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