[Intro – 4 bars] (Sound of heavy machinery, pneumatic drills, and a blueprint unfolding) Rome wasn't built in a day. But they didn't have S.W.C. crews. We working double shifts. Watch the skyline change. [Verse 1 – 8 bars] I’m laying the bricks with the mortar of blood, sweat, and tears in the mud I’m starting a flood of the market, a stud in the wall, I’m a bud That is blooming in gloom, I am clearing the room with a sonic-ass boom I’m avoiding the tomb and impending the doom with a lyrical broom I’m sketching the plan, I’m the man with the span of the bridge and the dam I’m heavy as gram, I’m a wolf, not a lamb, I don’t give a damn About permits or limits or critics or cynics or minutes or gimmicks I’m mimic-proof, cynical-proof, I am raising the roof and the clinics. [Pre-Hook – 4 bars] First came the vision, then came the dirt Then came the hustle, then came the hurt Now comes the structure, rising so high Blocking the sun out of your little sky. [Hook – 8 bars] We are building the empire, stone by stone Solidifying the claim to the sovereign throne It’s architecture of the mind and the soul Total dominion is the ultimate goal Yeah, building the empire, steel and glass S.W.C. imprint, street with class From the basement deep to the penthouse suite We run the city while you run the street. [Verse 2 – 8 bars] I’m the foreman, the doorman, the poor man who turned to the core man The war man, the lore man, the score man, the ready-for-more man I’m pouring the concrete, the feet on the street with the beat and the heat I’m never discrete, I am elite, I delete the defeat from the fleet I’m welding the beams of the dreams and the schemes and the seams of the teams I’m silencing screams with the steams and the gleams of the memes and the creams Precision engineering, the steering, the hearing, the clearing, the fearing The ending is nearing, the cheering is hearing, the top is appearing. [Verse 3 – 8 bars] You’re building a shack out of straw and of wood and of "maybe" and "should" I’m misunderstood cause I’m building for good in the hood where I stood My foundation is deep, while you’re falling asleep, I am making the leap I’m the shepherd of sheep, I am playing for keeps, piling wealth in a heap I measure twice, cut once, never a dunce, lyrical stunts Taking the fronts and the hunts and the punts and the grunts and the runts Out of the equation, a total invasion, a special occasion Of persuasion, abrasion, evasion, and Asian-style renovation. [Hook – 8 bars] We are building the empire, stone by stone Solidifying the claim to the sovereign throne It’s architecture of the mind and the soul Total dominion is the ultimate goal Yeah, building the empire, steel and glass S.W.C. imprint, street with class From the basement deep to the penthouse suite We run the city while you run the street. [Verse 4 – 8 bars] Every bar is a pillar, every verse is a floor Every hook is a window, every track is a door I’m expanding the zone, I’m expanding the lore I’m demanding the more, I am winning the war We got monumental mental transcendental instrumental Accidental? No, intentional potential is essential I’m the landlord of the game, collecting the rent While you’re wondering where all of your money went. [Verse 5 – 8 bars] I’m zoning the district, explicitly mystic, ballistic, statistic Artistic, logistic, realistic, holistic, characteristic The skyline is mine, the design is divine, the align is a sign I’m drawing the line and I’m making it shine with the vintage wine R.C.W. tower is power, the hour is sour for cowards We devoured the flower and scoured the dour and showered the powers With lyrical acid, never placid, flaccid rappers get gassed We built this shit to last, put the future in the past. [Hook – 8 bars] We are building the empire, stone by stone Solidifying the claim to the sovereign throne It’s architecture of the mind and the soul Total dominion is the ultimate goal Yeah, building the empire, steel and glass S.W.C. imprint, street with class From the basement deep to the penthouse suite We run the city while you run the street. [Outro – 4 bars] Look up. That shadow covering your house? That's us. KB. The Architect. Done.
