(Intro - Heavy boom-bap beat, vinyl crackle, melancholic piano loop)
(Spoken)
Stepped off the train, but the air feels different now.
The street's still here, but the heart of it is gone.
This one’s for you, Mama. Rest in peace.
(Verse 1)
I stepped off the train, the atmosphere is feeling heavy and cold
Staring at the houses, the tags, the stories left untold
Last time I felt your touch, I found a peace I couldn’t name
Now I’m walking through the Grove, my eyes burning with the shame
They say time heals everything, but here time just stood still
The night they opened fire, they left a void they couldn't fill
I should've been there, blocking bullets, taking all the heat
Instead, I was out running, losing my soul on a lonely street.
(Chorus)
Mama, the stars don't shine as bright above the block tonight
I’m climbing to the top, but I’m losing all my inner light
It’s for you I’m fighting, so your name don't fade away
In this world of violence, your memory’s the price I pay
Grove Street lost its queen, now I’m stuck playing this part
Carrying the weight of the family, with your ghost inside my heart.
(Verse 2)
I still remember your kitchen, the smell of food upon the stove
Back before the streets turned into a dark and twisted cove
Sweet is acting tough, Kendl’s trying to find a way to fly
But every time I look around, I feel the need to cry
I picked up the iron, I made some choices that were black and blue
But every time I pull the trigger, I’m just looking back at you
I’m gonna bring the honor back, I’m gonna make this legacy grow
Even if I lose it all, it’s the only path I know.
(Outro)
(Beat fading out)
Yeah.
I’m gonna make sure they never forget your name.
From the concrete of the Grove, all the way to the sky.
Rest easy, Mama.
CJ.
