This Is My City

(album: Purple Haze 2 - 2019)

[Max B:]
This is my city, my city

[Cam'ron:]
Who ever thought Cam would grow to gross in the millions?
101 West, you should've seen my building
139 Park, started off as children
Grew up with Big L and the dude supposedly killed him
A week before that though, Big L had tried to kill him
That's what I heard, please don't get in ya feelings
When the time's right I will tell you about these villains
And everybody dead, so it ain't about squealing
Weapons we conceal 'em, need be, reveal 'em
Fly, nah, fly traps was hanging from the ceiling
Milk and Giz was chilling, me and Biz was illing
Love my hood but to make it out, woo, what a feeling
I couldn't sleep at night, in my bed I would keep a knife
Until I got a gun, where I'm from they ain't believe in life
Cops come reading rights, but we ain't the reading type
You don't need Adidas or a zebra, see my stripes
Goddamn, you got to feel me brother
On my block, best friends they kill each other
No slouch or homicide to vouch ya
How I was raised, think I give a fuck about ya?

[Max B:]
Keep rising, keep rising to the top (Yeah)
Keep, keep grinding, keep striving on the block, and
To my brothers that passed away, see you when we get up top
All of us, all of us, all of us
This is my city (This is my city, Harlem)

[Cam'ron:]
Uh, yo, Reggie White took me on my first stick up
15 years old, can't front I caught the hiccups
Told me calm down, then proceed to click up
Thought that car was a shirt the way we left that shit ripped up
8th Ave, dipped up, in my waist the grip tucked
Told me keep my lips shut I ever get picked up
I said before that you'll find me with my wrist cut
Just wanted to chill, now in this shit I'm mixed up
You know Max B, I call him Charlie Rambo
Lived in the same building, you would call a bando
Outside more gunshots than Commando
That's why I had to treat myself to Porsches, Lambos
Pardon, I get emotional
It's all real, none of it is promotional
Just wanted to play basketball and have an ocean view
But when you live where I live, what the fuck you supposed to do?
Fast forward, Fort Lee, New Jersey, my triplex
Son just born, formula by the Pyrex
Liquidated money, the drugs from them big checks
Been solidified way before Dipset
No disrespect to the brotherhood
They're my brothers, but brother I'm from another hood
Where it ain't fair, like Blair they leave you under wood
Old money go missing, shots where ya mother stood

[Max B:]
Keep rising, keep rising to the top (Yeah)
Keep keep grinding, keep striving on the block, and
To my brothers that passed away, see you when we get up top
All of us, all of us, all of us (This is my city, this is my city, Harlem)

[Max B & Cam'ron:]
Keep rising to the top, keep rising to the top
(Keep rising to the top) Now, usually, I don't do this but, uh
Let's break 'em off with a sample of the remix (Keep rising to the top)