[Hook]
Now everybody say the city dead
But I don’t give a fuck what a hater ever said
‘Cause these cats is only in this shit for shine
So fuck them motherfuckas, we don’t need ‘em on our side
Now my people, yeah, we about to have a run
We blast these motherfuckas from the shadow of a gun
I don’t care if y’all ain’t fuckin’ with the squad
I ain’t scared of any man, I don’t fear no one but God
[Verse One]
There ain’t no way around it no more, the city faded
‘Cause ain’t nobody passin’ the torch so we gotta take it
We used to be the front of this music culture but lately
We all been dickridin’ and chasin’ Jiggy and Mackey
Who’s the king? Ain’t nobody, fuck it, the throne is vacant
The kingdom burn to the ground and the castle there for the taking
This culture was created from struggle, the early 80s
Late 70s breakin’, Fort Apache, Reagan
Started floodin’ ghettos with crack, AIDS and the weapons
And instead of education, our pathway was to Heaven now
Know this shit is tired and passé, we mention it
The way it used to be but fuck it, class is session, learn something
We bumpin’ Bambaataa on Planet Rock
Same time, Warhol was fuckin’ with Basquiat
When Big Daddy Kane had Madonna all on his cock
There were whores on 42nd, Giuliani had ‘em locked
[Hook]
[Verse Two]
Yeah, I remember, radio broke records
When New York City was still a cultural mecca
I don’t think that Rick Rubin’ll ever pose for the camera
But them labels had another agenda
They been pimpin’ the artists for years, fuck’em
Even when artists run and we used to set all the trends
But now we follow what’s comin’
Or they regurgitating the same shit that we done with
And we sellin’ all them lies to the public
So fuck it, ain’t showin’ ‘em any love
We told ‘em that they are dumb
We takin’ shots at you bitches
You lookin’ like sittin’ ducks, agh
This compromise is like a threesome, yeah
The only way it work is if everybody gettin’ fucked
I’m livin’ up in the neighborhood that they gentrifyin’
While racial tensions are everywhere and intensifyin’
They show us violence on TV and they desensitize us
Then they call us sociopaths because we never cryin’
It’s death defyin’, the lies that we livin’
We findin’ the peace in the drugs that we can’t find in religion, amen
But the city expensive, we all get evicted
It’s no wonder that we strugglin’ in it
[Bridge]
Now everybody say the city dead
But I don’t give a fuck what a hater ever said
‘Cause these cats is only in this shit for shine
So fuck them motherfuckas, we don’t need ‘em on our side
[Verse Three]
I heard they said the city is dead and I had to side
‘Cause Jesus had to die on the cross so he could rise
Blame it on the media or blame it on the times
Or blame it on them old cats that ain’t lettin’ go of they shine
Who’s the king?
Now I don’t mean any disrespect to the legends
Who’s the king?
If you don’t pass us the torch, we gon’ burn you with it
Who’s the king?
I got respect for your run but the shit is finished
You killin’ your legacy like when Jordan played for the Wizards
Put a spell in ‘em, if they ain't fuckin’ with us, to hell with ‘em
The only industry where you fail if you sound intelligent
Posted at the spot, I’m with Grin and with all my brethren, aye
Like fuck it, we gon’ build a new crib if they don’t let us in
Who’s the king?
‘Cause Fort Apache the squad homie, we reppin’
Our team is full of entrepreneurs and not expenses
And everybody with us contributin’, no exceptions
We doin’ all this shit till the death of us, I told ‘em…
[Outro]
Everybody wanna be the king of New York
(Yeah, I wanna be the king of New York)
There ain’t no throne
Everybody fightin’ over a fuckin’ foldin’ chair
(It’s my crown! It’s my crown! It’s mine!)
It’s the empire of dirt (It’s mine! It’s all mine! I love it!)
We need to build a community, we need to support each other
We need to make sure the media cannot ignore
The community that we built like they been doin’
We need to develop and cultivate our own sound
And we need to hold these older artists accountable
(Everybody worship me! Everybody love me!)
Make sure they fuck with us and help nurture us
(It’s about me, I want it all, I want it all for me)
The way they do in other regions
(I refuse to give it to anybody else)
These young stars that keep poppin’ off without the co-signs
The go-aheads of these other motherfuckas in their cities man
(I need all the hoes! I need all the hoes! I need all the hoes!)
But instead you got these old watch motherfuckas
Clingin’ onto the shadow of the runs they had 15 years ago
I’m sick of that shit, fuck all these motherfuckas
I respect what they did, I respect they contribution to Hip-Hop
Fuck them, their time is done
You get mad that I’m talkin’ about you, really?
A lot of motherfuckas out there doin’ shit
A lot of cats ain’t scared to step outside
I be wonderin’ sometimes like is it ego?
Are y’all bank accounts just not full?
You just can’t let go of your glory days?
It’s aight, Fort Apache
