Buckets and Blood

{isolated squeak of basketball shoes,

heavy breathing} Yeah... Uh, uh

{minimal

bass thump} Lights off.

Gym empty. Ball bounce.

Let’s hunt. {sub-bass drops}

5am.

Frost on the rim,

I’m already heated Concrete church,

this where my demons get defeated No speaker,

just squeak of the sole and a heartbeat Jump shot religion, I

tithe in three-feats Left hand surgeon,

right hand

demon Handles possessed, got the

defender seein’ Ghosts in the lane,

I don’t care who defend it Float through the paint like I

never intended To land.

Step-back, Lord forgive me for sinnin’ Corner pocket cash,

yeah the net keep grinnin’ Missed my whole life ‘til I made

me a winner Ice water blood,

but the fourth quarter simmer Pressure?

I eat it. Doubt?

I delete it. And-1 on your head,

then I politely seat it Clock say 0.4,

but my faith say eternity Heir to the moment,

born for this certainty Buckets on buckets,

I’m baptized in work Scars on my knees,

but the glory gon’ lurk Fourth quarter monster,

I live for the hurt Gold blood,

mud jersey, still put in the work Buckets on buckets,

I’m baptized in work Scars on my knees,

but the glory gon’ lurk Fourth quarter monster,

I live for the hurt Gold blood,

mud jersey, still put in the work

{dramatic brass swell} Full court vision,

I’m a chess piece with a rocket IQ in the iso,

cook you, then I lock it Hesitate — freeze.

Tuff — goodnight Cross to the weak side,

now your ankles in a gunfight Coach drew the play for a

soldier, not a mascot I don’t want the limelight,

I just want the last shot Bench taught me patience,

now I feast on the starters Turned every “no” into “watch how

I’ll outsmart ya” Double comin’?

Good. I eat when I’m crowded Triple?

Thank you. Legacy clouded In greatness,

not excuses, I’m chosen,

not lucky Every rep was a promise,

every lap got me ugly Cryin’ in the weight room ‘til the

pain said “uncle” Now my jump shot sound like thunder in the

jungle Game on the line,

I don’t pray for the rim I pray for the courage to

become who I’m (who I am) Buckets on buckets,

I’m baptized in work Scars on my knees,

but the glory gon’ lurk Fourth quarter monster,

I live for the hurt Gold blood,

mud jersey, still put in the work Buckets on buckets,

I’m baptized in work Scars on my knees,

but the glory gon’ lurk Fourth quarter monster,

I live for the hurt Gold blood,

mud jersey, still put in the work {drums

drop out, only quiet keys playing} Yeah...

They measured

the height, never measured the heart Tape don’t show the nights tore

me apart Now the ball in the air,

and the world go dark {complete silence for two seconds} Swish {distant

wind chimes} History.

Restart.