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NAY Nay

Everybody had that one dude in the neighborhood… Ours was Nay Nay Yep, that bully Nay Nay Better watch what you say-say Or he pull up where you play-play Beat your ass on the playground, broad day Been hidin’ out since last Friday Mama askin’ why I act shy-way Whole block knew he moved sideways Lord, don’t let Nay Nay come my way Bookbag sittin’ by the screen door Bike in the yard from the night before Summer heat, corner store Tryna get a pickle and a quarter pour Then I heard them footsteps on the gravel Whole chest tight, nerves unravel My Nanny peeked through the blinds Said, “That lil’ devil outside again, child” Same black hoodie, same beat-up shoes Same attitude like he got somethin’ to prove Came through swingin’ like the day before Left me laid out by the neighbor porch Everybody watched but nobody spoke Kids start laughin’, swear it felt like jokes Went home dusty, lip all swole Pops said, “Boy, better learn control” Yep, that bully Nay Nay Better watch what you say-say Or he pull up where you play-play Beat your ass on the playground, broad day Been hidin’ out since last Friday Mama askin’ why I act shy-way Whole block knew he moved sideways Lord, don’t let Nay Nay come my way My Nanny said it was him next door Came over cursin' me like before Time to settle up the score Receipts, my boy — corner store Tabs on tabs that his daddy owed Cheap liquor smell through the screen door closed Ashtray full, TV loud Whole family fightin’ every night out loud Guess pain make pain, that’s how it spread Young boys learn what they seen instead He wasn’t evil, just angry as hell Neighborhood stories nobody tell Still, I hated when he called my name Heart start racin’ every single day Walk long routes just to feel safe Seen him once and I changed my way Now we grown and the block look small Ain’t nobody creapin' up behind them walls Funny how time turn fear to smoke Now we laugh about pain through jokes Saw Nay Nay at the gas station Face worn down by hard livin’ He looked tired, I looked back Both grown men from the same damn trap He said, “Man, I was wild back then” I said, “Yeah, you almost split my chin” Then we laughed for a little while Like old scars faded out with miles But some nights I still remember Hot-ass July and cold Decembers Duckin’ corners, movin’ cautious Neighborhood rules turn boys heartless Now my little nephew play outside And I pray he never gotta hide From some hurt kid with a bad home life Turnin’ playground games into real-life fights Yep, that bully Nay Nay Whole hood knew not to play-play One wrong word on a play day Had you missin’ outside till Monday Been hidin’ out since last Friday Now it’s just memories fade-fade Still hear echoes from the old days Lord… protect the kids in the hallways. Yeah… that bully Nay Nay Nay Nay… Nay Nay… That bully Nay Nay… Mm-mm… that bully Nay Nay… Mm-mm… that bully Nay Nay…