Dave East gets literal in the music video for “It Was Written,” the latest single off last year’s Kairi Chanel project.

Dipping his quill pen in ink, the Harlem rapper sits back, smokes, and writes out his life, telling the story of going from days in the projects to life in penthouse suites.

In between scenes of East penning the lyrics to “It Was Written,” Dave heads to New York rooftops to show off his Empire State of Mind.

Dave isn’t just a writer; he’s also an artist in the video. At one point, he draws his daughter’s portrait in one of his many scrolls. “Everybody keep telling me, ‘Make a club record,” he raps. “You ain’t trappin’ no more, stop making drug records / You got a daughter about to come, stop making thug records.'”

Kairi Chanel was released last year and now, the Def Jam/Mass Appeal spitter is planning his next project. Recently, he teamed up with Chris Brown and provided a snippet of their collaboration, which can be heard below.

Soon, Dave will be heading out on the road with Kid Ink. The “#UpAllNight” European tour is set to run from March 10 in Munich through April 15 in Manchester.