Rap\

[Intro – soft soul piano loop, faint vinyl crackle] Lanterns flicker down the block Old stories start to talk [Verse 1 – steady bassline, crisp snare, piano riff] I grew up where the fire escapes creak and moan Cracked sidewalks where the old heads used to roam Mama’s radio spittin’ soul through the wall Scuffed-up sneakers, pockets thin but heart tall Learned to read the signs in the neon glow Every shadow’s got a story, every corner’s got a show Hustle in my bones, inked up on my skin Ain’t no shortcut to the place I’m tryin’ to win [Chorus – layered backing vocals, swelling piano] Street lantern glow, paintin’ gold on the concrete Every scar I got’s a page in my own street poetry No crown on my head, but I own every step Lantern light guide me, keep my soul in check [Verse 2 – muted trumpet ad-lib, tighter snare] Used to count change for a slice at the corner shop Watch the rain wash the graffiti off the stop Sign Old man Joe used to say “son, keep your eyes wide” World’s a chessboard, don’t you let the pawns decide I wrote rhymes on napkins in the back of the bus Dreamed of stages where the whole crowd’d hush Now I’m spittin’ truth where the speakers hum loud Ain’t forgot where I came from, keep my feet on the ground [Chorus – soulful vocal harmonies, elevated bassline] Street lantern glow, paintin’ gold on the concrete Every scar I got’s a page in my own street poetry No crown on my head, but I own every step Lantern light guide me, keep my soul in check [Bridge – stripped-back piano, sparse kick drum] They said I’d fade like the dusk in the west But I burn bright, pass the test Lantern light’s my compass, my only guide Through the dark, I keep my pride [Solo – gritty saxophone solo, warm reverb] (Instrumental Solo) [Chorus – full band, maximum energy, crowd ad-libs] Street lantern glow, paintin’ gold on the concrete Every scar I got’s a page in my own street poetry No crown on my head, but I own every step Lantern light guide me, keep my soul in check [Outro – fading piano, soft vinyl crackle] Lanterns flicker down the block My story’s just startin’ to talk