[Intro] Yeah I had to bleed for this Had to lose some people To find me [Verse 1] Mama said "boy, you hardened" I said "nah, I’m just guarded" Same house, but we starvin’ Had rage, had to carve it Out my chest on the carpet Late nights in the dark, man Talkin’ back to my own thoughts Like "who really got me? Be honest" Slept on floors, cold tiles Shared one plate, four mouths All that pride, no smiles Still said grace out loud Fake love tried to drown me Real ones, yeah, they found me If you ain’t there when it’s cloudy Don’t come ‘round when I’m cloudy with the jewelry (nah) [Chorus] Every scar on my heart turned to muscle Every loss that I took made me hustle I been walking through the flame, through the smoke (through the smoke, yeah) If it don’t break me, then I know (Pain = growth) All this weight on my back made me stronger Every tear that I shed took me farther I been learning how to bend, not to fold (not to fold, yeah) If it don’t break me, then I know Pain = growth [Verse 2] I seen day-ones switch sides For a quick shine, sick pride Had love, but it hitchhiked Left me there on the thin ice You ever stare at your phone, like "If you my dog, then call" Real life turned group chat Everybody brave online, that’s all Therapy in the driver’s seat Talk to God at the traffic light "Why you keep puttin’ this on me?" He said "’cause I know you’ll fight" So I fight for my lil sis Fight for my name, my kids Fight all that shame I hid Turn that hurt to the flame I live, yeah [Chorus] Every scar on my heart turned to muscle Every loss that I took made me hustle I been walking through the flame, through the smoke (through the smoke, yeah) If it don’t break me, then I know (Pain = growth) All this weight on my back made me stronger Every tear that I shed took me farther I been learning how to bend, not to fold (not to fold, yeah) If it don’t break me, then I know Pain = growth [Bridge] Who gon’ ride when the tank on E? When you broke, when you broke, who you see? I had to be loyal to me ’Cause I die if I lie just to please I turned my cries to a creed My darkest nights to belief Now every wound that I bleed Is just a root for the tree [Chorus] Every scar on my heart turned to muscle Every loss that I took made me hustle I been walking through the flame, through the smoke (through the smoke, yeah) If it don’t break me, then I know (Pain = growth) All this weight on my back made me stronger Every tear that I shed took me farther I been learning how to bend, not to fold (not to fold, yeah) If it don’t break me, then I know Pain = growth

rap, Moody, minor-key piano loop over heavy, distorted bass and tight, knocking drums; male vocals with melodic-rap delivery, verses close-mic and raw, hook opens with stacked soulful harmonies and airy pads. Subtle vinyl grit, occasional reverse FX into sections, drums pull back under key emotional lines then slam back in for maximum impact., deep, hip-hop, emotional, soulful, raw

Pain = Growth