No Handouts

[INTRO — low, calm] They didn’t hand me nothing. So I built it. Every dollar. Every scar. Every lesson. [VERSE 1] I came up with a dream and a pocket full of lint, now the same ones talking shit wanna know where I been. I don’t flex for the camera, I remember being broke, had to turn the pressure into diamonds from the smoke. Mama said, “Keep your word.” My brothers said, “Don’t fold.” That’s the kind of shit that turns a young boy into gold. I don’t need a room full of people screaming my name, I’d rather have my day-ones eating good when I make it out the game. [PRE-CHORUS] I learned money ain’t the power— it’s what you do when you get it. A man ain’t what he owns… It’s everything he protects with it. [CHORUS — huge melodic] I WANT THE MONEY! I WANT THE POWER! I WANT THE WHOLE WORLD TO KNOW WE MADE IT OUT! NO HANDOUTS! NO SAVIORS! BUILT THIS SHIT FROM THE GROUND UP WITH MY BROTHERS BESIDE US! IF I FALL, WE FALL TOGETHER. IF I WIN, WE EAT FOREVER. [VERSE 2] New suit, old soul, still remember that room, where the ceiling had a leak and the rent came too soon. Now it’s high-rise views, but I’m thinking about the crew, ‘cause what’s the point of having everything if nobody came with you? I don’t chase validation, I chase freedom instead. Put my family in position, put some peace in their heads. They see the watch, see the car, never saw the nights. Never saw me questioning myself under those bathroom lights. [PRE-CHORUS] Now the pressure made me colder, but it never made me weak. I learned to keep my mouth shut and let the numbers speak. [CHORUS] I WANT THE MONEY! I WANT THE POWER! I WANT THE WHOLE WORLD TO KNOW WE MADE IT OUT! NO HANDOUTS! NO SAVIORS! BUILT THIS SHIT FROM THE GROUND UP WITH MY BROTHERS BESIDE US! IF I FALL, WE FALL TOGETHER. IF I WIN, WE EAT FOREVER. [BRIDGE — stripped-down / emotional] I don’t need a crown. I don’t need applause. I just wanna look my father in the eyes and know I gave him something he never had. That’s power. Not the money. [FINAL CHORUS — explosive] I WANT THE MONEY! I WANT THE POWER! I WANT THE WHOLE WORLD TO KNOW WE MADE IT OUT! NO HANDOUTS! NO SAVIORS! BUILT THIS SHIT FROM THE GROUND UP WITH MY BROTHERS BESIDE US! WE WERE NOTHING TO THEM— NOW WE’RE EVERYTHING. [OUTRO — low voice] Money can buy the house. Power can open the door. But character decides who you become when you walk through it.