“I stand high, point blank, period
The tears from my eyes just define I’m living
I push and I strive ’cause with time comes healing”
– Kamaiyah
Oakland-born rapper and singer Kamaiyah’s Ten Toes High is an affirmation of her devotion to her art and her creativity, in spite of the pushback and the challenges that could break her spirit. The last track from her album, Got It Made, Ten Toes High embodies a kind of radical love as expressed by a dreamer who won’t give up, who is dedicated to the hard work of the hustle.
Ten Toes High
To this life, I got accustomed, been through all the fuck-shit
Gotta keep it pushin’, but that’s why I don’t trust shit
On my grind, I got right back into hustling
Ten toes high, I stand tall, I’m never stumbling
Always thought that I would make it, I just knew I would
Hustle harder and harder, patience, I just knew I could
Rap my ass off, nigga, it is true, I’m good
To be settlin’, no, I am too high for it
I’m too high for that settling shit
Yes, rap music, I’m peddling it
I’m killin’ hoes on some competitive shit
West Coast culture, I’m embedded in it
And if you don’t respect my art, you don’t respect my heart
In my career, I invest my all
Yes, it is true, you reject my calls
Had the youngin’ blues, I had to jet on my dawg
But I won’t let you kill my spirit
In my music, you gon’ hear it
Won’t fade, I’m not disappearing
Put my pain all in my lyrics
To this life, I got accustomed, been through all the fuck-shit
Gotta keep it pushin’, but that’s why I don’t trust shit
On my grind, I got right back into hustling
Ten toes high, I stand tall, I’m never stumbling
Complaining about my faults, it ain’t no good in that
Done been through it all, from the good and bad
When they push, I stand tall, I’m good at that
I knew this journey’d be hard, wish I would get mad
They wanna see me cry and break my spirit
So I stand high, point blank, period
The tears from my eyes just define I’m living
I push and I strive ’cause with time comes healing
I done been through it all, haven’t I?
Had my back against walls, still, I fight
What kinda message I’m sending if I let them stop me livin’?
I’m ten toes down with it, standing high
It ain’t no such thing as family in business
You make choices, and folks in they feelings
They speak behind your back, ain’t no facts when you mad
And for that, I do not show forgiveness
No, I won’t let you kill my soul
I go hard to reach my goals
My old friends can be my foes
I still stand tall up on ten toes
To this life, I got accustomed, been through all the fuck-shit
Gotta keep it pushin’, but that’s why I don’t trust shit
On my grind, I got right back into hustling
Ten toes high, I stand tall, I’m never stumbling
Complaining about my faults, it ain’t no good in that
Done been through it all, from the good and bad
When they push, I stand tall, I’m good at that
I knew this journey’d be hard, wish I would get mad
When they push, I stand tall, I’m good at that
When they push, I stand tall, I’m good at that
I knew this journey’d be hard, wish I would get mad
Kamaiyah
From: Got It Made