What “Thug” Used To Mean

rap, Moody, cinematic boom-bap with warm vinyl crackle; male and female vocals trading lines and overlapping on the hook, Verses sit over dark piano stabs and deep, round bass; chorus blooms with stacked harmonies, airy pads, and subtle strings, Snare hits stay crisp and close, leaving space for confessional storytelling and tender duet call-and-response, heartfelt, female vocals, gangster rap, male vocals

V4.5-ALL

[Intro]
Yeah
Back when that word meant somethin'
(not just tough talk)
Listen

[Verse 1]
I wasn’t tryna be a monster
I was tryna be a shield
Bandana in my pocket
But my heart was in the field
Walkin’ home my little brother
Kept him always on my right
If I called myself a thug
It meant I’d walk him through the night

Dirty hoodie, empty stomach
Still I split the last few fries
“Eat first, lil man
I’m good,” I lied
To me that word was armor
Promise carved in concrete
If I said I was a thug
I meant I’d die before you bleed

[Chorus]
When I said “thug,” I meant trust
Meant I’d stand there and take that punch
Meant hold you down when the world gave up
That was love, that was us
You heard “thug,” you heard fear
I meant “I got you, I’m right here”
Every scar, every cracked front tooth
Was how I spelled out the truth

[Verse 2]
She was ridin’ on the back pegs
Books heavy, eyes tired
She said, “Mama think you trouble
Guess she see the way you’re wired”
I just smiled, pulled her closer
Zipped her hoodie in the cold
If I called myself a thug
That meant I’d never let you fold

[Female vocals]
You walked me past all the whispers
Never once let go my hand
They saw chains, I saw a safe place
You were just tryna be a man
You gave your coat, kept shiverin’
Said, “I’m good,” teeth chattered blue
If you called yourself a thug
I knew that meant I could trust you

[Chorus]
When you said “thug,” you meant trust
Meant you’d stand there and take that punch
Meant hold me close when the world gave up
That was love, that was us
They heard “thug,” they heard fear
I heard “baby, I’m right here”
Every bruise, every night you came through
Was how you spelled out the truth

[Bridge]
[Beat drops softer, vocal harmonies swell]
[Male vocals]
Maybe I was foolish, wearin’ pain like pride
But I meant every vow that I swore outside
[Female vocals]
They can twist that word, try to paint you mean
But I know what you were and what that word used to mean
[Both]
It meant “call me any hour”
It meant “lean on me, I’ll bend”
It meant “I’m rough around the edges”
But I’m loyal to the end (to the end)

[Chorus]
When I say “thug,” I mean trust
Mean I’ll stand here and take that punch
Mean hold you up when the world gives up
That’s my word, that’s our love
Let ‘em talk, let ‘em sneer
We both know what’s real right here
Every scar that they point at in proof
Is just the map to my truth

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[Intro] Yeah Back when that word meant somethin' (not just tough talk) Listen [Verse 1] I wasn’t tryna be a monster I was tryna be a shield Bandana in my pocket But my heart was in the field Walkin’ home my little brother Kept him always on my right If I called myself a thug It meant I’d walk him through the night Dirty hoodie, empty stomach Still I split the last few fries “Eat first, lil man I’m good,” I lied To me that word was armor Promise carved in concrete If I said I was a thug I meant I’d die before you bleed [Chorus] When I said “thug,” I meant trust Meant I’d stand there and take that punch Meant hold you down when the world gave up That was love, that was us You heard “thug,” you heard fear I meant “I got you, I’m right here” Every scar, every cracked front tooth Was how I spelled out the truth [Verse 2] She was ridin’ on the back pegs Books heavy, eyes tired She said, “Mama think you trouble Guess she see the way you’re wired” I just smiled, pulled her closer Zipped her hoodie in the cold If I called myself a thug That meant I’d never let you fold [Female vocals] You walked me past all the whispers Never once let go my hand They saw chains, I saw a safe place You were just tryna be a man You gave your coat, kept shiverin’ Said, “I’m good,” teeth chattered blue If you called yourself a thug I knew that meant I could trust you [Chorus] When you said “thug,” you meant trust Meant you’d stand there and take that punch Meant hold me close when the world gave up That was love, that was us They heard “thug,” they heard fear I heard “baby, I’m right here” Every bruise, every night you came through Was how you spelled out the truth [Bridge] [Beat drops softer, vocal harmonies swell] [Male vocals] Maybe I was foolish, wearin’ pain like pride But I meant every vow that I swore outside [Female vocals] They can twist that word, try to paint you mean But I know what you were and what that word used to mean [Both] It meant “call me any hour” It meant “lean on me, I’ll bend” It meant “I’m rough around the edges” But I’m loyal to the end (to the end) [Chorus] When I say “thug,” I mean trust Mean I’ll stand here and take that punch Mean hold you up when the world gives up That’s my word, that’s our love Let ‘em talk, let ‘em sneer We both know what’s real right here Every scar that they point at in proof Is just the map to my truth

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