K-Nae in the Studio: The Making of "Cuddle" (Live)

 The pure authenticity of "Cuddle" (Live)

Welcome back to The Hollahotfire Lights On Lyrics Blog. In this space, we keep it real, we keep it authentic, we tell it like it is and never like it ain't. Today, I'm taking you into the raw heart of my new album "Playing with Shadows" to break down the track "Cuddle."

There are no heavy beats or crazy production tricks on this one. It's just me spilling the unfiltered truth while Nae lays down the acoustic guitar. When you strip away all the extra noise and it's just my voice and Nae making Maybelline do her thing, you can't fake the emotion. The vulnerability is the whole point.

The Setup: The Sanctuary

“Yo girl you been working too much / You need to take a break / Come kick it with me”

This is just the realest intro ever. No breakdown needed.

“It’s cold outside baby / why don’t you come in and cuddle / Always on the hustle / but I see you struggle”

When I wrote this hook, I was thinking about the harsh realities of the world. The "cold outside" isn't just about the weather; it's the daily hustle, the stress, and the absolute exhaustion of just trying to survive. A lot of artists would write a hook offering to buy a girl the world. I didn't want to do that. I wanted to offer a sanctuary. I was telling her it’s okay to stop fighting the wind, put the armor down, and just rest. With Nae's acoustic guitar driving the rhythm, it feels exactly like sitting in a warm room while a storm rages outside.

Verse 1: The Honest Reality

“Have a cup of coffee / it'll warm your soul / If you wanna smoke / pack a bowl / That's just how I roll / add some soul / yeah somedays I'mma asshole / But most days I'm mad dope / let's not fuss about the past though / Climb in bring that ass close”

This verse strips away all the glamorous lifestyle bullshit and replaces it with my actual, everyday reality. Coffee and weed. That's just how I roll. But the most important part of this verse is the radical self-awareness. I flat out admit, "somedays I'mma asshole." I'm acknowledging that my dark side can be difficult to deal with. But I'm asking for grace regarding my past mistakes so we can just focus on keeping each other warm in the present moment.

Verse 2: The Death of the Mask

“Allow me to reintroduce myself / My name is Kyle / And I'm just trying to do is make you smile / I know it's been a while / You been in denial / I'll give options / Lock in this free trial”

This right here is the most important lyric in the song, and it perfectly matches the acoustic vibe of Playing with Shadows. For years, I used the name "K-Holla" as a protective mask. It was built out of arrogance and bravado to hide my deep insecurities. By explicitly saying, "Allow me to reintroduce myself / My name is Kyle," I was dropping the act completely. I'm telling this woman she isn't getting the rapper, the persona, or the ego. She is getting the real, vulnerable man underneath who just wants to make her smile.

The Bridge & Outro: The "Big Boy" Comfort

“Enough with this weather it's ugly / I can make it better just trust me / Come over here and hug me / Big boy I'm comfy I'm comfy I'm comfy”

I'm a big guy… 6 feet tall and over 300 pounds. In a lot of situations, a man my size might try to project intimidation or dominance. In this song, I flipped that narrative entirely. I used my size to be a source of ultimate comfort and safety. I wanted to be the physical anchor against the ugly weather outside.

The Final Verdict

"Cuddle" is the sound of absolute honesty... a classic Wisconsin winter anthem! Doing it stripped down with Nae on the acoustic guitar proved that I don't need a heavy instrumental or an arrogant persona to make a track that hits hard. I just needed to tell the truth about wanting to be a safe place for someone I care about.

Keep the lights on.

If this song or this story helped you today, you can get music downloads and official hyFen8ed merch at direct.app/hyfen8ed and find all Kyle Holloway’s links at dot.cards/kylehollowaymusic

"Cuddle" - Full Song Lyrics:

(Intro)

Yo girl you been working too much 

You need to take a break 

Come kick it with me 

(Pre-chorus)

It's cold outside it's cold outside 

It's cold outside 

(Chorus)

It’s cold outside baby 

why don’t you come in and cuddle

Always on the hustle 

but I see you struggle

No trouble 

Swear to God I'm trying to love you 

Its cold outside so come in and cuddle

Its cold outside so come in and cuddle

Always on the hustle 

but I see you struggle

No trouble 

Swear to God I'm trying to love you 

Its cold outside so come in and cuddle

(Verse 1)

It's already snowing 

There's more to go 

Have a cup of coffee 

it'll warm your soul 

If you wanna smoke 

pack a bowl 

That's just how I roll 

Add some soul 

Yeah somedays I'mma asshole

But most days  I'm mad dope 

let's not fuss about the past though 

Climb in bring that ass close 

Yeah I'm about to keep you warm 

All night long 

Shit I might keep you warm 

all life long 

Sorry if you think I ever 

did that ass wrong 

Least you know I never 

hit that ass wrong 

Baby I'm the one you need to love 

Because baby I'm the one who heats you up

(Pre-chorus)

It's cold outside it's cold outside 

It's cold outside 

(Chorus)

It’s cold outside baby 

why don’t you come in and cuddle

Always on the hustle 

but I see you struggle

No trouble 

Swear to God I'm trying to love you 

Its cold outside so come in and cuddle

Its cold outside so come in and cuddle

Always on the hustle 

but I see you struggle

No trouble 

Swear to God I'm trying to love you 

Its cold outside so come in and cuddle

(Verse 2)

Allow me to reintroduce myself 

My name is Kyle 

All I'm trying to do is make you smile 

I know it's been a while 

You been in denial 

I'll give options Lock in this free trial 

Guarantee I got what you need 

you'll never cancel your subscription 

because you couldn't handle missing more of me

You sort of fiend 

For what I have 

Take this to the heart 3 times 

Rewind Please be mine See I'm 

trying to make you laugh

And also make you love me 

Enough with this weather it's ugly 

I can make it better just trust me 

Come over here and hug me 

Big boy I'm comfy I'm comfy I'm comfy 

(Pre-chorus)

It's cold outside it's cold outside 

It's cold outside 

(Chorus)

It’s cold outside baby 

why don’t you come in and cuddle

Always on the hustle 

but I see you struggle

No trouble 

Swear to God I'm trying to love you 

Its cold outside so come in and cuddle

Its cold outside so come in and cuddle

Always on the hustle 

but I see you struggle

No trouble 

Swear to God I'm trying to love you 

Its cold outside so come in and cuddle

(Outro)

It's cold outside it's cold outside 

It's cold outside 

The True Definition of A.I. (Arrogance and Ignorance)

 

The Real Meaning Behind "A.I."

Welcome to The Hollahotfire Lights On Lyrics Blog. For years, I spent my life playing with shadows, hiding behind a persona, and numbing the pain. But this space is about keeping the lights on forever. Today, I want to give you the unfiltered truth behind my song "A.I." from the Surrender album. When people see the title "A.I." right now, they automatically think of artificial intelligence. They think of the technology everyone is terrified of taking over the world. But when I wrote this track, I wasn't talking about computers, algorithms, or robots. I was talking about the two things that almost completely destroyed my life: Arrogance and Ignorance.

“Let God wash away my Arrogance and Ignorance / The only A.I. I'm afraid of.”

For over a decade, I wore the mask of "K-Holla." That persona was a protective shield built entirely out of arrogance, humor, and bravado. I created him when I was 18 to hide my own deep insecurities. 

Arrogance told me I was invincible. It convinced me I could handle the drugs, that I could control the chaos, and that I didn't need anybody's help. It was the ego that let me perform on stage but also kept me completely isolated and trapped in an attic.

Ignorance was the other half of the trap. It was willful blindness. It was me ignoring the damage I was doing to my own soul, pretending that using was just a way to catch a spark, when the reality was I was just running away from the pain of my past. I was ignorant to the fact that I was trading real human connection for a chemical high that only dug me into a deeper hole.

“I know myself / I had to go through hell / Grow until / I could look into the mirror like I know you well.”

October 11, 2025, marked the official death of K-Holla. I finally realized that my strength alone wasn't enough, and my own pride had deceived me. I had to let that arrogant, ignorant shadow die so that Kyle Holloway could actually live. 

“It's been rough / This whole life of sin / Give it up / Give it right up to Him.”

That is the hardest part of the journey. Surrendering the control you thought you had. But if you are a broken-but-trying person reading this right now, I want you to know that you don't have to keep wearing the mask. You don't have to keep fighting the current. You can let arrogance and ignorance wash away. You can live authentically. Mistakes are just proof that you're trying.

As my late cousin Skyler would say… “Lights on bitches!”

The official music video for “A.I.” is out now!

If this story helped you today, support by getting official hyFen8ed merch at direct.app/hyfen8ed

Thank you and God bless!

"Not Sure": Why Uncertainty is the First Step to Faith

The Bar:

"I know that you're not tryin' to diss God's word / Trust me that I understand, you're just not sure."

The Breakdown: 

Most Christian music acts like doubt is a sin. They sell you the finish line where everything is perfect. But my testimony didn’t start at the finish line—it started in the dark, with a candle, terrified of the next step.

When I wrote "Not Sure," I wasn't standing on a mountaintop. I was coming out of a psychosis induced by addiction, looking at a Bible and feeling… disconnected. I wanted to believe, but my brain was still rewiring itself from the trauma.

I realized something profound that night: God isn't intimidated by your questions.

In the second verse, I say: "Darkness surrounded / I was given a candle / Because he knew how far the next step / I was ready to handle."

That’s the core of recovery. If God showed me the whole picture—the sobriety, the LLC, the rebrand, the 150 shows—I would have run away. It was too much light for eyes that were used to the dark. He gave me just enough light for one step.

The Takeaway: 

If you are reading this and you feel like a "bad Christian" because you have questions, or you feel like a "failed addict" because you aren't fixed yet—stop.

You don't have to be "Sure." You just have to be willing to take the next step.

🎧 Listen to "Not Sure" here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_b4FbIJpFU 🙏 

Need prayer? Join the HyFen8ed Healing Hearts community. 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/hyfen8edhealinghearts

Lyrical Breakdown: "I'mma Shut Up"

"I'mma Shut Up" out now! 

https://too.fm/k-holla-imma-shut-up-prod-by-ryini-beats

Lyrics:

You ever been listening to a friend telling you what happened
Instead of just laughing you start getting mad then
You give them your opinion and it starts a fight
Over someone else you hardly like
Then you realize your whole day got ruined by negativity
Well fuck that I won't let it get to me

Before I stick my nose where it shouldn't be
Let me check the mirror take a look at me
Nope
Still not God
So guess what
Not my job to judge
Still not God
So guess what
Not my job to judge

I’mma shut up
I’mma shut up
I’mma shut I’mma shut
I’mma shut up
I’mma shut up
I’mma shut up 
I’mma shut I’mma shut
I’mma shut up
Took me way too long to learn this one but
Better late than never let me just shut up
I’mma just shut up
I’mma shut up
I’mma shut up
I’mma shut Imma shut
I’mma shut up

Well it's settled the devil loves to meddle
Just like black’s what the pot calls the kettle
Let me step back breathe before I open
My mouth and watch it go south as soon as I go in
I’mma shut up
I’mma shut up
I’mma shut up
Doing all that talking
Finally figured out
The problem my mouth
It happen way too often

Before I stick my nose where it shouldn't be
Let me check the mirror take a look at me
Nope
Still not God
So guess what
Not my job to judge
Before I stick my nose where it shouldn't be
Let me check the mirror take a look at me
Nope
Still not God
So guess what
Not my job to judge

I’mma shut up
I’mma shut up
I’mma shut I’mma shut
I’mma shut up
I’mma shut up
I’mma shut up
I’mma shut I’mma shut
I’mma shut up
Took me way too long to learn this one but
Better late than never let me just shut up
Shut up
Better late than never let me just
I’mma shut up
I’mma shut up
I’mma shut I’mma shut
I’mma shut up

Lyrical Breakdown: "I'mma Shut Up"

Yo, so let’s talk about "I'mma Shut Up". This one’s for all of us who’ve been caught up in some unnecessary BS and needed a reminder that sometimes… silence is the best weapon. Trust me, I learned this lesson the hard way. 😂 Let’s break it down real quick.

---

"You ever been listening to a friend telling you what happened,
Instead of just laughing you start getting mad then,
You give them your opinion and it starts a fight,
Over someone else you hardly like..."

Let’s be real. How many times you been vibing with a homie, they start telling you about their drama, and next thing you know, you’re more heated than they are? 😂 You're ready to fight over someone you don't even mess with like that! It's crazy how fast your day can get hijacked by someone else’s nonsense. This verse is me catching that moment when you realize you’re in way too deep over something that doesn't even concern you. It’s like, damn, why did I let myself get worked up?

---

"Before I stick my nose where it shouldn't be,
Let me check the mirror, take a look at me,
Nope, still not God,
So guess what, not my job to judge…"

This line right here—THIS is where I had to look at myself. We all got opinions, but at the end of the day, it ain't our job to play God and decide what's right or wrong for someone else. Took me a minute to understand that. Before I open my mouth, I gotta check myself. I ain't here to judge, I’m just trying to live my own life. And let’s be honest, judging ain't solving anything anyway, so why even bother?

---

"I’mma shut up, I’mma shut up,
I’mma shut, I’mma shut, I’mma shut up..."

Now, this hook... it’s the mantra. Sometimes you gotta say it over and over to remind yourself. It’s simple because it’s a straight-up reminder. When you’re about to get involved, sometimes you just gotta fall back. That’s the whole vibe right here—no point in talking, just let it be. I'mma shut up is the anthem for when you realize, "Yo, not everything needs my two cents." Life gets a lot less stressful when you know when to hold your tongue. 😂

---

"Well it's settled, the devil loves to meddle,
Just like black’s what the pot calls the kettle…"

This line is a whole truth bomb. That negativity, that drama—it’s always lurking. The devil loves it when we get all worked up and wrapped up in things that don’t matter. It's funny how we’ll throw shade at someone, not realizing we’re doing the same thing. The pot calling the kettle black is basically us being hypocrites. The devil is in the details, man, and if you’re not careful, it’ll suck you in. So, sometimes you just gotta step back and check yourself.

---

"Took me way too long to learn this one, but
Better late than never, let me just shut up…"

Let me tell you something—this right here is the truth. Took me way too long to realize that shutting up can be a superpower. 😂 We always feel like we gotta have the last word, like we gotta say something. But nah, sometimes it's better to just let it ride. Better late than never, though. That’s a lesson we can all relate to—finally realizing that some things just aren’t worth your energy. So yeah, I’m late to the game, but I’m here now, and I’m shutting up.

---

"Doing all that talking, finally figured out,
The problem’s my mouth, it happen way too often…"

This is me being real with myself. A lot of the problems I had were because of me running my mouth too much. 😂 Once you can admit that, it’s like a weight lifts off your shoulders. The first step to fixing the issue is admitting you're the one causing it, right? I’ve been guilty of talking too much, thinking I had to respond to everything, but now I know—it’s my mouth that needs the timeout, not the world.

---

"Before I stick my nose where it shouldn't be,
Let me check the mirror take a look at me,
Nope, still not God,
So guess what, not my job to judge…"

Yeah, I repeat this because it’s THAT important. I have to remind myself daily—it’s not my place to judge or fix everyone else’s issues. It’s easy to forget when you're caught up in the moment, but this is my personal check. Before I dive into something that ain’t mine, I gotta take that step back, look in the mirror, and remember—I ain't God. 😂 It’s cool to let things slide.

---

Final Thoughts on "I'mma Shut Up"

This song is all about growth. It’s about learning when to just fall back and let life happen. Not everything needs my opinion, not every argument needs my input, and not every situation needs me to jump in. I spent too much time getting caught up in things that were messing with my peace. Now, I'm about keeping my energy right, and "I'mma Shut Up" is the soundtrack to that mindset. 

So yeah, I’m still figuring it out like everybody else, but I hope this track helps you do the same. We all got stuff to work on, and for me, it’s knowing when to stay quiet. Let me know in the comments if you’ve ever had to learn this lesson the hard way too. 💯

Until next time, remember, if you need to... shut up! 😂

Peace,
– K-Holla 🎤🔥

"MAHBED" 🤯🤯🤯 - "God's Plan" - Drake

It's not uncommon at all to misunderstand what a singer or rapper who doesn't enunciate actually says... Hell half the time they don't even know the actual lyric even if they wrote the fucking word...but this piece of lyrical information I just so happened to stumble upon this last week has left me absolutely in awe... dare I say... FUCKING FLABBERGASTED! 🤣🤣🤣

For a guy like me, who has been writing lyrics, mostly rap, for literally 20 years this fall, I can't even start to believe what I believe the biggest rapper turned pop star of my generation and possibly, after this, the greatest of all time...yeah I said it!... just pulled off for going on five years now!!! 🤯🤯🤯

Last week, my mother was interested in what I listen to when I'm feeling the spirit since I don't listen to much traditional gospel. So as we were "randomly" listening to this song, while showing my mother what I have on my Spotify playlist titled "The Plan is Love - Faith Music," a nod to my late grandma who's maiden name was Love, I happened to look at her computer screen and saw the lyrics on Spotify right before the famous beat drop. 

Now I consider myself a writer more than a rapper so I like reading lyrics even when it seemed like "for absolutely no reason AT ALL" because EVERYBODY knows what he was about to say during the most quoted bars of possibly the most popular song of the last decade! 

What I saw felt like I was seeing the most obvious typo ever. I had to double, even triple take, when I saw it read "she say do you love me / I tell her only partly / I only love MAHBED and my momma I'm sorry"........ 

WAIT JUST ONE MOTHER FUCKING MINUTE!!! 😳😳😳

WHAT?!?!?!?!? (Insert Lil' Jon voice)

MAHBED????????? 🤯🤯🤯

WTF IS A MAHBED??????? 🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️

I thought for sure musixmatch the company that provides most the lyrics to Spotify or whoever is responsible for sending them those lyrics from Drake's camp had made a mistake...

Or.....

Maybe it was spelled like that because sometimes as a rapper I will purposely misspell my lyrics so I know how I want to pronounce them during the recording session.....

BUT NO!!! 🤬🤬🤬

None of these were the case... 

I googled it and sure as my ass grew up in the 90s loving WWF, this mother fucker Drake had pulled off the sneakiest entendre of all entendres! This might be the greatest trick since the devil himself tricked the world into believing he doesn't exist! 💯💯💯

For perspective let's rewind...

Now maybe I'm showing my age but I'm admitting I'm a 34 year old rapper who like most of Drake's early non-female fanbase was into lyrical rappers like Jay-Z, Eminem, and Drake's mentor Lil' Wayne.  

I remember vividly living with my dad in Menomonie, WI and visiting my friend, Rob Dennie, in Eau Claire, WI about twenty minutes east of Menomonie in the beautiful Chippewa Valley. 

I remember how excited he was to be telling me about this new rapper for the first time that was an actor on a show I had never heard or seen before called Degrassi... He was so positive this guy was gonna be the next big thing and I'll give him credit, even before signing with Young Money, my guy was absolutely right! 

He played me two songs in his SUV..."Successful" and "Uptown" and I had to admit, even as a young rapper who did a lot of hating trying to cover up my own insecurities, I knew I just heard something special...it was undeniable...He was next! 💯💯💯

But it didn't take a rocket scientist to hear that Drake had that "it" factor.

It was like hearing Kanye arrogance, Jay-Z confidence, Lil' Wayne swagger, and most importantly to me Eminem clarity all at once! After that I went back and found "Still Fly" Freestyle along with many others that are the soundtrack to my early 20s. 

Now I was never a Drake "Stan" because I didn't relate to him personally and wasn't into the pop songs like "Find Your Love" or "Hold on We're Going Home". 

But when "Best I Ever Had" came out he did it...He brought together all his fans with this one song that in my eyes is his biggest hit that I'll always think of first when recollecting his catalog like Snoop's "Gin & Juice".  And good or bad I will always be reminded of my girlfriend at the time who I would dedicate that to... Smh... Kids 😂😂😂

We all know the first three Drake albums were classics...up there with Kanye's and Eminem's first three masterpieces..so no need to go on and on. Back to the reason I'm writing this...

Drake, regardless of your opinion, without a doubt has top 3 cleanest vocals of all time with that voice that cuts through and sits on the beat perfectly, yet with the tone and control to never sound too loud. It wouldn't be right to not credit his engineer, 40, who I didn't have a clue who he was then but he became just as, if not more famous than most rappers since. 

That is my main point right there! The clearest enunciating rapper with the cleanest vocals in the game made ALMOST EVERY SINGLE PERSON UNDER 30 YEARS OLD, MAYBE EVEN 40 OR 50, WITH A PULSE!!! sing along the WRONG WORDS to the catchiest, seemingly most obvious, innocent bars, EVER!!! 

AND most would've NEVER known had Spotify not started including lyrics (THANK YOU SPOTIFY!) and lyrical nerds like me making such a big deal by telling everyone on his blog and at his part time gas station clerk job! SAY WHAT'S REAL!!! 😂😂😂

That's EXACTLY what makes this SO UNREAL! 🤯🤯🤯

Being who I am and not being alone in saying I have barely checked for a new Drake album since Scorpion. Unless it's a decent song I hear a friend playing truth is Drake's just not that Drake anymore. I'm a J. Cole guy personally. COLE World! Him and Kendrick far surpassed Drake albums long ago for lyrical status. Then after going through his rough years Eminem came back with some amazing songs again finally... THANK YOU MGK! 

That's a whole different post though! 

But I'm not gonna sit here and bash Drake for having writers either because his pen was solidified before the level of fame he reached called for the type of artist he became, but know the numbers don't mean shit to me. 

This shit right here! 

This shit right here! 

Legendary!

It's something I'll never forget and that is why Drake is now not just top 10 to me but arguably in my top 5 for G.O.A.T. status. 🐐🐐🐐

For this...I salute you Drake! 🫡🫡🫡

I should've known ever since I heard my favorite Drake verse on "I'm Goin' In" to when I first heard "Stunt Hard" that you were one of maybe only 3 rappers who could go in on a stunt this hard while showing love to your son, mom, and God at the same time!!! 

HE WAS NOT LYING WHEN HE SAID DRAKE JUST STAND FOR DO RIGHT AND KILL EVERYTHING!!! ☠️☠️☠️

It's been lingering in the back of my mind so much that after starting to write about something else altogether today I ended up going off on a tangent and writing a whole verse about this discovery. Then after the verse I wrote this post.

Here's the verse I wrote today...

3rd time I ran into you recently

Be like God damn

Not even gonna act like it's random

Seems like Gods plan

Speaking of

Just learned Drake wasn't rapping bout his bed 

but his son instead

Spotify lyrics had me like 

no fucking way 

that's not what he said

Googled what I read

and sure as shit

Mahbed his son's middle name 

but it's ok I know I'm not the only one who feels dumb I bet

I believe Kobe numbers got it wrong 

At least 81 percent

If no one try and lie 

probably more like 99

Shit honestly probably 

only his mother and him 

knew what he meant

Just cuz you hear it 

don't mean you know the lyrics

What's crazy is whole time  

that drop had us going dumb

Not just figuratively but now Literally

Goes to show you not a lot

Even know what's up

How ironic just like God is 

To those who 

don't know above

So out of all the hot shit 

Drake been wrote 

To me that makes this quote 

his coldest one

Moral of the story - 

Even when you're absolutely positive you know, you can still have no idea!

Never lose your right to be wrong!

Keep learning, Stay humble! 

GOD'S PLAN!!! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Thank you for reading and leave a comment (and be honest) whether you actually knew it was Mahbed and not my bed....

Support by purchasing my music on Bandcamp or merchandise @ Holla's hyFen8ed Hotspot

All other links can be found @ dot.cards/holla999