About the song
A story for this song hasn’t been added yet.
Words from the artist’s archive
We Outside lyrics
Artist-supplied lyric sheet, matched by title. The sheet may differ from this released performance. Production notes and alternate promotional cuts are omitted.
Read the lyric sheet
Intro
Sedgwick Ave where the real ones posted Herc on the decks, whole block loaded Cracked the hydrant, water gushin' gold They boxed us in the projects, we broke the mold
Verse 1
Cindy threw the function, quarter got you through the door Rec room twenty-five dollars, now we legendary folklore Cross Bronx Expressway couldn't break what we built Crack epidemic came through, we ain't never wilt Flash on the wheels scratchin' through the pain Bambaataa brought the peace when the streets brought rain Mama stretched the food stamps, feast for fifteen Cousins packed in one room, still lived like kings OGs on the corner breakin' down the game This the blueprint, this the culture, remember the name
Pre-chorus
How you livin'? We grindin', we here though Started with the block and a stereo Roses from the concrete, straight from the ghetto Every scar tell a story the world should know
Chorus
We outside! Posted on the block, we outside We outside! Fifty years deep, still alive We outside! From the struggle came the fire inside We outside! Hood love, street pride
Verse 2
Summer in the hood, ain't no AC in the building Fire escape vibin', whole block just chillin' Ice cream truck came but we broke, we skippin' Mama made the Kool-Aid ice, that's sufficient Spades on the table, old heads talkin' slick "Who made the potato salad?" Auntie side-eye quick Ribs on the grill, charcoal blackenin' the meat Before I Let Go playin', everybody on they feet This the only therapy we need, no retreat
Pre-chorus
Stay up, be easy, that's the code we speak Fam over everything, ride or die every week From the bottom to the top, never lookin' weak Every setback set up for the comeback peak
Chorus
We outside! Posted on the block, we outside We outside! Fifty years deep, still alive We outside! From the struggle came the fire inside We outside! Hood love, street pride
Bridge
Bronx to Kingston, Notting Hill to Lagos state Diaspora connected, culture circulate Shabba to Burna Boy, lineage is straight Turn the pain to a party, that's how we operate
Verse 3
Section 8 housing, roaches in the wall, survived it Food stamps and government cheese, we thrived in it Pops wasn't around but the block fathers provided Every lesson hard, but we guided Puttin' on for every kid who felt divided Streets and dreams, both paths collided Pac said Changes, Kendrick said alright Public Enemy said Fight the Power through the night Every project where they cut the lights Every mama workin' doubles makin' it tight Every corner store that gave us credit right Every block party reminded us of our might
Pre-chorus
Life of the party when they say we shouldn't dance Celebratin' in the struggle, this our only chance Concrete jungle, watch the flowers advance Hood love forever, this our inheritance
Chorus
We outside! Posted on the block, we outside We outside! Fifty years deep, still alive We outside! From the struggle came the fire inside We outside! Hood love, street pride
Bridge
For the ones we lost to the system and streets For the ones still holdin', never taste defeat For the babies in the hydrant summer heat For the elders on the stoop who made us complete
Chorus
(Double chorus, maximum energy, layered ad-libs) We outside! Posted on the block, we outside We outside! Fifty years deep, still alive We outside! From the struggle came the fire inside We outside! Hood love, street pride
Outro
Sedgwick to every block they counted out Turned struggle to a story worth shoutin' about Projects to the globe, hear us shout Fifty years forever—we outside, no doubt
Inside the recording
Sedgwick Ave where the real ones posted Herc on the decks, whole block loaded
How you livin'? We grindin', we here though Started with the block and a stereo
Sedgwick to every block they counted out Turned struggle to a story worth shoutin' about
Excerpts from artist-supplied lyric files matched by title. Lyric sheets may differ from the released performance.