[Verse 1]
I was seven years old when I got my first pair
And I stepped outside and I was like, Momma
This air bubble right here it’s gonna make me fly
I hit that court and when I jumped, I jumped I swear I got so high
I touched the net, Mom I touched the net, this is the best day of my life
Air Maxes were next, that air bubble, that mesh
The box, the smell, the stuffing, the tread
In school I was so cool, I knew that I couldn’t crease 'em
My friends couldn’t afford em, four stripes on their Adidas
On the court I wasn’t the best but my kicks were like the pros
Yo, I stick out my tongue so everyone could see that logo
Nike Air Flight, book bag was so dope
And then my friend Carlos’ brother got murdered for his fours, whoa
See he just wanted a jump shot
But they wanted his Starter coat, though
Didn’t wanna get caught
From Genesee Park to Othello
You'd get clowned for those Pro Wings, with the velcro those were not tight
I was trying to fly without leaving the ground
Cause I wanted to be like Mike, right wanted to be him
I wanted to be that guy I wanted to touch the rim
I wanted to be cool and I wanted to fit in
I wanted what he had, America, it begins

[Hook]
I want to fly, can you take me far away?
Give me a star to reach for tell me what it takes
And I’ll go so high I’ll go so high
My feet won’t touch the ground
Just stitch my wings and pull the strings
I bought these dreams that all fall down
[Verse 2]
We want what we can’t have, commodity makes us want it
So expensive, damn I just got to flaunt it got to show em
So exclusive, this that new shit
A hundred dollars for a pair of shoes I would never hoop in
Look at me, look at me I’m a cool kid
I’m an individual, yeah but I’m part of a movement
My movement told me be a consumer and I consumed it
They told me to just do it I listened to what that swoosh said
Look at what that swoosh did see it consumed my thoughts
"Are you stupid? Don’t crease 'em! Just leave 'em in that box!"
Strangled by these laces, laces I can barely talk
That’s my air bubble and I’m lost, if it pops
We are what we wear, we wear what we are
But see I look inside the mirror and think Phil Knight tricked us all
Will I stand for change or stay in my box
These Nikes help me define me
But I’m trying to take mine
Off

[Hook]

[Verse 3]
They started out with what I wear to school
That first day like these are what make you cool
And this pair, this would be my parachute
So much more than just a pair of shoes
Nah, this is what I am
What I wore, this is the source of my youth
This dream that they sold to you
For a hundred dollars and some change
Consumption is in the veins
And now I see it’s just another pair of shoes