[Verse 1: Killer Mike]
Down with the shame, down with the shame
Used to walk traps in the rain with cocaine
Used to write raps in the traps as I sat in the rain and I prayed that God give me a lane
Give me a lane, give me the fame
Give me the fame and I promise to change
Won't be the same
Won't be the same kind of man that puts cocaine in this lady hand
Heard she was pregnant, I'm guilty I reckon 'cause I hear that this shit can hurt baby's brain
Heard he was normal 'til three and then he stopped talkin'
Since then, ain't nothin' been the same
Seen her some years later out in Decatur, told her that I'm sorry for causin' her pain
"Causin' me pain? Causin' me pain?"
She asked again and she grabbed my right hand
Asked am I crazy, said "Look here, baby, I release you from all of your sins and your shame
'Cause I’ve been redeemed, I found in Christ
Whatever it take I hope you find it, Mike."
The look on her face shown that glory replaced all the shame and the hate and now she wear a crown
My late Grandma Bettie had prayed with her heavy and told her to tell me lay my burdens down

[Chorus: Killer Mike]
Can't pick up no crown
Holdin' what's holdin' you down
Can't pick up no crown
Holdin' what's holdin' you down
Can't pick up no crown, can't pick up no crown
[Verse 2: El-P & Killer Mike]
Down with the shame, down with the shame
Carried the flag in some other man's name
Loaded my weapon and swore to them vengeance and stepped with aggression right into the fray
Into the haze, into the murk
Told me to prove to them what I was worth
We'll teach you to move without mercy and give you the tools to go after the causers of hurt
You'll become death, you will take breath
This is for everything you've ever loved
Use all the pain that you've felt in your life as the currency, go out and trade it for blood
You are not you, you are now us
We are the only ones that you can trust
You'll become fear, they'll become dust
Before this moment, you didn't mean much
You are the smoldering vessel of punishment born to do nothing but justify us
Give us your empathy, we'll give you lust
Let yourself go, my son, time to grow up
Give up your childish obsession with questioning
Anything we don't tell you is irrelevant
Everything you've ever been is replaced by the metal and fire of the weapon you clutch

[Chorus: Killer Mike]
Can't pick up no crown
Holdin' what's holdin' you down
Can't pick up no crown
Holdin' what's holdin' you down
Can't pick up no crown, can't pick up no crown
[Outro: Killer Mike]
Can't pick up no crown
Holdin' what's holdin' you down
Can't pick up no crown
Holdin' what's holdin' you down
Can't pick up no crown
Holdin' what's holdin' you down
Can't pick up no crown
Holdin' what's holdin' you down
Can't pick up no crown
Holdin' what's holdin' you down