
Reuben Vincent: “Butterfly Doors”
Clip: 5/1/2025 | 2m 41sVideo has Closed Captions
Reuben Vincent performs “Butterfly Doors,” which he created during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Reuben Vincent performs one of his earliest songs, “Butterfly Doors.” In it, he speaks of regaining his confidence after a personal rough patch during the COVID-19 lockdown.
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Shaped by Sound is a local public television program presented by PBS NC
Made possible through support from Come Hear NC, a program of the N.C. Music Office within the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

Reuben Vincent: “Butterfly Doors”
Clip: 5/1/2025 | 2m 41sVideo has Closed Captions
Reuben Vincent performs one of his earliest songs, “Butterfly Doors.” In it, he speaks of regaining his confidence after a personal rough patch during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Uh, it's the boy ♪ ♪ I be riding around in my town with my top off ♪ ♪ Game has been absent from the soul ♪ ♪ Now I'm the top dog ♪ ♪ Kids I know that's only 17 ♪ ♪ That smoke like Snoop Dogg ♪ ♪ Tote it like they bishop ♪ ♪ And move it like a U-haul ♪ ♪ Menace to society ♪ ♪ But I'm more like Caine though ♪ ♪ Brother, I'm like L-L ♪ ♪ Youngin' with the Kangol ♪ ♪ Cop a whip and new chain ♪ ♪ Now you're like Django ♪ ♪ They say we some new slaves ♪ ♪ Not as bad as Ye though ♪ ♪ I've been on a new wave ♪ ♪ Drill like brothers in the UK ♪ ♪ Yo these dudes really softer than some souffle ♪ ♪ Sweeter than some Kool-Aid ♪ ♪ Also they be two-faced ♪ ♪ But I could not give two ♪ ♪ Not tomorrow or today ♪ ♪ So I gotta keep my eyes ♪ ♪ Focused on what's ahead of me ♪ ♪ If my dogs stay loyal to me ♪ ♪ They gone get some pedigree ♪ ♪ Man I need my pockets fat ♪ ♪ And also wifey thick as Heather V ♪ ♪ Probably thick as Megan be ♪ ♪ Or holy as the heavens be ♪ ♪ This some things you never seen ♪ ♪ I got bigger dreams ♪ ♪ I'm as bad as a toddler ♪ ♪ With some silver teeth ♪ ♪ I been stacking my dollars trying to get the cream ♪ ♪ The chambers that I entered ♪ ♪ Some things that you ain't never seen ♪ ♪ Make the shorties say Wu like ODB ♪ ♪ Shame on a brother if he thinking ♪ ♪ I ain't getting green ♪ ♪ Ain't had no silver spoons ♪ ♪ Now we on the TV screen ♪ ♪ Watching Martin 'til I doze off ♪ ♪ It was all a dream ♪ ♪ I be on my own ♪ ♪ Yeah brother super ♪ ♪ Told him I'm a king now ♪ ♪ They say I'm Martin Reuther ♪ ♪ Vanessa in my bed though ♪ ♪ Love my Mister Cooper ♪ ♪ Was a warrior ♪ ♪ Now I'm about to school you ♪ ♪ Boy I'm the gift that keep giving like Babushka ♪ ♪ Won't stop until my pockets ♪ ♪ Fatter than Respusha ♪ ♪ You uh brother see you shining ♪ ♪ Wanna use you ♪ ♪ All up in your party ♪ ♪ Trying to be what Uncle Luke was ♪ ♪ 2 Live ♪ ♪ Brothers gotta strive some more ♪ ♪ Look at yours and my life ♪ ♪ And see mine's allure ♪ ♪ Mine's galore ♪ ♪ I gotta praise God, my Lord ♪ ♪ I ain't religious but he cover our lives of course ♪ ♪ Whether you X or praising Allah of course ♪ ♪ There's some Elijah's that's gonna come ♪ ♪ And just surprise you, boy ♪ ♪ It's just betrayal ♪ ♪ But I'mma stay down with my brothers ♪ ♪ Couple grams in the pocket ♪ ♪ Ride around with my boy ♪ ♪ And shorty steady flocking ♪ ♪ 'cause she see I got a couple on ♪ ♪ She just want to love me ♪ ♪ She don't want to be a couple, no ♪ ♪ Put your hands high for the Lamborghini double doors ♪ ♪ Butterfly all up in the sky ♪ ♪ Let the gun explode ♪ ♪ Bam bam bam bam bam bam bam ♪ ♪ Bam bam bam bam bam bam bam ♪ [music fading out]
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Preview: 5/1/2025 | 30s | Hip-hop prodigy Reuben Vincent brings his thought-provoking lyricism to the “Shaped by Sound” stage. (30s)
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Clip: 5/1/2025 | 4m 46s | Reuben Vincent performs “Big Bank,” which draws inspiration from Charlotte’s banking industry. (4m 46s)
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Clip: 5/1/2025 | 3m 15s | Reuben Vincent performs “Fufu,” a song inspired by a staple of West African cuisine. (3m 15s)
Reuben Vincent: “Grand Cherry”
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Clip: 5/1/2025 | 3m 34s | Reuben Vincent performs “Grand Cherry,” a song about enjoying the journey more than the destination. (3m 34s)
Reuben Vincent: “Just Like a Dream”
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: 5/1/2025 | 3m 31s | Reuben Vincent performs “Just Like a Dream,” which he wrote after signing with Roc Nation. (3m 31s)
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipSupport for PBS provided by:
Shaped by Sound is a local public television program presented by PBS NC
Made possible through support from Come Hear NC, a program of the N.C. Music Office within the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.