My chain heavy man
Hanging from it is Jesus with holes in hand
It lies over my broken heart
I’m hoping the ice will heal that part
My chain cost more than I can afford
Lord help me carry this thing heavy as a billboard
Bright and shiny like my future, but that’s all you see
You see how it lays on the nice crispy tee
You don’t see me lying with it and how it affects my sleep
One eye open, peep
Striving for a false chain, the biggest I can find
But then financially it leaves me in a bind
It’s taking me backwards, this fake Jesus piece chain
But the thoughts of the effect of diamonds is a disease running through my veins
My chain heavy, rope tied to a noose
Hanging from a tree, wishing the links were a little loose
Guess I’ll just chuck up the deuce
Heavy chains hold you down
Slavery bound
My chain weights a lot
Hanging from it is an intricate plot
It begins with 500 years of slavery, chains and whips
Some how we got diamonds and ladies shaking hips
My chain too heavy, take it away
I don’t want to be the one that gets crowned on chaining day
I don’t want the responsibility to lead
All I want is the greed
I want the diamonds and flash
I don’t want to spread it to my community; I want to keep the cash
My chain heavy, yeah yeah my chain heavy
God it feels like I’m carrying a Chevy
I wonder if this is what the cross felt like…………………
My chain heavy, I’m not good enough
It’s too heavy, I’m faking being tough
The people behind me in the 25th hour
But I’m one sinful man and I shouldn’t have any power
Denzel time, get Malcolm X on em
But if I work out, I can lead longer
Learn my culture, read my bible, and lend my voice I’ll be stronger
My chain heavy but not as heavy as the cross
My gifts didn’t cost me a lot, Jesus paid that cost
With my focus narrowed, I won’t get lost
The heaviness of the chain is self inflicted
Behind “Chain Heavy”
I wrote a poem for my second book (Journey) called “Going Backwards” and this poem “Chain Heavy” could be kind of a sequel to that, but I really just used “Going Backwards” as a reference. For this poem I just wanted to play off of two songs out right now; Kanye West – Chain Heavy and J. Cole – Cost Me a Lot. What’s hanging from the “chain” here are struggles, perceptions, fears, a culture, and faith.
“Going Backwards” (http://www.facebook.com/notes.php?id=53704047¬es_tab=app_2347471856#!/note.php?note_id=35514313564)
“My chain cost more than I can afford / Lord help me carry this thing heavy as a billboard”
I can’t afford the price Jesus paid for my life. Sometimes life gets heavy and I need strength only He can provide
“Bright and shiny like my future, but that’s all you see / You see how it lays on the nice crispy tee / You don’t see me laying with it and how it affects my sleep / One eye open, peep”
We all have a bright future, but there is work to reach the goals we set and the dreams we dream about. It’s definitely not easy. We always see the success, the end result, but never the hard work in between.
“Striving for a false chain, the biggest I can find / But then financially it leaves me in a bind / its taking me backwards, this fake Jesus piece chain”
When you’re chasing the wrong thing, doing the wrong thing, it can take a toll on you. There is always a consequence.
“But the thoughts of the effect of diamonds is a disease running through my veins”
Greed can consume you. The thoughts of what a diamond chain can bring you (fame, recognition, respect) becomes addictive. Kweli said, “The root of evil isn’t money, it’s the pursuit of money.” I can see that because when you get to a “by any means necessary” point, all bets are off. You’ll do any thing, evil things, to get that money, power, and respect.
“My chain heavy, rope tied to a noose / Hanging from a tree, wishing the links were a little loose / Guess I’ll just chuck up the deuce”
Basically killing yourself for that chain. Instead of relinquishing the “chain,” your pride, you’d rather die. “Die enormous then live dormant.” – Jay-Z
“My chain weights a lot / Hanging from it is an intricate plot / It begins with 500 years of slavery, chains and whips / Some how we got diamonds and ladies shaking hips”
The whole poem is basically about what’s hanging from your chain. What’s your mountain? Hanging from this chain is the gap in generation. Hip Hop generation vs. Civil Rights generation. It’s about the responsibility to lead. What’s our mark as a generation? Poverty? Single mothers? Absent fathers? Diamonds? Nice cars?
“My chain too heavy, take it away / I don’t want to be the one that gets crowned on chaining day / I don’t want the responsibility to lead”
From here on its pretty explanatory. When chains were really big, “camps” (like the ROC) would “crown” or put their signature chain on new artists. So this is like running from being crowned. You’re next in line to lead and set the example, but instead you run away from that responsibility.
“The people behind me in the 25th hour / But I’m one sinful man and I shouldn’t have any power / Denzel time, get Malcolm X on em”
The 25th hour was a Spike Lee movie; no one man should have that much power was a line from Malcolm X (Spike Lee, Denzel; a white cop said that line to Malcolm) and it also was a line in Kanye’s song “Power.” Linking more Kanye, “Denzel time, get Malcolm X on em” is a play on his line from “Chain Heavy” (Don Cheadle time, get extra black on em) and also more Spike/Denzel/Malcolm X connections.
“The heaviness of the chain is self inflicted”
Life isn’t hard, but it’s pretty tough. Adding dumb choices, fear, and doubt don’t make it any easier. In this world today it’s easy to get lost on a path not of morals and values, but doing so brings more weight to the chain you already carry. You can’t control everything but you can control how you respond to everything. There is a choice in every decision made.
