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 back-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 Max’s were next,
    That air bubble, that mesh
    The box, the smell, the stuffin’, the tread,
    At 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, but that 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 could clown 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

    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
    I stitch my wings
    And pull the strings
    I bought these dreams
    That all fall down

    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

    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
    I stitch my wings
    And pull the strings
    I bought these dreams
    That all fall down

    It 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

    [* Air Jordan IV]

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