Leaders
Common Lyrics

I'm into Chi-Town heroes like Fred Hampton
I admire and respect people from Chicago who fought for justice and made a positive impact, such as Fred Hampton.

And neighborhood Deebos, the rebirth of D. Rose
I also acknowledge and appreciate local heroes who may not have national recognition, as well as the revival of Derrick Rose's basketball career.

The eye of a eagle, I keep on the people
I closely observe the community and stay aware of what's happening to stay informed and ready to act.

Some gettin' repoed, some Niclo
Some people are struggling financially and may lose their possessions, while others may accumulate wealth and success.

Since I was a shorty I had vision like Calico
I've had an ambitious and clear perspective on life since I was young, much like a calico cat's multi-colored vision.

Opportunity knocks, I'm lookin' through the peephole
I stay alert and prepared for chances to better myself and those around me.

In my daughter's laugh, I can hear a deep soul
I cherish the pure and genuine joy that comes from my daughter's laughter, which speaks to her soul's innocence and goodness.

E was my first love, now I'm on the sequel
Ecstasy ('E') was my first love, but now I'm looking for deeper connections and experiences.

Heart stay open, in you I keep gold
I keep an open and loving heart towards those I care for, and value them like precious gold.

Crossroads of beast mode to peace mode
I have the capability to be aggressive and ruthless ('beast mode'), but also strive for a calmer and peaceful state of being.

Southeast cold, Avalon to Eckersall
The Southside of Chicago can be harsh and unforgiving ('cold'), from the Avalon to Eckersall neighborhoods.

Too much on my back for me to set it off
I have too much responsibility and pressure on me to risk acting impulsively or aggressively.

From the offset, I just wanna be, be, be
From the beginning, my goal has been to simply exist and be respected for who I am.

Like Cardi or 'Oncé, or Harry Belafonte
I aspire to be as successful and influential as Cardi B, Beyoncé, or Harry Belafonte.

Whenever I eat, my peeps get the same entrée
I make sure to share my blessings and success with my community, so that we may all benefit and succeed together.

Like they my fiancé
I treat the people I care for as if we are engaged and committed to each other.

It ain't easy, when niggas like, "Feed me"
It can be difficult when people constantly demand and rely on me to provide for them, without giving much in return.

When I ain't got it they don't believe me
People may doubt my hardships and struggles when I'm unable to provide for them.

Read me truth, lead me truth
I seek and value honesty and truth in myself and those around me, as they guide and inform my decisions.

The birth of freedom can't be induced
Freedom must arise naturally and organically, rather than being forced or imposed upon people.

We reproduce, so our fruits can see
We have children and continue life so that they may inherit and experience the benefits and successes of our hard work and progress.

The fruit's a harvest for the world that the mustard seed produced
The achievements and success of our community and people is a tribute to the small beginnings and efforts that eventually grew into something great.

Faith walk my thoughts through yellow tape and chalk
I maintain my faith and positivity, even in times of danger and tragedy (symbolized by yellow police tape and chalk outlines).

Tiger style, gettin' it back on course
I move with agility and strength, like a tiger, as I work to regain my focus and direction in life.

They want us to be in jail
The system and those in power want to see us fail and imprisoned, rather than succeed and thrive.

But you know we'll never fail
Despite their hopes and attempts to bring us down, we will not give up or lose our spirit and determination.

I won't put that on them scales
I won't let my worth or value be measured by their standards or expectations.

And I know we will prevail (will prevail, will prevail)
I have faith and confidence that we will overcome and succeed, no matter the challenges we face.

Man, I'm strugglin', man, I be strugglin' (will prevail, will prevail)
I acknowledge that life can be hard and I often struggle, but I will still come out on top in the end.

'Til somethin' inside tell me to come again
I keep on going and persisting through hard times, until I find the inspiration and strength to continue.

Like when you fuckin' and you get another wind
Similar to finding renewed energy during sex, I find a second wind of motivation and determination in difficult moments.

I'm from the City of Wind, that's another win
Being from Chicago, known as the 'City of Wind', is yet another achievement and point of pride for me.

Take the L, green line, red line, get your paper, headlines
I take public transportation, like the 'L' train in Chicago, to get around and hustle for money and success, as seen in newspapers and media headlines.

Tryna feed your fam, get fed time
When trying to provide for my family, I may risk going to jail or receiving punishment from the law.

It happens, trappin' and rappin' got us backed in
Many people turn to drug dealing or music to make ends meet and escape poverty, but it can lead to dangerous or illegal situations.

To a corner, it's normal for black men
Black men often face limited opportunities and are forced into difficult situations, making it hard to succeed and escape poverty or danger.

The Marcus Garvey, Bob Marley reenactment
I see myself and my community as continuing the legacy of inspirational figures like Marcus Garvey and Bob Marley.

Savion with a beard, yo, I'm tapped in
Similar to tap dancer Savion Glover, who has a beard, I feel connected and 'tapped in' to my community and culture.

Stretch money and make it do a backbend
I work hard to use the money I have to its fullest potential and make it last, making it 'bend' backwards or stretch farther.

Frontin' niggas try to front you on the back end
People who act friendly or supportive may ultimately try to take advantage or hurt you in the end.

Live from the Chi' where guns be clappin'
I represent Chicago, where gun violence is a pressing issue and a frequent occurrence.

Poetic justice, with raps I'm snappin'
Through my music and lyrics, I aim to bring poetic justice to those who have been wronged or hurt.

Meditatin' took Kamasi song, ask him
Listening to jazz musician Kamasi Washington's music helped me find peace and mindfulness in meditation.

Robbin' in Baskin, our heroes ain't masked men
I reference the clown masks worn during robberies, while also acknowledging that our heroes and champions don't have to hide behind masks or secrecy.

When I do it, Com' do it with passion
I do everything with passion and commitment, whether it's music or advocating for my community.

My compassion for brown and black skin
I have a deep sense of care and empathy for people of color, who often face injustice and inequality.

In the hood, I used to backspin
I used to dance and perform 'backspins' in my neighborhood as a young person.

Now I'm spinnin' back in the hood
Now that I have achieved success and recognition, I'm giving back to my community and returning to where I came from.

When I'm back, "Yo, what's good?"
When I return to my neighborhood, I'm greeted with enthusiasm and curiosity by the people who knew me before I became famous.

If you stand up, then that's understood
If you show strength and resilience, it's understood that you won't be pushed around or taken advantage of.

I tell the black sheep, "Don't react to them wolves"
I counsel those who feel like outcasts or 'black sheep' to not engage with those who may hurt or exploit them.

Crib love, our heroes are on murals
In my home and community, we celebrate and honor our heroes through paintings and murals on walls.

So five Euros get told in their earlobe
I pay tribute to those who have passed by speaking to them and keeping their memories alive.

That they can let fear go
I encourage people to let go of their fears and insecurities, and to have faith in their abilities and potential.

Souls clear the way, let these palms pirouette
I envision a world where positive and strong souls guide our future, and where we can move gracefully and confidently forward.

Or pirouette, in the silhouette of blackness and cigarettes
This line continues the idea of moving gracefully through life, but with the addition of the stark and contrasting imagery of darkness and smoking.

I don't support the rights of people because I'm a politician (prevail, prevail)
I don't support human rights or justice just for political gain or to win favor with voters.

I support the rights of people because it's deep within me
I support human rights and justice because it's something I truly believe in and feel strongly about.

A natural part of my own development
Supporting human rights and justice has been a natural part of my growth and maturity as a person.

I am the out roll plan of this father and mother
I am the result of my parents' plans and decisions, but also my own choices and actions.

And the results afforded to my years of struggle
I've worked hard and struggled for years, and the success and progress I've achieved is a testament to that effort.