Concrete Halo

Yeah... this one's for the ones they counted out Westside, stand up Born where the streetlights flicker like they tired of the shift Corner store prophets selling dreams in a gift Teacher said I'd never be nothing but a statistic on a sheet Now I'm writing my own numbers with the rhythm of my feet Mama working doubles, little brother in my shoes Every dollar that I touched had a story and a bruise I ain't asking for permission, I ain't waiting on a sign Took the cracks in the pavement and I made 'em into lines I got a concrete halo, shining through the smog Raised by the sirens, preaching to the dogs Tell 'em I'm still standing when the smoke clear out Concrete halo, that's what I'm about They built the walls high, so I learned how to climb Turned a cell block silence into paragraphs of rhyme Every scar on my knuckles is a page they couldn't read Every no that I swallowed only fed me what I need I see the young ones watching from the porch across the way So I walk a little straighter, let 'em see another way If the system was a fist then I'm the finger pointing up Pour a little for the fallen, then I fill another cup I got a concrete halo, shining through the smog Raised by the sirens, preaching to the dogs Tell 'em I'm still standing when the smoke clear out Concrete halo, that's what I'm about Can't stop, won't stop Westside... still here