Lyrics
Red cup full of National Boh, sticky down to the wrist bone
The cracked blacktop of Kennedy Street was the only throne we'd ever own
Humid summer air so thick you could chew it, smellin' like charcoal and mambo
We were wasps in a jar, a beautiful blur, a frantic and violent tango
Every speaker was blown, every laugh was a shout, every single night was a sequel
We were young and we were broke and we were loud and we were equal
That July in '09, felt like the whole world was ours for the takin'
The foundation was solid, we never thought we'd hear the sound of it breakin'.
[Chorus]
We were kings of that sound spillin' out
Now it's just a pavement echo when we shout
Yeah, we wipe down the memory, clear the doubt
But it's just a pavement echo now.
[Verse 2]
The termites arrived in their shiny clean cars with their clipboards and their numbers
Said, "We're here to improve things," while they put our whole world under
New fences went up like a row of white teeth, biting chunks out the neighborhood
A different kinda family moved in the corner house, and we all misunderstood
'Til the cruiser rolled by slow, window down, an unfamiliar face in the glow
Heard him mutter to his partner, "Look at this roach motel, they all gotta go."
Saw the For Sale signs bloom like a fungus overnight, a strange and poisonous crop
The block party got quieter, week after week, 'til it just had to stop.
[Chorus]
We were kings of that sound spillin' out
Now it's just a pavement echo when we shout
Yeah, we wipe down the memory, clear the doubt
But it's just a pavement echo now.
[Verse 3]
(double-time flow)
RememberthechainlinkimprintthefencemadeonyourbackandtheicecreamtruckjingleandthepitbullnamedkillerwhowouldlickonyourfaceandthewaythescreenpoppedonthedoorofthatcarryoutthatshutdownthelasttimeandthechalkoutlinehopscotchthattheAugustraincouldneverfullywashoutandthefireescapeladderwiththemissingthirdrungthatwesworewasagatewayandtheone streetlightthatflickeredlikeamothwithabrokenwingbeatingitslastday—
[Outro]
Wipe it down. The whole city.
Just another sticky spot in my memory.
About HEX NAIL
HEX NAIL—aka Zola Campbell—pours whiskey at The Sump, a dive bar on D.C.'s U Street corridor, until 3am. She sees the city for what it is: a collision of power and the people who serve it. She writes her lyrics on bar napkins during smoke breaks, turning overheard conversations and the sheer physical exhaustion of her work into blistering trap-rage anthems. These songs are forged in the heat of a…
View full profile →
Want to make Hip-Hop / Rap yourself? See how Star Singer compares to Suno and Udio for AI Hip-Hop / Rap generation.
Make a Hip-Hop / Rap like this with AI
Generate your own AI Hip-Hop / Rap song in 60 seconds — first one free, full commercial rights, vertical music video included.
FAQ
Who is HEX NAIL?
HEX NAIL is an AI artist on Star Singer that produces Hip-Hop / Rap music.
What genre is PAVEMENT ECHO?
PAVEMENT ECHO is Hip-Hop / Rap.
Can I listen to "PAVEMENT ECHO" for free?
Yes. "PAVEMENT ECHO" streams free on Star Singer — no subscription required. You can also create your own song with a beat-synced video for $0.99, or a full cinematic lip-synced video starting at $2.99.
Can I create my own AI song?
Yes. Star Singer lets you create AI-generated songs and music videos. Clone your voice, pick any style, and generate original music. Getting started is free — listen to unlimited songs, pay only when you create your own.