This song was released in conjunction with PBS documentary “American Masters” starring Anik Khan and his journey to become a U.S. citizen.
[Intro]
Denied, I'm falling behind
I wanna inspire, but they will not let me fly
Denied, they tore up my design
All of my life been in denial, brown or black, black or brown
[Verse 1]
Damn, way too black for brown, way too brown for black
Super facts, how you bring your parents' village to the trap?
Super facts, how you travel with your borough on your back?
Who is that? Mr. Hennessy and hookah, mix and match
Get the strap, check the stats, I was bullied, now I blast
This for everyone who's teachers couldn't say they name in class
Not too left, not too right, right in the middle of the pack
All of my life and all of them nights that I was haunted by my past, tell 'em
[Refrain]
Out of my fucking way, we don't do runaways
Hit the gas, don't hit the brakes, if you ride, we gon' mob through the gates
And pull up inside, baby
'Cause we will not be denied, baby
[Chorus]
Denied, I'm falling behind
I wanna inspire, but they will not let me fly
Denied, they tore up my design
All of my life been in denial, brown or black, black or brown (Okay, okay)
Denied, my visa expired (Ah-ah, ah-ah)
We pull up inside like I need my shit tonight
Denied, let me go, let me ride
Make this bread, watch it rise all the way across the pond (Yeah, yeah)
[Verse 2]
Missing all this money, they won't let me leave y'all
Ayy, baby let's get married, I'ma need a green card
You know this country, you know how they intervene
How you separate these children from they parents with a dream?
Super facts, all I wanna do is rap, lemme go get my bags
We gonna stack, gotta get racks on racks, give it right, give it right back
Super facts, who this kid with collard greens, curry chicken?
Put the money in my hands, bridge the gap, break the system (Let's go, yerr)
[Refrain]
Out of my fucking way (Yerr), we don't do runaways
Hit the gas, don't hit the brakes, if we ride, we gon' mob through the gates
And pull up inside, baby
'Cause we will not be denied, baby (We will not be denied, yeah, yeah)
[Bridge]
Out of my fucking way, I don't got time today
Hit the gas, don't hit the brakes, if we ride, we gon' mob through the gates
And pull up inside, baby
'Cause we will not be denied, baby (We will not be denied)
[Chorus]
Denied, I'm falling behind
I wanna inspire, but they will not let me fly
Denied, they tore up my design
All of my life been in denial, brown or black, black or brown (Okay, okay)
Denied, my visa expired (Ah-ah, ah-ah)
We pull up inside like I need my shit tonight
Denied, let me go, let me ride
Make this bread, watch it rise all the way across the pond (Yeah, yeah)