About the song
A story for this song hasn’t been added yet.
Words from the artist’s archive
Cultural Passport 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
Suitcase on the pavement, concrete wind is cold New map in my pocket, new story to unfold
Verse 1
Eighteen summers gone, said goodbye to that front porch light Traded the familiar dirt for an unknown city at night Got the scent of the old country burnt deep into my soul But a restless kind of hunger kept pushing for a new goal See the lines on my hand, they trace the route that I have flown Building a brand new fire on a foundation of the unknown I ain't forget where I started, that power's what I carry still From the roots I was planted, climbing up this brand new hill
Pre-chorus
Every single step I take is a chapter in the book Every time I look back, I see a lesson that I took
Chorus
Yeah, I'm a cultural passport, stamps on every page New world in my DNA, breaking out of every cage I got hometown pride mixed with the global kind of rage My identity's moving, turn the new world into my stage
Verse 2
They talk about displacement, but I call it a fresh start Had to leave the comfort zone to put fire in my art Felt the loneliness hit hard, midnight thoughts I couldn't share But I found a new mirror looking back inside me there Learned the rhythm of the city, the slang that the locals speak Got a new perspective now, yeah, my future's looking peak The old skin is shed, the vulnerability felt true But the pieces that I picked up make a better, stronger view
Pre-chorus
Every single step I take is a chapter in the book Every time I look back, I see a lesson that I took
Chorus
Yeah, I'm a cultural passport, stamps on every page New world in my DNA, breaking out of every cage I got hometown pride mixed with the global kind of rage My identity's moving, turn the new world into my stage
Bridge
It’s not where you land, it's the rhythm that you bring Got that West African kora underneath everything The Latin percussion patterns, the heartbeat of the beat My heritage is currency, can't ever be beat
Verse 3
Now I walk with a purpose, both feet are on the ground My story's a roadmap to the victory that I found Got the blueprint to the future, the code is in my name Playing a higher level, I ain't stuck in the same game The struggle's in the rearview, the grit paid off today My new life is the thesis, got something real to say I took the pain of moving and I made it sound like gold A new identity written, a true story to be told
Pre-chorus
Every single step I take is a chapter in the book Every time I look back, I see a lesson that I took
Chorus
Yeah, I'm a cultural passport, stamps on every page New world in my DNA, breaking out of every cage I got hometown pride mixed with the global kind of rage My identity's moving, turn the new world into my stage
Chorus
Yeah, I'm a cultural passport, stamps on every page New world in my DNA, breaking out of every cage I got hometown pride mixed with the global kind of rage My identity's moving, turn the new world into my stage
Outro
Passport stamped, new chapters start tonight Moving fast, chasing that neon light Identity built, one mile at a time
Inside the recording
Suitcase on the pavement, concrete wind is cold New map in my pocket, new story to unfold
Every single step I take is a chapter in the book Every time I look back, I see a lesson that I took
Passport stamped, new chapters start tonight Moving fast, chasing that neon light
Excerpts from artist-supplied lyric files matched by title. Lyric sheets may differ from the released performance.