Get all 13 Tres Carter releases available on Bandcamp and save 30%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of GAME ON!, 33, BLACK SHEEP, My Beautiful Dying Marriage, Flight School, More Than My Skin, Dunk On Jordan, OH- remix ft. Swoope, Kambino, Taelor Gray, Yaves, & D-Maub (produced by Swoope), and 5 more.
1. |
Dance Like Carlton
03:17
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Tres Carter – “Dance Like Carlton”
Yo, we in here boy, hahahaha, let’s go
You can either go and do your dance like Carlton
Or bob to this cat like I'm live in Charlotte
Revival, San Diego Chargin'
Superman came but they only saw Clark Kent
Life throws spears, I feel like a prime target
Shield of faith up, while I duck, no Darkwing
On these beats I go deep, Steve Largent
Catch me if you can, Frank Abagnale's carbon
Team full of iron, keeping me sharpened
Eye on the foe wearing the same garment
Please don’t feed me Christ-like jargon
DJ Unk faith, out you should walk it
Reap what you sow, bka karma
Tryna have clean fruit come from my garden
Produce gems but him no garnet
Mind still blown from when Chris Gray charted
A family guy, no Seth MacFarlene
My home's not here, to the world I'm a Martian
Fresh hair cut under that Polo boggin
Rap in a bow tie, present to the market
My goal ain’t to be Hip Hop's top artist
I just grab a canvas and commit arson
Glory to God, who paid for my pardons
Gave me killer skill, leave a CD carcass
A Christian who raps or whatever you call it
Without mainstream I'll be doing this regardless
Judge my fruit not what's in my wallet
No amount of dollars raise men out of coffins
Every other minute more soul's getting auctioned
Price Christ paid way more than a bargain
“Streetz the Beast” missin’ check the milk carton
Went down in that water came up free willy dolphin
Not enough grinding and too much talking
Now Christians getting walked over like carpet
Not no more, got word from the Sergeant
Calling all soldiers, time to go to war it’s
Going down daily, like I’m tryna save Carson
Hear me clear freedom has margins
Heart's not flawless, please be cautious
Christ runs this and all you do is go joggin’
In worship, you be too cool like fall is
Ima give Him glory even if I have to crawl in
Awh man, love deep fo' me I dun falled in
Love my saints I ain’t talking New Orleans
His return's what we waiting forrrr, golfing
Room for you to make it be the reason He stallin’
City full of harlots, clothed in scarlet
All need sexual healing, no Marvin
Glory of God, I'll remind you that all men
Coming up short like 40 inch tall men
There is none on top of Him like bald men
Died to save all men, now rules all men
Jesus what they call him, 2 options not at all or all in
Bound us, what the law did
Found us, I do my dance like Carlton
I do my dance like Carlton
Bob to this cat like I’m rappin in charlotte
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2. |
I'm Drunk
04:30
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Tres Carter – “I’m Drunk”
(intro)
Yeah, looking at the microphone, jet black like my homie, hahahaha
(verse 1)
They be like, “Tres why praising so hard?”
I be like “you serious? Take a look at my God!”
On the air guitar, with a fiery heart, Captain America shield be blocking the darts
Then I wake up hit my closet, real selective dresser; beater, briefs, check! 1MX pressed up
Slim straight skinny double cuff will manifest the wool blend’s complimenting Bruno on my neck
Go ‘head and choke me out, lay at rest on my chest
Gotta be the best cause I’m bouta see the best
Ima sweat it out, Ima sweat it all out
Praise be so loud, don’t hear what chu talking bout
(pre-hook)
Jesus in the buildin (yeah), how could I be chillin (huh)
Glory in the room and His love He's revealin (yeah)
Jesus in the buildin (yeah), how could I be chillin (huh)
He has been faithful, hands to the ceiling (yeah)
Jesus in the buildin (yeah), how could I be chillin (huh)
Yeah I got fresh and I know I’m looking good but
Ima sweat it out (yeah), I'm sweat it all out
Got my cup, lifted up, Lord Jesus pour out
(Hook) x2
I’m drunk, not as you suppose
New wine from the living well it flows
I don’t care ‘bout nobody, worship be my hobby
Fire that’s inside me got me hotter than wasabi
(verse 2)
And this one’s for the record, goin’ on 4 years since I've had Svedka (yup)
Ain’t no cliché, I let go and let God, feeling like David, dancing out my ephod
Hold up let me take my blazer off its getting blazing hot
God's been way too good to me to care ‘bout if they watch or not
They say I'm unorthodox (so what)
Their box I don't fit in (no)
I don't wanna hear it (no),
I'm drunk in the Spirit (yeah)
(pre-hook)
Jesus in the buildin (yeah) how could I be chillin (huh)
Use to be a bastard, He hit me with endearment (yeah)
Jesus in the buildin (yeah), how could I be chillin (huh)
Shoot, He is the building and me He chose to build in
Jesus in the buildin (yeah), how could I be chillin (huh)
Shoutout to them spectators, who all service they eye him
like, “sit on down, what is this all about?”
And I be like, please know, before them words come out your mouth that,
(Hook) x4
I’m drunk, not as you suppose
New wine from the living well it flows
I don’t care ‘bout nobody, worship be my hobby
Fire that’s inside me got me hotter than wasabi – (end of last hook) I’m Drunk!
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3. |
Do It Again
03:58
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Tres Carter – “Do It Again”
(verse 1)
My help is above and my wife she is down for me
Everything straight, we watching the waves from Grand Coba balcony
Envy and jealously, oh what a tragedy, some got it out for me
I am not ignorant of the reality, most of ‘em dappin me
That's how it goes, they smile at my shows, diss back at home
Love ‘em the same, telling C. Gray, boy have I grown through this School of Roses
Even through change, grinding the same, never lose focus
Go through the rain, go through the pain and whatever opposes
(pre-hook)
I’m not afraid if that mountain come
I know a Man who can make that mountain run
I know He can cause I've seen Him do it
I been here before but Lord brought me through it
(hook) x8
He did it before He can do it again (yeah)
(verse 2)
Back in my teens, promethazine, blowing that kush
Now when the devil talk in my ear, tell him to shush (shhh)
Faith built on a rock, given by God, power to stop
That gives me hope, for all my homies out on the block
Man, I lost a few brothers I never expected
Back full of scars, though it was hard I never regret it
I’m glad for it all, I walked away with a different perspective
Be way more protective, way more selective, charm is deceptive
Parting the sea so they can see only He's sovereign
Wisdom is bountiful, no one as powerful, ain't no one stopping Him
God is the same, He'll never change forever more
We love and obey cause we've been saved and we are grateful, this ain't no chore
Him we adore, if we got him we need nothing more
We stand at the door, on one accord, beggin’ for more
Sin we abhor, best that we can, open the Lid and let it pour
Manifest power all in your name, Jesus the Lord, seen it before
Hit like hammer doctor just told me momma got cancer
Without a question, call on the Lord I know He will answer
I laid down my care, picked up His peace, I will not be stressing
Back in '97 you healed Treasy Baker from cervical cancer
(hook) x8
He did it before He can do it again (yeah)
(pre-hook)
I’m not afraid if that mountain come
I know a Man who can make that mountain run
I know He can cause I've seen Him do it
I been here before but Lord brought me through it
(hook) x4
He did it before He can do it again (yeah)
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4. |
Can't Imagine Life
03:56
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Tres Carter – “Can’t Imagine Life”
(From Tres’ mom’s perspective)
Tres, let me talk to ‘em
It’s a miracle he’s here. Let me take yall back, ‘89 was the year
One already here another one on the way, had to be the most deflating news of my day
One the biggest decisions of life, I gotta make, can I endure my mistake or will I erase?
Can I live with regret? Cause based on stats that what I can expect
So hold on, lemme hit my knees for a sec, honestly, no, I haven't lived my life the best
But I know where to go if I ever need help so I'm looking unto You, ain't nobody else
Then I heard God's voice and I can say today that I made the right choice
02-03-90, that’s a landmark Ima tell my grandkids bout so,
Relationship rocky at first, real talk couldn’t tell was he a gift or a curse
As time progressed things only got worse, only place he'll make it to by 25 is a hearse
Then I heard that he started going to church, he went down in that water and not in the dirt
Not only did God redeem my son but also the relationship between us, now
I can’t imagine life, if I let his be taken
With compassion, I understand, don’t be mistaken ladies
Cause I was in the same boat, if baby comes aboard can I stay afloat?
It's not easy, I make it known; to see woman not try makes my heart groan
Cause really, does our right not to be pregnant trump the right of a child not to be killed?
Moral standards have been neglected, our entire nation needs to be healed
If you was woman enough to have your skirt up being grown
Be woman enough to make sure baby has a home
Even if it’s not your own, adoption is an option, pick up the phone
800-236-7846, that's American Adoption
They can help with, any questions, baby placements
What if Ann Dunham said, “I can’t” - would we ever have seen a black president?
What if Alberta King didn't proceed, wouldn't be no ‘I have a Dream’ speech
Really I can’t imagine life, if I let his be taken
With compassion, I understand, don’t be mistaken ladies
I was in the same boat if baby comes aboard can I stay afloat?
It's not easy, I make it known; to see woman not try makes my heart groan. Tres you can come finish this…
(from Tres’ perspective)
Tres here, I shouldn’t even be here
More than a million abortions each year
I'm grateful, still crying on the inside
Cause millions can’t imagine life
3000 Americans died 9/11, somebody call 9-1-1
Cause more than 3000 babies are murdered before they exit daily
Receptionist like, “Ok ummm...we handle emergencies?”
I’m like, “How much more urgent do you need? I don’t care if it stimulates the economy,
These are destinies killed in the name of greed!”
She challenged me like, “What about rape or incest?”
I’m like, “That reason is a minute percentage of all abortions, stats don’t lie,
They expose how mankind is selfish!”
Ask Frances McClurkin, if having Donnie was worth it
Well within the rights of Louise Anderson to abort Ethel Waters before she ever sung
And from the view of who was almost aborted, I realize every single life’s important
To know God and have a chance to carry out, plans laid out before the world came about; Imagine.
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5. |
Bottoms Up
02:56
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Tres Carter – “Bottoms Up”
It’s so hard loving someone else when I barely even love myself, Bottoms Up
(hook – sample from Christon Gray’s “After All”)
Please I don’t mean no harm boy, I’m just dealing with a broken past
And right now a pauper is a feasible offer, so I’ll have some of that open flask, oh oh oh oh ohhh
(verse 1)
Bottoms up the bar, double entendre, hurt despite the laughter
Daddy broke my heart before any player could spike it after
Scoring, touch down from touring
Texted you adore me while another bed you're in
Best friend Lauren told me beautiful is
Being you to the fullest, help me to remove this
Make up, caked up, hate the fact I need a man to validate me
I’m tired of tolerating, inner beauty hibernating (tick tick tick tick)
I been waiting, winter over, growing colder every day
It’s crazy how you never showed up so I over compensated
Hardly dating cause before I dated hard
Left me Simba scarred, lie on king, moving on
Went and got my MBA, UCLA, need a baller NBA
Sorry Mr. Sterling, you ain’t in my league no more
Porsche keys, Gucci frame, Red carpet, Vera Wang
Get what you never obtain, go where you ain’t been before
Let me know why I still fill empty like cabinets on 14
T-H dot E-S-cape, man I want to but I can’t
Carrying a lot of weight, insecurity hard to shake
I’m just pouring out my heart, pour me up another drink
(hook)
Please I don’t mean no harm boy, I’m just dealing with a broken past
And right now a pauper is a feasible offer, so I’ll have some of that open flask, oh oh oh oh ohhh
(In background during hook - “Come here shawty, Let me holla at chu! Girl you fine..)
(verse 2)
But how do I define myself
I just need time to find myself
Gotta raise 3 kids by myself
It’s divine, I ain’t like the hand I was dealt
So I would rather shuffle then commit to play it
Love comes after poker, bluffs, they got me jaded
Dealing with it’s tough, these puffs, they got me faded
If Ima be alone at least I know I made it
Till one day out in Vegas, one man was courageous
Very advantageous, we studied the same major
Met for minor conversation, same night we had relation
While he's married to Stacey, love is overrated, man
Went outside of God's will to get him, since I got him
Gotta stay outside of God's will to keep him, that’s a problem
Cause my momma always told me don’t go and repeat the cycle
Hands all over body, mind far from the Bible
OMG this moment, such a School of Roses
I love me, I love me not, all my pedals frozen
This is the life I’ve chosen so pour me up some Goose
I’m taking it out on you cause I don’t know what to do, man
(hook)
Please I don’t mean no harm boy, I’m just dealing with a broken past
And right now a pauper is a feasible offer (Bottoms Up), so I’ll have some of that open flask, oh oh oh oh ohhh
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6. |
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Tres Carter featuring Taelor Gray & Christon Gray – “Return of the Gentleman”
(intro)
*clears throat* Ladies & gentlemen, we are not starting anything, we bringing it back. Let’s go!
(hook) x2
Chivalry ain’t dead nah, don’t believe the lie
It's the return of the gentleman, treatin’ women like the queens they are
(verse 1 – Tres Carter)
We open up doors round here
Help take off her Dior round here, hang it up
Then we pullin’ out chairs round here
Ladies don't settle for less, make ya man step it up
If he can’t download that you should upgrade
You don’t need a mac that can only play games
Little boys cuffin’ many toys to the bed frame
but a real man please one woman for decades
Type of man you aint seen in a while
No traffic on the extra mile
So we take that, show appreciation
Not waiting for special occasions
(hook) x2
(verse 2 – Taelor Gray)
This a crash course, your own cram session
Grown man lesson, 'for you ask
'
For you pass gotta see her as she is
Then embellish opportunity don’t leave her how she is
I stay away from clichés; get her off that stripper pole
808's and freeze frames, look at what that picture holds
These daughters of the King man, she ain’t just a screen saver
Voluntary servitude, you treat her like your dream lady
I’m shaking hands with your pops, this your momma, how you doing?
Nah, I ain’t tryna hide, Ima show you how I do it
Then I take you out to dinner and I'm paying for the table
Then I’m giving you the chance just to study my behavior, yup
(hook) x2
(verse 3 – Christon Gray)
Mrs. Amazing, if this was meant to be, then it is and we don't know it yet
So I'll be slow step striding lookin’ fly in my soldier vest
You been waitin’ in line in the coldest dress
But I ain't here to take you nowhere you don't wanna go gir
I
I ain't tryna getchu in the bed and make ya toes curl
Keep ya clothes on, love waits, never hurry, set a date
Never worry, won't be late, if I said 8 it's 7:30, uh
Darling, after all the dining and listening and gazing, the time must come
When I see the I misses misbehaving, but I won't run
Cause this where I belong and the long run
,
It's meant for pacing, Mrs. Amazing, meant to be
(Tres Carter)
Mr. Gentleman, stand up
If you with me put your hands up
Mr. Gentleman, stand up
Ladies, if you with me put your hands up
(repeat)
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7. |
Tres Will Survive
06:43
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Tres Carter – “Tres Will Survive”
(verse 1)
You appreciate it more when you’ve waited your turn; nothing handed out, what you got you earned
They say “he’s so young, he’s so unlearned”; this a good time to address the concern
People that I meet now, can’t believe how little me is endowed with vision of who is risen
Like I been here for a while, hit ‘em with a smile; let me break it down, down, break it down
For the exterior examiners; on paper all they see is an amateur
They don’t see behind the scenes off camera; running through the script building up stamina, uh
2010’s winter was the coldest ever, me and ex in a blink no longer together
But whatever, I discovered, what we did under cover hindered my hover
Kush and lean couldn’t help me float higher, sayonara to both, I no longer desire
Triple X caught up in her web, spider; give up the internet, bet, no perspire
Life is hard on the way to Zion, getting tossed around in the heat like clothes drying
On an island you’re forced to apply it, that is where I am, Tres will survive it
Texted all my side-chicks like what we’re doing is over, a new way of living I’m pursuing
24 hours a day, gotta be a better steward; time just slipping away, watch covered in lubri-
Can’t act like I don’t want that back, everything’s 20/20 whenever you look back, yeah
(hook)
Please let me get that back, everything’s 20/20 when you look back
Oh, how things would be different if I could go back; since we can’t go back, I’m here surviving
Bring it on, real gold don’t fear fire, I’m coming out alive, Tres will survive
Whoever said I wouldn’t make it out is a liar, look ‘em in they eyes, Tres will survive
(verse 2)
Songs I’m on found in obituaries; killer lyrics the kid is a walking cemetery
16 ya dig, leave a verse buried; live from a casket, every bar like my last, keep a hearse ready
Play my new cut, no machete; dude in the bowtie killing’, Steve Urkel, Freddy
Krueger, keep a ruger at the roof of his m-o-u-th, open up booyah, shots go through ya
Mula, ain’t the motive if you didn’t know it; rap was all I had while alone, I feel like I owe it
Raised on Langston, that explains inner poet; ain’t no gangsta but relate to how they’re molded
Didn’t know my dad till about 20, right to be mad all them years ignored me
Could’ve asked “why were you never there for me?” – But instead showed God’s love for God’s glory
Broken foundation God’s restoring; since been building story on top of story
Not too long ago pops told me that he loved me, yall have no idea what that did for me
It’s something bout that phrase so reassuring, like sun beams in the morning
Soil’s warming, seeds planted way back start maturing, real love is enduring
Different story if I back up, young rapper, very dapper, everybody dap up
Bring laughter, heart capture, school her, if there was a re-test I’d be the appli-
Can’t act like I don’t want that back, everything’s 20/20 whenever you look back, yeah
(hook)
Please let me get that back, everything’s 20/20 when you look back
Oh, how things would be different if I could go back; since we can’t go back, I’m here surviving
Bring it on, real gold don’t fear fire, I’m coming out alive, Tres will survive
Whoever said I wouldn’t make it out is a liar, look ‘em in they eyes, Tres will survive
Real gold don’t fear fire, I’m coming out alive, Tres will survive
Whoever said I wouldn’t make it out is a liar, look ‘em in they eyes, Tres will survive
I’m coming out alive, Tres will survive
look ‘em in they eyes, Tres will survive
Let it run
Even through trials my life is perfectly orchestrated; grateful young Tina ain’t abort the baby
Since a rascal, throwing jabs, drums aching; even classics, straight jack it, the flow crazy
Going in on Dilla’s song is wrong ain’t it? Going strong, this outro is kinda long ain’t it?
Oftentimes people’s opinion is overstated; being moved by how they rate you is overrated
Some stuck in they ways, 2 feet under pavement; so when you bring change know they gon’ hate it
I’m Tres, 1 of 1, please don’t trace me, 1, cause you will never be able to duplicate me
And 2, the slot meant for you will be left vacant; don’t get caught up on my last statement
And miss the fact that your own lane is wide open for the taking; fast break lay up thinking, bout me
Like I’m somebody famous, I’m not even tryna be the greatest
I just love composing symphonies, instruments be the English language
Frame and hang what I say like Picasso paintings
But I am not Picasso Baby, but I am the Third Carter
Heads gon’ think I’m crazy, just tryna make the cut like a good barber
Doing me and I’m great at it; get in the game a wreak havoc
Ima set trends, Ima break patterns; on the fashion end, mix patterns
Stripes and polka, pop-color, popcorn re-up, watch me change pop culture, uh
Whatever way that God leads me; only thing I’m sure of is He does not need me
So I’ll be decreasing, you’ll see me
Living like I already died, heart to the sky, Tres will survive
Living like I already died, heart to the sky, Tres will survive
Living like I already died, heart to the sky, Tres will survive
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Tres Carter Columbus, Ohio
“This is precisely the time when artists go to work. There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for
silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal.”
Features, Booking, & Collaborations: 📧 hello@trescarter.com
... more
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