Now what if I told you my city was the best, and my city was a threat to the rest
And my city was a threat to the rest
This city is my city, and I love it, yeah I love it
I was born and raised here, I got it made here, and if I have my way I'm gonna stay
From every corner, to every block, yeah
Whether it's warm or stormy, down or right, stupid
Hot, hot, from the problems, all the way to the solutions
Yeah, forget all the drugs and gangs, corruption and pollution, no
Cause this city is my city, and I love it, yeah I love it
I was born and raised here, I got it made here, and if I have my way I'm gonna stay
The life, the life
Now what if I told you my city was the best, and my city was a threat to the rest
But you can't rest inside my city, my city's so cold if you ain't dressed
And what they accept, I had the right address
Parts of my city, certain colors can't step
And sadly I'm talking about the color of your skin
Sorry my brother can't let you in
Yeah, forget all the drugs and gangs, corruption and pollution, no
The property value might go down to a level that's economically unacceptable
And socially taboo for us to live around you, huh
Is this what it's down to, root for the same team?
Maybe I had the same dream, not the same reality
Actually, mine's it's a bad education and gentrification
Despite all the above, I love this city, it's my city, and I love it, love it, love it
I was born and raised here, I got it made here, and if I have my way I'm gonna stay
For life...
For life...
For life...
I...
You can take my picture, you can take my name
But you're never gonna take my city away
Cause you, could run into the crown
Let it fly
But it's in my blood
Cause this city, this city, this city is my city
And I love it, I love it, I love it
I was born and raised here, I got it made here
And if I have my way, I'm gonna stay here
Alive, alive, alive, alive