[Verse 1] Woke up in the driveway Ball in my hand, frost on the net Mama yelling, "You gon’ miss the bus" I’m yelling back, "I ain’t there yet" Posters peeling off my wall College jerseys, all I saw No birthday calls, no group texts Just suicide sprints and a crooked hoop set Skipped lunch, stayed in the gym Friends hit, "Bro, you changed" I hit decline, laced my kicks Told myself they’d understand when my name Echoed in a packed-out arena Jumbotron on my face Didn’t notice in the bleachers All the empty, angry space [Chorus] I just wanted to win Didn’t care who I lost Put a price on my people Paid ’em all as a cost Had to fall through the floor Just to see what it meant Had to rebuild the court Had to rebuild the man I am I just wanted the crown Didn’t see what it did Now I’m patching the cracks In every place that I hid Had to fall through the floor Just to see what it meant Had to rebuild the court Had to rebuild the man I am (yeah) [Verse 2] Senior year, last second shot Crowd shook like an earthquake Newspaper with my face on it Smile fake, hands shake Phone buzzing from my brother I hit ignore, hit the shower Came out, two missed calls, three texts "Call me back, it’s about our father" He’d been sick, I knew that Never cleared my weekend Told myself, "I’ll visit When I’m done becoming legend" Next week, flowers in a hallway Suit too tight, tie wrong Coach whispered, "You can skip the game" I said, "Coach, I gotta stay strong" (damn) Clock ran down that Friday Crowd roared, rim sang But my mom stood up in the bleachers Face blank, hands just… hang Jersey on, but I felt bare Gold medal like dead weight Looked up at that final score Didn’t add up to this ache [Chorus] I just wanted to win Didn’t care who I lost Put a price on my people Paid ’em all as a cost Had to fall through the floor Just to see what it meant Had to rebuild the court Had to rebuild the man I am I just wanted the crown Didn’t see what it did Now I’m patching the cracks In every place that I hid Had to fall through the floor Just to see what it meant Had to rebuild the court Had to rebuild the man I am (oh) [Verse 3] College dorm, trophies lined Dust thick on every rim Phone dry, group chat silent Whole world small as the gym Therapist said, "What you fear?" I said, "Being second" She said, "Kid, you already losing If you can’t see your own reflection" Called my brother on a Tuesday Voice soft, said, "You eat?" We ain’t talked like that in years He laughed, said, "This new speech?" Pulled up to my mama’s house Kicked off shoes by the door Sat and watched her favorite show Didn’t check the time once, or the score Told my girl, "I’m sorry For choosing crowds over you" She said, "I loved the hustle Till the hustle ran through you" Now I dap my teammates different Look ’em dead in they soul Say "I’m proud of your grind" Not just "Give me the ball" Now I hoop for the joy For the bond, for the sweat If we lose but we grow? That’s the best game I get Character over clout Integrity over stats Win or lose, when the buzzer hits I know I can live with that (yeah) [Chorus] I just wanted to win Didn’t care who I lost Put a price on my people Paid ’em all as a cost Had to fall through the floor Just to see what it meant Had to rebuild the court Had to rebuild the man
