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  1. Tracks
  2. Wale
  3. The Gifted
  4. Bricks

TRACK

Wale

Bricks

Release date: 25th June 2013

From The Gifted
Spotify
More on Wale

About This Track

Wale examines the economics of the street trade and the absence of legitimate alternatives with unflinching clarity. The track opens with a philosophical question about morality and survival, then moves into Wale's own reckoning: he chose rap over dealing, but watched friends and younger acquaintances take the other path. The song's central metaphor works in two directions at once. A brick of cocaine builds wealth and status in the neighbourhood, but it also builds a kind of trap, turning users into addicts and dealers into targets. For those without education or employment prospects, the choice appears binary and brutal. Lyfe Jennings anchors the chorus with a weary refrain about trying to build something legitimate whilst the streets offer faster returns. Wale's verses stack specific observations: the way young dealers become local celebrities, the way sneaker boxes become a ledger of progress, the way a young person without athletic or artistic talent finds themselves cornered into criminality. The song doesn't moralise or offer solutions. It simply maps the geometry of desperation, the way a single commodity can transform a person's trajectory and a neighbourhood's future.

"Bricks" is a track by Wale, from the album The Gifted, released 25th June 2013. Full lyrics are available below.

About the Artist

Wale

Wale

Lyrics

Bricks

[Intro: Wale]

From a brick to a stone, does a fiend have a soul?

Oh, oh

Does a kid need a goal, if the powder's made of gold?

Oh, oh, oh, oh

[Verse 1: Wale]

Getting blowed

Thinkin' I'm so glad that I can rap 'cause I couldn't move no dope

But I do know, a few niggas that did, and a few niggas that still

And the few niggas that's through, are the few niggas that's dead

So fuck a 9 to 5, they clockin' and tryna survive

Cop a brick and supply 'cause nobody offering jobs

Bricks build, buildings build, houses build neighborhoods

But a brick done turned a nigga to a baller or a dated shirt

Understated to say it hurts, I was optimistic

'Til I seen my youngin' whippin', made me wish that I was flippin'

Fuck this college when niggas out here just dollar pitchin'

'Cause after 4 or 5, you don't got nothing but college tickets

Bricks

[Chorus: Lyfe Jennings & Wale]

Been a minute tryna hold my head and work this out

Tryna work this out

Counting numbers up in my head tryna build this house

Tryna build this house

Mama told me if I make my bed then I gotta lay down

Tryna build this house

But I never seem to keep these words all up out my mouth

It's only one way out

Bricks, it's all them niggas talkin' 'bout

Bricks, it's all them niggas talkin' 'bout

Bricks, it's all them niggas thinkin' 'bout

Little niggas on the scene ain't gotta dream it now

[Verse 2: Wale]

Studio getting blowed

Thinkin' I'm so glad that I can rap 'cause I can't move no dope

But I do know, a few niggas that did, and a few niggas that still

And the few niggas that's through, are the few niggas that's dead

Look, little niggas'll shoot you, they got nothing to say

'Cause local celebrities only 'bout a brick away

Niggas used to whip 'em, he getting those from whippin' yay

And you got no paper, you been so patient, come get some weight

Sneaker boxes, you can see your progress

And you weekend shopping, show people your people poppin'

I can see the problem, you nigga don't lack no conscience

Can't shoot, can't dribble, can't rap, young nigga don't got no options

From a brick to a stone, turned a fiend from a homie

When the powder, turn to power, and the power turn to dough

Turning head with yo whip, is it worth what you did?

If a brick is a brick, through a brick, you can build

From a brick to a stone, make a fiend for a homie

Turn a cheek on a foe, turn a reef to a home

Turn the powder into power, and the power turn to hoes

If a brick is a brick, through a brick, you can grow

Build

[Bridge: Wale]

Bricks, oh, oh, oh, oh

Bricks, oh, oh, oh, oh

Bricks, oh, oh, oh, oh

Bricks, oh, oh, oh, oh

It's only one way out

[Verse 3: Yo Gotti]

9 years old, Feds looking for my moms

10 or 11, held my first gun

First time I heard bricks, I was thinking construction

Until my 'migo plug from México gave me my introduction

Now 16, getting them bricks for the 16

Was unwrapping bricks but now I'm rappin' bricks for 16

I was 17 ridin' in that Lexus on 20's

18 and 19 payin' nothing over 20

And a thousand 8 grams divided by 4 is 252

If you know what that mean, you noticed it now

And if you don't, learn how to divide nigga

I'm talkin' bricks, no jump shots

I'm talking work, no punch clock!

I'm Yo Gotti!

[Chorus: Lyfe Jennings & Wale]

Been a minute tryna hold my head and work this out

Tryna work this out

Counting numbers up in my head tryna build this house

Tryna build this house

Mama told me if I make my bed then I gotta lay down

Tryna build this house

But I never seem to keep these words all up out my mouth

It's only one way out

Bricks, it's all them niggas talkin' 'bout

Bricks, it's all them niggas talkin' 'bout

Bricks, it's all them niggas thinkin' 'bout

Little niggas on the scene ain't gotta dream it now

[Outro: Wale]

From a brick to a stone, from the stone to the shone

If it shone in the hood, then you know that you good

From the powder to the crack, from the crack to the slums

Dealers in the back, to the clappers in the front

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

View full lyrics page →

Track details

From The Gifted

2013
Listen
Album
The Gifted
The Gifted
Wale
Release year
2013
  1. —Golden Salvation (Jesus Piece)
  2. —Gullible
  3. —Heaven’s Afternoon
  4. —LoveHate Thing
  5. —The Curse of the Gifted
  6. —Rotation
  7. —Clappers
  8. —Bricks
  9. —MFS
  10. —One Eye Kitten (Remix)
  11. —Black Heroes / Outro About Nothing
  12. —Sunshine
  13. —Simple Man
  14. —Hella
  15. —Vanity
  16. —Tired of Dreaming
  17. —88

More from Wale

Albums & EPs

Wow... That's Crazy
Wow... That's Crazy
2019
My Love (feat. Major Lazer, WizKid & Dua Lipa) [Remixes] - Single
My Love (feat. Major Lazer, WizKid & Dua Lipa) [Remixes] - Single
2017
SHINE
SHINE
2017
Festivus
Festivus
2014
Folarin
Folarin
2012
Ambition (Deluxe Version)
Ambition (Deluxe Version)
2011

Explore

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  1. Bad Weather
  2. Bellyeverything is a lot.
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  4. Big Headeverything is a lot.
  5. Bird Calling
  6. Blancoeverything is a lot.
  7. CaramelFolarin II
  8. City On Fireeverything is a lot.
  9. Conundrumeverything is a lot.
  10. Corner Bottleseverything is a lot.

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Credits

Production & Engineering

Writer
Cardiak, No Credit, Sam Dew, Wale, Yo Gotti
Producer
Cardiak, No Credit
Additional Recording
Alex Newell
Additional Vocals
Walker “Tre” Johnson
Assistant Mixing Engineer
Jeremiah Olvera
Assistant Recording Engineer
Andrew Robertson, Cody Sciara
Mastering Engineer
Chris Athens
Mixing Engineer
Neal Pogue
Recording Engineer
No Credit
READ MORE ABOUT WALEREAD MORE ABOUT WALE
READ MORE ABOUT WALEREAD MORE ABOUT WALE

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