Hoodbound Hero

Yeah

You look at me and think you know the story

But the block don't care what color you are

It's just the bricks

Pale skin running through the alleyway shortcuts Avoid the corner where the

older kids would always strut

Same asphalt tearing up my worn-out shoes Same sirens singing out the

neighborhood blues Learned to talk fast just to keep the peace

No heat in the winter,

waiting for lease They see a contradiction when I walk on by

But we all look the same under a heavy grey sky

These streets raised me,

these blocks made me

Through the cold concrete where the shadows try to fade me

Different look, same story from the ground

Just another kid trying to survive the sound

Four walls closing in,

mold on the ceiling But the porch lights glowing gave a different

kind of feeling Shared meals,

hand-me-downs, learning how to fight Spitting bars on the steps until the

middle of the night Yeah they call me outsider till they hear

me speak I know every cracked pavement,

every rusted-out squeak It's a heavy-duty life but the roots run deep

This is the only promise that I'm trying to keep

These streets raised me,

these blocks made me

Through the cold concrete where the shadows try to fade me

Different look, same story from the ground

Just another kid trying to survive the sound

Yeah,

just the bricks

It doesn't matter what you look like when you're in it

We're all just trying to get out

Peace