BROS BEFORE ’EM” Xpollo X ft. MJ

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INTRO — XPOLLO X — SOFT, AIRY SINGING] Yeahhh… Funny how they come around When everything finally look good… But before the lights, Before the money, Before the names meant something… I knew who was there. (MJ, deep background vocal) Always. ⸻ [VERSE 1 — XPOLLO X — SMOOTH R&B TENOR] I done had a pretty face tell me forever, Then disappear soon as we hit bad weather. Had love turn cold when the pressure got real, So nowadays I pay attention to how people make me feel. She might look good riding shotgun in the coupe, But if she make me choose my brother, she can walk in them shoes. ‘Cause we was building when nobody knew the name, Before Platinum had diamonds, before they noticed the chain. You can have my heart, But you can’t make me betray mine. Girl, there’s certain lines I won’t cross just to save time. If you love me, understand it, There’s a code inside this family. I can lose another relationship… But I can’t replace my family. ⸻ [PRE-CHORUS — XPOLLO X — HIGHER MELODIC REGISTER] ‘Cause when she mad, she might leave tonight, When the money low, she might change her mind. But when that whole damn world outside Come knocking at my door… I know who beside me. ⸻ [CHORUS — XPOLLO X — BIG MELODIC VOCALS] Bros before hoes, that’s the code that we live by, Love come and go, but my brother still on my side. She can have the roses, diamonds, clothes, But she can never come between the ones I chose. If I fall, he know, If he call, I go. Ain’t no woman turning family into foes. Royalty, Platinum, Everybody know— It’s bros… before hoes. (Xpollo ad-libs) Before ’em all… Yeahhh… before ’em all… ⸻ [VERSE 2 — MJ — DEEP BARITONE SOUL SINGING] See, I sing it different, ‘Cause I lived enough to know… A woman can tell you she love you And still pack up and go. But a brother that done seen you At your lowest and stayed, That type of bond ain’t something You throw away in a day. X got his Empire, I got Royalty behind me. We don’t need the same crown For that loyalty to bind me. If she whisper in my ear, “Why you always taking his side?” I tell her, “I’m taking what’s right.” There’s a difference—learn the line. We had arguments. We had distance. Still the respect never died. So if somebody comes between it, They the one getting left outside. I can love you like a woman deserves, Give you everything I got… But I ain’t burning down a brotherhood For something that might stop. ⸻ [MJ PRE-CHORUS — LOW, RASPY SOUL] Baby, don’t make me choose, You might not like what I say. ‘Cause some people came yesterday… My brother been here through the pain. You can be my woman, You can even be my home… But don’t ask me to destroy The people who helped build these walls. ⸻ [CHORUS — MJ LEAD / XPOLLO BACKGROUND] MJ — deep lead: Bros before hoes, that’s the code that we live by, Xpollo — high harmony: (That’s the code, yeah…) MJ: Love come and go, but my brother still on my side. Xpollo: (Still right here…) MJ: She can have the roses, diamonds, clothes, But she can never come between the ones I chose. BOTH: If I fall, you know, If you call, I go. Ain’t no woman turning family into foes. MJ: Royalty… Xpollo: Platinum… BOTH: Everybody know— It’s bros before hoes. ⸻ [POST-CHORUS — XPOLLO X — MODERN R&B RUNS] Oooohhh… She said, “Choose me.” I said, “Don’t make me.” Baby, you should know… You should know… Some bonds don’t break Just because somebody beautiful came along. ⸻ [BRIDGE — MJ — DEEP SOUL / GOSPEL FEEL] I don’t care who got more money. Xpollo: More attention… MJ: Bigger house. Xpollo: Different women… MJ: Different roads. Xpollo: Different visions… BOTH: When it comes down to family, Ain’t no competition. MJ: If they lie on you— Xpollo: I’m there. MJ: If they turn on me— Xpollo: I’m there. MJ: If the whole room walk out— Xpollo: Put another chair right here. BOTH: That’s brotherhood. ⸻ [BREAKDOWN — XPOLLO X — QUIET, EMOTIONAL] I’ve loved people I thought would stay forever… Found out forever Got an expiration date sometimes. But brother… ⸻ [MJ — DEEP RESPONSE] Yeah? [XPOLLO] You know what time it is. [MJ] Always have. ⸻ [FINAL CHORUS — BOTH, CLEARLY DIFFERENT VOCAL RANGES] XPOLLO — HIGH, POWERFUL TENOR: Bros before hoes, that’s the code that we live by! MJ — DEEP BARITONE: Code that we live by… XPOLLO: Love come and go, but my brother still on my side! MJ: Still on your side. BOTH: They can bring the drama, They can bring the smoke, But they ain’t turning two brothers into foes. MJ: Royalty forever. XPOLLO: Platinum forever. BOTH: And when one go to war, Then we both go together. No woman, no money, No rumors, no throne Could ever make us forget Who was there when we had nothing. XPOLLO: So let ’em know… MJ: Yeah, tell ’em again. BOTH: BROS BEFORE HOES. ⸻ [OUTRO — XPOLLO X, SOFT FALSETTO] Women come… Women go… But that brotherhood? [MJ — LOW, DEEP VOCAL] That’s for life. [XPOLLO] Platinum. [MJ] Royalty. [BOTH] Family.