[Intro] (Smoke...) Yeah... throne room still cold Guess some empires gotta fold Mmh, let’s go (let's go) [Verse 1] I had to fall back like the stock market, baby, divest (divest) You was Wall Street dreams but I’m investing in rest (yeah) We built it from Marcy to the penthouse, glass ceilings Now it’s shattered — that’s the price of real feelings I put the rock on your finger, you put the doubt in my ear (facts) Told Hov he was blind, but I seen it clear Paparazzi in our love life, every fight a headline (flash) Now I’m press conference solo, reading between the bylines You wanted the empire, I wanted the emperor’s peace (peace) You chased the cameras, I was tryna find release So I’ma toast to the memories, D’Ussé in my glass (cheers) Took the L, turned it to a lesson, watched you pass (skrt) We had the city in our palm, now I’m holding it down alone (alone) Used to be "us against the world" — now it’s just me and my throne (my throne) You said I changed, maybe I grew, out the seat you thought I’d own (yeah) Love was a business, baby, and I bought it back full grown (full grown) Yeah... empire state of mind, but solo (solo) [Verse 2] I’m Blueprint 4 moving on, no features on this track (nah) Got 99 problems but you ain’t one, I ain’t looking back (never) You was used to the Maybach lifestyle, I’m on a subway grind (grind) Rebuilding from the ground up, different state of mind (different) Lawyer fees and broken dreams, that’s a tax I had to pay (paid it) You wanted Mr. Carter, I’m just Shawn Corey today (Shawn) Took your name off the lease, kept the vision and the keys (keys) Legacy over luxury — that’s how a king grieves (grieves) I still wish you the best, no subliminals, no shots (no shots) But don’t you come around here saying "what we had, we forgot" (forgot) Cause I remember every bar, every scar, every night Now I’m freestyling freedom under Brooklyn’s lights (yeah) We had the city in our palm, now I’m holding it down alone (alone) Used to be "us against the world" — now it’s just me and my throne (my throne) You said I changed, maybe I grew, out the seat you thought I’d own (own) Love was a business, baby, and I bought it back full grown (grown) Yeah... empire state of mind, but solo (solo) [Outro] To all the love lost to the hustle... (hustle) To all the kings who had to choose the crown... (crown) Yeah... we good. (we good) Hov. (uh)
