Bloody Canvas

(album: Hall Of Fame - 2021)

Head's burning, wasn't told
To leave, the world is burning down
Never had no help from anyone (I'm Harry, Harry Potter)

Uh, let me tell you 'bout a young nigga, he was only fourteen
Don't fuck with niggas, he stay social distanced like he quarantined
Went from NBA to touring dreams
And a street legend in between
That's when prayers made him hit his knees
See, he was born Cabrini-era back in '99
On Chicago North Side, where the news reporting live
He can't help but rep his hood, damn near born on his block
And his parents had him young, they ain't really have a lot
Seen his daddy gang banging, one day, he might take his spot
Five years old and he taught him how to aim a Glock, uh
"Use that bitch to protect your family," that's what he told him
A empty clip, he grabbed the gun and practiced what he showed him
And his family hood famous, pop out, everybody know him
And his people stuck for him so he won't let nobody ho him
Uncle's telling street stories, shit intriguing like a poem
Saying shit like he'd put it to they neck if anybody owe him
All through his childhood, he was bad, but innocent
Playing basketball with his homies, running scrimmages
This who he cracked jokes, made a bond, and got suspended with
And when they saw the opps, they fist-fought to settle differences
'Til one day, the opps, they got tired of getting beat up
They big homies gave 'em guns like, "Man, go and light they street up"
They putting hoodies on, all black, loading heat up
Adrenaline pumping, now, they can't wait until they see us
Normal day on the block, it was fun and all smiles
But his best friend Jacob wandered off from the crowd
Took a walk to the store, headphones banging loud
Then his opps bent the corner, he ain't see 'em come around
When he looked up at the car, that's when them shots went, "Baow"
Blood oozing with his back on the ground
Vision blurry, heartbeat slowing down
Blood coming out his mouth, feel like he starting to drown
Tires screeching, last thing he heard was that sound
"Jacob just got shot," that's what a lady screamed
Now everybody out of breath, running to the scene
Seeing Jacob on the floor, that was some shit they couldn't believe
His eyes rolling back, his auntie trying to tell him, "Breathe"
Died 'fore the paramedics came, she crying, "Baby, please"
Ain't even get to graduate 'cause he was only seventeen
Shorty cried all night, wishing that shit was just a dream
'Til that pain turned into anger, time to make a nigga bleed

Fuck, man
This nigga just took my best friend
And I, I can't go for that shit
It got me fucked up

And by the way, his name was Terrence, but they called him Ced
Dark skin, he wore a mean mug with some long dreads
Six-two, he good at hawking niggas down, he got long legs
Now he'll go and kill anybody that he want dead
They heard he caught his first body and that word spread
And he know how quick karma come around, but he wasn't scared
Sacrificed his soul in them streets like Illuminati
Now selling drugs and shooting niggas, them his only hobbies
Big driller now, he the one to call and go and catch a homi'
Got the lo' on the nigga who killed his dawg, he want his second body
A lightskinned heavy-set nigga named Rodney
Say, "He be out the west, off the Xans, moving real sloppy"

Yo, what's the word?
Man, you won't believe who I found out the nigga who killed Jacob
It was the lil' nigga, Rodney
He be hanging out up at the gas station on Pulaski, trying to make some money, nigga always out his mind
Oh, yeah?
Bet, say no more

Ced pulled up to the lo', lights off, it's like one o'clock
Gripping on the silver Smith & Wesson with like thirty shots
He ain't gotta put one in the head, it's already cocked
Rodney got his back turned, he trying to sell his last rock
Ced hopped out the car, he ready to erase
Rodney heard him coming, he gon' run before he let him fade him
It's like a demon in them cousins, eyes red while he chase him
Rodney having some with regrets, now he just hoping God save him
Shots to the leg, hollow tips ate him
Fell to the ground like his shoes, he ain't lace 'em
Ced walked up, stood over him like, "Pussy, this for Jacob"
Gave him four shots to the stomach, then he faced him
Ced running to his car, Rodney bleeding on the pavement
He had untied his hoodie and they seen that on surveillance
Tryna match him to the footage, the police investigating
Plus they had his picture on the wall at the station
A week later, they had came and grabbed him from his mama house
Couldn't afford a lawyer in the county, fighting drama now
Said, "Fuck it, taking it to trial", he ain't copping out
Judge gave him forty-nine years, now that's a lot to count

Now, prosecutors were asking for the judge to lock him up for up to twenty-five years
The judge gave him twenty-eight
Smith had the last word
Again, he was sentenced to twenty-eight years in prison
He has thirty days, Kelly, to appeal that sentence, back to you