Free From The Grind

[Verse 1]
Alarm ringin’ before the sun up
Coffee in a to-go cup, keys in the dish
Kiss my babies on they foreheads
Promise ’em I’ll be back, but time’s a snitch
I love buildin’ these bricks, stackin’ this bread
Whole fam eatin’ off the grind I bled
But I’m scrollin’ through the pics on my phone at lunch
See my son ride a bike, I’m missin’ that stunt
[Chorus]
Free from the grind, at least in my mind
Clocked in body, but my heart back home every time
I love what it gives, but I hate what it takes
Chasin’ all these wins while I’m losin’ on the breaks
Free from the grind, that’s the dream I chase
Arms ’round my kids, my wife, that face
If the money ain’t buyin’ me time to unwind
Then I’m locked in a cage made of my own grind (yeah)
[Verse 2]
East Coast air through a cracked window
Traffic hummin’, but my thoughts run slow
Thinkin’ ’bout board games spread on the floor
Laugh lines deep, not the bags I wore
I respect every dollar that I drag in
Rent paid, fridge full, lights stayin’
But birthdays blurred in a haze of shifts
Another missed dance, another “what if”
[Chorus]
Free from the grind, at least in my mind
Clocked in body, but my heart back home every time
I love what it gives, but I hate what it takes
Chasin’ all these wins while I’m losin’ on the breaks
Free from the grind, that’s the dream I chase
Arms ’round my kids, my wife, that face
If the money ain’t buyin’ me time to unwind
Then I’m locked in a cage made of my own grind
[Bridge]
I ain’t knockin’ the hustle, I’m just changin’ the aim (uh)
Can’t keep tradin’ all my memories for a name
Need more Sundays, less “maybe next time”
More little handprints, less overtime (yeah)
[Chorus]
Free from the grind, at least in my mind
Clocked in body, but my heart back home every time
I love what it gives, but I hate what it takes
Chasin’ all these wins while I’m losin’ on the breaks
Free from the grind, I’ma re-write the plan
Same hard work, but I’m holdin’ they hands
If the money ain’t buyin’ me more of that shine
Then I’m breakin’ these chains, gettin’ free from the grind (free)

rap, Laid-back East Coast hip-hop with male vocals; warm Rhodes keys over a dusty boom-bap groove, soft vinyl crackle, and a mellow bassline. Verses ride in a conversational pocket, intimate and reflective, with subtle backing ad-libs. Hook opens up with layered harmonies and a brighter chord lift, lightly filtered drums in the bridge for a head-nod moment before the final chorus swells back in.