BLZA Blasé  -  The City Is Mine

[Intro] [Haunting Saxophone] Yeah... Concrete raised me. Streetlights baptized me. You can own a building— That don't mean you own the block. Look... [Verse 1] I came from where the sirens harmonize with the bass, Where ambition and survival occupy the same space, Old heads on the corner puttin' wisdom in the air, Young boys want the crown before they old enough to wear it. I was studyin' the pavement, every crack had a lesson, Every setback turned into another investment, Had a dollar and a dream, made 'em both multiply, Now my name hit the room 'fore I physically arrive. City taught me never show 'em where the pressure reside, Keep your cards by your chest, let success be the surprise, I seen kings lose kingdoms over ego and pride, So I move like the mayor with the streets on my side. Not elected—respected, there's a hell of a difference, Built mine brick by brick, ain't inherit the business, They talk big online, then get quiet in person, I'm the type to make a setback look like part of the purchase. [Chorus] The city is mine! From the skyline down to the county line, Every corner got a story, every story got a grind, I put blood in these bars, put my soul in these rhymes— The city is mine! From the late-night trains to the neon signs, From the broke-down blocks to the houses on the rise, You can see my fingerprints all over the design— The city is mine! [Verse 2] Yo, I step in lookin' like trouble got dressed for dinner, Big grin, fresh kicks, attitude of a winner, They said, "Tone it down!"—I turned the whole amp up, I don't knock on doors, homie, I make the damn frame jump. I'm from the school where the lunchroom table was business, Talk slick, get roasted, better come with your wits then, I got punchlines stacked like boxes in basements, Flow so dirty need gloves just to play this. They want smoke? I'm a chimney with sneakers, Got more drive than a parking lot full of two-seaters, Your man's "next up"? Tell him take him a breather, I'm eatin' every track like somebody called the caterer. Ha! I make arrogance sound like a public service, Walk in late like, "Relax, now the function perfect," Everybody want the throne till the seat get hot, I'm sittin' comfortable—feet kicked up on the top. [Chorus] The city is mine! From the skyline down to the county line, Every corner got a story, every story got a grind, I put blood in these bars, put my soul in these rhymes— The city is mine! From the late-night trains to the neon signs, From the broke-down blocks to the houses on the rise, You can see my fingerprints all over the design— The city is mine! [Verse 3] Look— I don't need the key, I got equity here, Made a lane, paved it twice, now the exit is near, Funny how they overlook you when the revenue's zero, Then your phone turn into Times Square soon as you a hero. I learned ownership different from bein' popular, Applause disappear; assets keep watchin' ya, So while they were celebratin' bottles and models, I was thinkin' three summers ahead with the throttle. That's chess, not checkers, Boss talk, no lecture, Made mistakes, paid tuition, now the loss look better, 'Cause every scar on the résumé increased my leverage, Turned pain into property, pressure into preference. I know hustlers with degrees, professors from corners, Single mothers makin' miracles every damn morning, This ain't just about me when I say that it's mine— I'm talkin' everybody that survived and still shines. The cab driver grindin', barber sweepin' the floor, Cook in the kitchen still dreamin' of more, Kid writin' sixteen with his ear to the door, Tell 'em someday that whole damn city could be yours. [Bridge] Every brick, every block, every light in the night, Every dream somebody told you wasn't yours by right, Put your name on your future, don't wait for a sign— When you build where you stand, you can say— THE CITY IS MINE! [Final Chorus] The city is mine! From the skyline down to the county line, Every corner got a story, every story got a grind, We put blood in these streets, put our souls on the line— The city is mine! From the basement dreams to the rooftop lights, From the first-day struggle to the champagne nights, Ain't nobody hand us nothin', we designed the climb— The city is mine! [Outro] You thought "mine" meant ownership? Nah. It means responsibility. If you claim the city... Build something in it. Yeah.