From Food Stamps to First Class

[Intro]
Cabin cold
Fridge empty
Heart heavy
Now look
[Verse 1]
Used to split one plate, three forks on it
Mama add water, stretch stew, put hope on it
Government card at the store, had to load on it
I learned math counting change, had to grow from it
Hand-me-down coat, zipper stuck, I’d freeze
Bus pass short, walked miles in these busted jeans
Laughed at in class, shoes talking when I’d leave
But I talked back in my head, said “it’s on me”
Late nights, floor bed, same prayer, same plea
If you give me one shot, I’ma break this leash
Turn pain to a plan, turn plan to a key
Turn key to a gate, let the fam walk free (yeah)
[Chorus]
From food stamps to first class
From late rent to real cash
From one pair of shoes to a full rack
I ain’t going back, I ain’t going back
From cold nights to warm glass
Toast up to the ones who said “you’ll never last”
Every closed door now a flashback
I ain’t going back, I ain’t going back (nah)
[Verse 2]
First job paid less than the bus I took
Clocked in, clocked out, then I’d write that book
Every bar that I bled came from real-life looks
From the shut-off notice to the landlord’s hooks
Learned hustle from my mama, she a quiet storm
Stitched tears in her face, kept the family warm
Told me, “baby, let your scars be your uniform
They gon’ know where you from when you hit that stage floor”
So I stacked each check, cut wants, fed needs
Turned “I can’t” into “watch me, you’ll see”
Put faith in my grind, put grind in my sleep
Now the boy from the bottom runs his own whole team (let’s go)
[Chorus]
From food stamps to first class
From late rent to real cash
From one pair of shoes to a full rack
I ain’t going back, I ain’t going back
From cold nights to warm glass
Toast up to the ones who said “you’ll never last”
Every closed door now a flashback
I ain’t going back, I ain’t going back (never)
[Bridge]
This for every kid counting pennies in a jar (yeah)
Every quiet dream screaming, “take it past the yard”
Keep your head up when they laugh at your scars
Your story ain’t cheap, it’s just waiting to be starred
[Chorus]
From food stamps to first class
From late rent to real cash
From one pair of shoes to a full rack
I ain’t going back, I ain’t going back
From cold nights to warm glass
Toast up to the ones who said “you’ll never last”
Every closed door now a flashback
I ain’t going back, I ain’t going back (no way)

rap, Triumphant East Coast-meets-trap bounce, male vocals; gritty piano loop over hard-hitting drums and deep bass, verses tight and story-driven, hook opens wider with layered ad-libs and distant gospel-style hums; second half adds subtle strings and heavier 808 glide to lift the victory lap energy while keeping it raw and personal