Lyrics

VERSE 1
Late night in the library, downing a Red Bull
Like any other rebel, I'm refusing to settle
Primary mission is to make it out the hood
And my binary vision kept me focused on the good
Say what you will about the will to survive
But determination thrived when there was no other option
Born on the outside, I forced my adoption
Couldn't make you see me if you were never watching
The awards, trophies, all the tales and the praise
Mean nothing to me if it fails to get the raise
Guess strange fruit must be growing out the root
If I'm showing you a pedigree just so you don't shoot
Obscenity was written with a N on my chest
And tonight there's no girlfriend, gotta nail the test
Baby you go ahead and I'll catch up
Maybe it's after I'm dead that I'll act up

CHORUS
Tell me you can be somebody
Tell me you could be the best
Tell me you would skip the party if it meant you'd find success
You don't wanna ask nobody to tell you about how it feels
You better keep up the drive and keep the focus on the wheel

VERSE 2
Suppose nature always guided to a balance
This son rose for a mother denied use of her talent
Cause she challenged paradigms that used to be
As a secretary in the 1970s
Back when no one really thought she'd succeed
She got a degree though her father couldn't read
Each would bleed, hoping the next would never have to
She told me, "Run, don't let history catch you"
"Misery breaks legs, she's looking to trap you"
"What you think could be ink that leaves the world tattooed"
"And gratitude may not be something to get"
"But if you get anything, let it be respect"
"And if you want anything, better risk your neck"
"Cause for you doing anything won't be by request"
"I invested in you so you could be a profit"
"Now here's my 2 cents, keep it in your pocket"

CHORUS
Tell me you can be somebody
Tell me you could be the best
Tell me you would skip the party if it meant you'd find success
You don't wanna ask nobody to tell you about how it feels
You better keep up the drive and keep the focus on the wheel

VERSE 3
Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever make it out
Wonder if I'm strong enough to overcome the doubt
I wonder, would you really see me as a menace
If you could look through my prism to start with a different premise
I wonder, how much sacrifice would it take
10,000 hours later and you still don't call me great
I wonder, if success is meant to be a secret
Is it passed down to those who only know how to keep it
Cause I treated college admissions like the NBA draft
First round decision, nothing but A's in math
So I could clear a path from the jungle to the frontier
Rags looking humble, they asked how I was here
No alligators on my shirt or pumas on my feet
Ones branded by their worth were barking that I was weak
But at heart, I was always stronger than I knew
So I'll make it to the promised land but how about you?

CHORUS
Tell me you can be somebody
Tell me you could be the best (the best)
Tell me you would skip the party if it meant you'd find success (success)
You don't wanna ask nobody to tell you about how it feels (how it feels)
You better keep up the drive and keep the focus on the wheel

OUTRO
You've got to keep your focus (Can you keep your focus)
You've got to keep your focus (Keep your focus)
You've got to keep your focus (Can you keep your focus)
Keep your focus on the wheel (Keep your focus on the wheel)
You've got to keep your focus (Can you keep your focus)
You've got to keep your focus (Keep your focus)
You've got to keep your focus (Can you keep your focus)
Keep your focus on the wheel (Keep your focus on the wheel)