chase, I replace Every lesson was paid with a piece of my soul Now I’m movin’ like a king with a heart made of stone Still got love, but it’s buried deep down Under layers of pain from the snakes all around But I adapt to the pressure, turn fear into sight Now I read every move like I’m readin’ a rite If you close, then you watched just as much as you trusted That’s the code of survival when your past been corrupted So I keep my composure, never crack, never fold Every secret I got stay locked in a vault And if they ever strike, I’ma already know ‘Cause I kept ‘em too close… now there’s nowhere to go [Chorus – Male R&B / gritty chant hybrid] Keep ‘em close, closer… closer than most Friends turn ghost, enemies I keep close Closer… yeah, I keep ‘em in sight Smile in the day, but they lurk in the night Keep ‘em close, closer… no trust, no peace Eyes wide open, never sleep in the streets Closer… yeah, that’s how it be So I keep my enemies right next to me [Outro] Yeah… Closer than blood sometimes… that’s the danger Watch every handshake, every favor It ain’t paranoia if they really out to get you Stay sharp… stay solid… Keep ‘em closer.
