Work For My Name

[Verse 1]
Alarm hums, I’m heavy as stone
Phone glow, bills stacked in my phone
Clock says move, but my bones say "wait"
Got fear in my chest and excuses on my plate
Then I look at that crib
Tiny socks on the floor
Little fist in a dream
He don’t know he’s the reason I’m sore
Wife’s eyes got a shadow now
She been carrying more than our boy
She believed every promise I made
I refuse to turn faith into void
[Chorus]
I gotta work for my name
Work for my ring, my blood, my flame
Even when my back’s to the wall, I stay
I can’t fail them, I can’t fade
(I can’t fade, no way)
I gotta push through the pain
Push through the doubt, the drag, the strain
Every time I’m close to walking away
I see my son, and I stay
(yeah, I stay)
[Verse 2]
Used to grind for applause
Now I grind for a laugh from my kid
Used to chase some strangers’ respect
Now I chase that first "Daddy, you did"
Every setback, that’s fuel
Every "later" turns into "now"
Every time that I slip, I get up
‘Cause he’ll learn how to lose from me somehow
If I quit, what’s he gonna copy?
If I fold, what’s home gonna feel?
I’d rather crawl through the fire today
Than teach him that comfort is real
So I lace up when it’s dark
Say a prayer at the sink
Kiss her head, whisper "I’m here"
Then I clock in closer to the brink
[Chorus]
I gotta work for my name
Work for my ring, my blood, my flame
Even when my back’s to the wall, I stay
I can’t fail them, I can’t fade
(I can’t fade, no way)
I gotta push through the pain
Push through the doubt, the drag, the strain
Every time I’m close to walking away
I see my son, and I stay
(yeah, I stay)
[Bridge]
One day he’ll ask, "Were you scared?"
I’ll say, "Every night
But I fought through the fear
‘Cause you were in my sight"
When my legs feel weak
When my will feels thin
I remember that door
I remember who’s within (yeah)
[Chorus]
I gotta work for my name
Work for my ring, my blood, my flame
Even when my back’s to the wall, I stay
I can’t fail them, I can’t fade
(I can’t fade, I rise)
I gotta push through the pain
Push through the doubt, the drag, the strain
Every time I’m close to walking away
I hear my boy in my brain
So I stand up, and I stay
(yeah, I stay, I stay)

rap, Gritty, mid-tempo boom-bap with warm low-end and dusty piano loop; male vocals up front. Verses tight and confessional, riding a head-nod pocket. Choruses widen with subtle choir-style harmonies and airy pads, kick hitting harder as the hook lands. Final chorus adds extra ad-libs and stacked vocals for a cathartic lift., male vocals, motivating