About the song
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Words from the artist’s archive
QUIET CHECK 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
Domino slap. Cafecito hiss. Park bench off Seventh, nobody clocked this. Hand stay still but the block already move. Lil' mama ain't know. 'Bout to prove.
Chorus
I saw check 'fore the table got quiet 'Fore her thumb start tremblin', crowd turn riot Watchin' her face, I was readin' the clock One clean line, the whole city stop No crown flash, no camera on Just touch, release, the ending drawn Called it luck from the lawn chair view I knew the mate while she still said "who?"
Verse 1
I'm the long road dressed like a piece Chipped-crown queen, Opa-Locka flea Two bucks, she took me to Gwen Cherry Coach Ray said "think three moves deep" She said "been thinkin' three jobs deep for folks" Thirteen, hoodie wet, Route 27 smoke Momma doublin' at Publix on 36 Daddy locked in Dade, ninety-nine bit She learn the board 'cause the board don't lie No appeal, no plea, no alibi Square got a price, she payin' close Rook got reach, bishop got ghost
Pre-chorus
Clock click. Wood hit. Bus stop preachin' in humid split. Her quiet got more weight than grown men talk Tempo don't holler when it know its walk
Chorus
Saw check 'fore the table got quiet Thumb tremblin', crowd turn riot Watchin' her face, readin' the clock One clean line, the whole city stop
Verse 2
Looked at Jordans with the sole come loose Looked at braids her auntie did, not the proof Three-three-one-four-two on the certificate No private coach, no ivy, no syndicate Prep-school boy with a Rolex sat across Pops dropped him in the BMW boss He smirked, touched pawns fast for applause Played for the phone, not the cause Still water up under the skin That kinda calm make a flex cave in Underestimation is a door left wide Most losses walk in dressed like pride
Verse 3
Midgame came like a held-out breath No drama, just accurate depth Woodblock tickin' like a kitchen clock Every second sandin' fear off thought Knee quit shakin', her eyes got slow That's the moment real ones know Dude sped up, chasin' ghosts Good shape traded for empty boasts She found the pause 'tween move and move Where truth get room, noise can't prove Abuela say "tranquila, m'hija, let it go"
Bridge
If a queen go hangin', let the hallway laugh Crowds love halves, never see the graph What look like loss from the bleacher side Can be the door left open inside Some crowns only fit when the bluff get broke Momma said "lose loud, win quiet, folk" "Hood watchin', don't buy it."
Verse 4
Came the move made aunties wince Side-eyes bloom, the tío flinch She sent me where the cameras called me gone Like she slipped, like the script went wrong Sacrifice ain't grief Rent paid forward for geometry Two turns later his king had walls Rook tied up, dark square small Knight too late with its bent-back prayer Bishop blind to the cut of air She ain't grin, ain't shake the room Sat like dusk decidin' bloom
Chorus
I was the hush in the winnin' move The proof don't dance, it just go true They saw the fall, not the hidden stair She gave up shine, took all the air Time they caught the pattern meant Board was closed, noise spent
Verse 5
Checkmate land quieter than blame No fireworks when you know your name He looked at squares like they changed faith She looked at him with a mercy face No taunt. No sermon. No victory lap. Score sheet ink and a folded strap. Roach coach stayed. Broom push the floor. Storm rollin' off the Biscayne shore Palms bowin' like the sky knew her Sharpest endings arrive cut short Not a scream but a settled weight A truth so plain it stand up straight She knew by the way I stood Bass swellin' once, low and good Not "we got lucky." Not "might." Touch, release. Quiet.
Outro
Domino slap. Cafecito hiss. Sixty-four truths, bus comin' quick. She learned the win the block never knew. I was the queen. She was the proof
Inside the recording
Domino slap. Cafecito hiss. Park bench off Seventh, nobody clocked this.
I saw check 'fore the table got quiet 'Fore her thumb start tremblin', crowd turn riot
Domino slap. Cafecito hiss. Sixty-four truths, bus comin' quick.
Excerpts from artist-supplied lyric files matched by title. Lyric sheets may differ from the released performance.