Red Tape City

Walk in the block with a locked-up jaw

Side-eye quick when I pass that corner store

Old scars talk, but my face stay still

Two crews deep and the whole street chill

My phone keep buzzing with a name I hate

Every lost kid got a score to pay

Fresh white tees and the same red stain

Momma look away when the news run names

Heard they outside, heard they circlin' back

Heard that pressure make a hard man crack

I keep my head low, keep my circle tight

'Cause one wrong move and it lights up night

Red tape city, red tape city

(we don't fold) red tape city

Say my name, then say it clearly

(we don't fold) red tape city

Corner by the fence where the broken glass gleam

Everybody here got a half-won dream

Young ones watching with the hands in their hood

Learn fast here, nothing ever comes good

One step, two step, then the tires squeal

Somebody yelling through the chain-link steel

I seen pride turn sour in a single stare

Seen a whole block go from there to nowhere

Heard they outside, heard they circlin' back

Heard that pressure make a hard man crack

I keep my head low, keep my circle tight

'Cause one wrong move and it lights up night

Red tape city, red tape city

(we don't fold) red tape city

Say my name, then say it clearly

(we don't fold) red tape city

If you want peace, then bury that pride

Too many mothers with tears in they eyes

Too many phones with a last missed call

Too many names on a painted wall

Red tape city, red tape city

(we don't fold) red tape city

Say my name, then say it clearly

(we don't fold) red tape city