Crown

[Verse 1: Killer Mike] Down with the shame, down with the shame Used to walk traps in the rain with cocaine Used to write raps in the traps as I sat in the rain and I prayed that God give me a lane Give me a lane, give me the fame Give me the fame and I promise to change Won't be the same Won't be the same kind of man that puts cocaine in this lady hand Heard she was pregnant, I'm guilty I reckon 'cause I hear that this shit can hurt baby's brain Heard he was normal 'til three and then he stopped talkin' Since then, ain't nothin' been the same Seen her some years later out in Decatur, told her that I'm sorry for causin' her pain "Causin' me pain? Causin' me pain?" She asked again and she grabbed my right hand Asked am I crazy, said "Look here, baby, I release you from all of your sins and your shame 'Cause I’ve been redeemed, I found in Christ Whatever it take I hope you find it, Mike." The look on her face shown that glory replaced all the shame and the hate and now she wear a crown My late Grandma Bettie had prayed with her heavy and told her to tell me lay my burdens down [Chorus: Killer Mike] Can't pick up no crown Holdin' what's holdin' you down Can't pick up no crown Holdin' what's holdin' you down Can't pick up no crown, can't pick up no crown [Verse 2: El-P & Killer Mike] Down with the shame, down with the shame Carried the flag in some other man's name Loaded my weapon and swore to them vengeance and stepped with aggression right into the fray Into the haze, into the murk Told me to prove to them what I was worth We'll teach you to move without mercy and give you the tools to go after the causers of hurt You'll become death, you will take breath This is for everything you've ever loved Use all the pain that you've felt in your life as the currency, go out and trade it for blood You are not you, you are now us We are the only ones that you can trust You'll become fear, they'll become dust Before this moment, you didn't mean much You are the smoldering vessel of punishment born to do nothing but justify us Give us your empathy, we'll give you lust Let yourself go, my son, time to grow up Give up your childish obsession with questioning Anything we don't tell you is irrelevant Everything you've ever been is replaced by the metal and fire of the weapon you clutch [Chorus: Killer Mike] Can't pick up no crown Holdin' what's holdin' you down Can't pick up no crown Holdin' what's holdin' you down Can't pick up no crown, can't pick up no crown [Outro: Killer Mike] Can't pick up no crown Holdin' what's holdin' you down Can't pick up no crown Holdin' what's holdin' you down Can't pick up no crown Holdin' what's holdin' you down Can't pick up no crown Holdin' what's holdin' you down Can't pick up no crown Holdin' what's holdin' you down