Toting Chrome

I know you're toting chrome
Trigger finger never letting go
Pressure got you blowing strong
Only thing to balance out the lows
Thumb and index by a thread, but you're still holding on
Pick your head up
Long as you've got me, you're not alone
Sit still, no need to be a rolling stone
When you're in my arms, you're home

Like Alicia Keys, I'll be your diary
You've been through many things
That much I can agree
Stick with you through anything, but don't you lie to me
Cause I ain't talking bout college when I say first degree
Just playing, I ain't gon hurt you
Cause the world done did enough
So I just wanna nurture you
Feed your soul
Ease your mind
Cause round the clock, you watch your back
Like that's your 9 to 5
But you ain't worried bout no suckers coming to bust you
It's them red and blue lights and badges that you don't trust
You feel like your life is ashes to ashes
Dust to dust
You're educated, you protest, you vote
Is that still not enough
So when you're out here on your grind, you keep it tucked
Don't wanna end up in a body bag or hand cuffs
Just know when you're down bad and you look up
You'll see me standing by your side
It's the world against us

I know you're toting chrome
Trigger finger never letting go
Pressure got you blowing strong
Only thing to balance out the lows
Thumb and index by a thread, but you're still holding on
Pick your head up
Long as you've got me, you're not alone
Sit still, no need to be a rolling stone
When you're in my arms, you're home

Got five lil' brothers, and I love'em all
Father has an older son locked behind them cell walls
Don't really know him that well
Cause he's been in and out of jail since we was small
But that's my brother, so I hold him down
Come from different seeds, but we're tight like frat
Our mamas and daddies Black, so we was born Black
But ain't nothing wrong with that
No other skin I'd rather be in
Proud of my color, and I'm gon love it
Until I'm no longer breathing
No silver spoon, don't come from luxury
We weather the storm
Can't let nothing trouble me
Got some brothers been hitting licks since they was six
They get up and chase it
Intentions good, just gotta know where to place it
I understand you gotta get to the green
Make your lettuce
Don't ask for permission
It's never are you gonna let us
Daddy while you was in jail
I read and kept all your letters
Hate the way we fell out
Seemed to have misled us
You didn't have your father in your life either
So the decisions that you made, it is what it is
I can't blame ya
Every Black man do me a favor
Be in your kids life
After all, you helped make'em
Yeah
I take this family thing serious
Cause if we don't, it's so easy to
Create a cycle that's so vicious
Our childhood should be rainbows, hugs, and kisses
But the way the system set up,
They're pipelining us from schools to prisons

Black man, Black man
Just know I love you
Been through a bagga tings, but don't you give up
Never say die
Hold your chin up
As a woman, I can only partly understand your struggle
But we're in this together
The things you go and been through
It's no wonder

Why you're toting chrome
Trigger finger never letting go
Pressure got you blowing strong
Only thing to balance out the lows
Thumb and index by a thread, but you're still holding on
Pick your head up
Long as you've got me, you're not alone
Sit still, no need to be a rolling stone
When you're in my arms, you're home

Thumb and index by a thread, but you're still holding on
When you're in my arms, you're home
When you're in my arms, you're home