Intro We shared the same room. Same cracked ceiling. Same winter that froze the pipes. Same last name. But we chose different exits. ⸻ Verse 1 Two boys, one hallway light Homework under candlelight Mom said, “Both of you’re gonna be great.” We both believed her. Same faith. He was books and scholarships I was shortcuts and fingertips He talked law school, white coat dreams I talked fast lanes and bigger schemes Teachers said he had the mind To change the world, redesign They said I had leadership too Just different definitions of “prove.” We ate from the same thin plate. But we handled hunger different ways. ⸻ Chorus 1 I’m just trying to build a way out Just trying to flip what we never had He chose books, I chose the corner How can survival be bad? Same blood, same struggle Same roof when it rained I said I’m doing this for us That’s what I claimed. ⸻ Verse 2 He left town with a duffel bag Full ride scholarship, campus flag Called home talking internships Talking ethics, talking clerkships I stayed back where the blocks stay hot Phone buzzing nonstop Name ringing through the street Cash stacking at my feet Mom proud of him in quiet ways Proud of me in louder praise I paid bills he couldn’t see He earned titles honestly He’d visit home on winter break Said, “You don’t gotta live like this, bro, it ain’t too late.” I’d laugh and tell him I’m fine But pride don’t like rewind. ⸻ Chorus 2 I’m just building something bigger Just taking what life never gave He chose the system, I chose the hustle Both trying to be brave Same blood, same childhood Same hallway walls I said I’m doing this for us That’s how it played. ⸻ Verse 3 My name started carrying weight Territory, real estate Young ones moving what I moved Watching how I operate, improved Profit growing, nights getting long Sirens echo but I stay strong He’s talking med school interviews I’m talking shipments coming through He asked me once, “You good for real?” I changed the subject, cut the deal Told myself he wouldn’t understand Different worlds, same demand He saves lives. I fund survival. That’s how I split the spiral. ⸻ Chorus 3 I’m just trying to stay ahead Just trying not to fall behind Everybody makes their choices I can’t control their mind Same blood, same story Same last name we sign I said I’m doing this for us But I crossed a line. ⸻ Verse 4 He called one night, said finals done Said friends convinced him to have some fun Said, “It’s just a little something, bro, relax.” Said, “Don’t give me that big brother act.” I laughed it off, said, “Be safe.” Didn’t feel the ground beneath me shake. Didn’t ask what he might take Didn’t trace the route it’d make That batch moved quick through hands Through cities, clubs, and college bands I didn’t check what it was cut with Didn’t question where it ended up. Didn’t think about him. Not once. ⸻ Chorus 4 I’m just trying to keep us fed Just trying not to lose it all If I don’t stay on top of this We go back to nothing at all Same blood, same future Same name we made I said I’m doing this for us But I crossed a line. ⸻ Verse 5 Phone rang early, wrong kind of ring Mom’s voice shaking, couldn’t breathe “He collapsed… they don’t know why…” Hospital lights, flatline sky They said it was laced. They said it was strong. They said one line — and he was gone. Doctor talking toxicology Words like “traceable quantity” Mentioned the city it moved through first That city. Mine. My network. My weight. My chain of hands. Not direct. But not distant. It passed through me. Same blood. ⸻ Chorus 5 I was trying to build a way out Trying to flip what we never had He chose hope, I chose shortcuts Tell me how that ain’t bad Same blood, same childhood Same dream we chased I said I was doing this for us But I poisoned his faith. ⸻ Final Verse He would’ve been something greater White coat, courtroom debater He would’ve fixed what I broke Saved lives I choked Mom won’t look me in the face House feels hollow, stripped of grace His graduation picture framed Next to my silent shame I didn’t sell it to him. But I built the road. Didn’t hand it to him. But I fueled the load. You don’t have to pull the trigger To dig a grave. Sometimes you just build the system That takes what it gave. ⸻ Final Chorus I wasn’t building a way out I was digging us down He chose the future I chose the crown Same blood, same name One still breathing. One in the ground. ⸻ Outro We shared the same room.
