Track 5 of the album Porch Steps Full · 2025
Cousin's Mixtape, Side B Never Skipped
by Kane Rivers
“Play side B first, trust me. My cousin was right about everything.”
boom-bap · groovy boom-bap · nostalgic rap · 3:08
Lyrics
Cousin handed me a tape with a marker-scribbled spine Said play side B first, trust me, it's fine Basement speakers crackling in the summer heat Every bar hit like a drum on the street Hand-drawn cover, a skyline in pen Track one from the rooftop, the crew right in I learned every word like a school-yard test Rewind, press play, never needed rest Side B never skipped, side B never skipped Every line a lesson, every beat a trip Hiss in the background, the tape on a loop Cousin's mixtape, my whole crew Side B never skipped, side B never skipped Rewind it back, the whole block flipped Hold it in my hands, it's a piece of home Cousin's mixtape, I'm never alone Rode the bus with the headphones jammed in tight Pencil in the spool when the tape got caught tonight Wrote my first verse on the back of a receipt Tried to match his flow, couldn't match the heat But he said keep writing, keep it true Don't copy mine, find what's inside of you That one sentence changed my whole game Now I'm the one making tapes with my name Side B never skipped, side B never skipped Every line a lesson, every beat a trip Hiss in the background, the tape on a loop Cousin's mixtape, my whole crew Side B never skipped, side B never skipped Rewind it back, the whole block flipped Hold it in my hands, it's a piece of home Cousin's mixtape, I'm never alone Tape got warped in the car in July Still plays wobbly, still makes me fly Some things you don't fix, you just let them sing Crooked and proud, like everything Years later, cousin on the porch with a smile I hand him a tape, my first in a while He plays side A, nods slow, says that's real Now I know exactly how that feels The student turned teacher, the loop came round Marker on the spine, the new sound Pass it on, brother, that's how it goes Every tape's a seed, and the whole block grows Side B never skipped, side B never skipped Every line a lesson, every beat a trip Hiss in the background, the tape on a loop Cousin's mixtape, my whole crew Side B never skipped, side B never skipped Rewind it back, the whole block flipped Hold it in my hands, it's a piece of home Cousin's mixtape, I'm never alone Press play, press play Pass it on today