[Intro | dry close-mic | immediate] ITZ HIM Respect me. [Verse 1 | connected pocket | quick conversational flow] Been there, stayed late, took shit I should've checked Still walked in that house like we could fix what was left “I'm trying” every time I finally brought something up Till I stopped letting shit slide, now I'm doing too much Talk about trust like I don't know what changed I watched how you move when you know you're to blame Take what I said, flip a word, make me sound like the threat Then sit there talking 'bout what I should've done different Man, fuck that You ain't gotta tell me where I fucked up I own mine when I do You ain't gotta drag up six old arguments every time this one's on you Two steps back? Back to what? Same old fight with a different month? Same “I'm sorry,” same shit, then we do it again? Nah, I ain't calling that love If I held you down say I held you down If I showed up say I showed up Don't hand me “I love you” after treating me fucked Put some action on it That's respect [Chorus] R-E S-P E-C T Me S-T E-P U-P Step up R-E S-P E-C T Me O-W N U-P Own up [Verse 2 | harder pocket | faster internal rhyme] I can watch every word, keep my tone damn near flat Still get “here you go” soon as I bring something back Same point gets buried if it lands from my mouth Then three days later you say it like you figured it out That's the shit Want love when it's easy Want me when it's good Want somebody solid when your whole week goes left Then I need something watch how quick shit shifts Now I'm “too much” 'cause I finally expect what I give Shoes by the door keys in the bowl Dinner got cold while you sat on your phone Then bedtime comes and you reach like we're good So what got fixed if we skipped what you did? And don't come touch me now fuck all that fake shit You don't get close just to dodge what I'm saying You want the comfort without doing the changing Then call it “love” Nah Call it what the fuck it is [Chorus] R-E S-P E-C T Me S-T E-P U-P Step up R-E S-P E-C T Me O-W N U-P Own up [Verse 3 | rolling pocket | builds into faster delivery] Boyfriend Husband Whatever we call it Different title same weight when you're carrying all of it Bad day? I hear every word that you give My bad day? Somehow I'm starting some shit Argument? Now everything's my fault My tone My face My timing My mouth That's different I've seen what “sorry” looks like when somebody means it enough to stop doing the same damn thing Seen what five minutes turns into when nobody wants to say, “Yeah, that one was on me” So don't check the clock and tell me “not right now” You had all damn day to figure that out I used to swallow that shit just to keep us from fighting Now every little “leave it alone” gets answered right when you say it Need me calm? Step up Need my trust? Own up Need me to keep showing up while you act like showing up's enough? Step up Need the love the patience the loyalty the room? Step up You want all that shit but don't wanna give what it takes? Then quit asking me to carry this motherfucker for two [Chorus | biggest | stacked doubles] R-E S-P E-C T Me S-T E-P U-P Step up R-E S-P E-C T Me O-W N U-P Own up [Outro | 808 only] You know what I gave. Respect me. [Hard stop]
