Yo, 963 on the clock, feel the pulse in the street Streetlights bleedin' red on the concrete, bitter and sweet
Used to be us, fought deep in the whip, windows down low Now I'm up, lookin' down from the penthouse, watchin' em sow
Top floor view, city lights blurrin' low, yeah Used to be down, now I'm watchin' em reap what they sow
What they planted in the dark, yeah the reaper don't lie Karma's a cold truth, lookin' you dead in the eye
From the ashes, from the danger, I learned how to move Saw the signs and the shadows had to break from the groove
Now they stuck in the mud, while the diamonds still shine Funny how the universe keeps track of the time
Back in the day, young guns, no fear in our hearts, we were wild Posted on corners, tearin' the city apart, misguided child
Loyalty thick, thought we'd die for the cause, sworn to block Breakin' the bread, breakin' the motherfuckin' laws, round the clock
Hit that lick, the one with the safe in the back The adrenaline rush, split the pie, thought we were on the right track
Movin' with the hush, flip them packs, watchin' the paper pile high Quick and supreme, ignorant bliss, livin' under a cursed sky
Chasin' a dream, funny thing, I saw the rock from the jump, the cracks in the facade
Try to tell em, chill, this ain't no endless pump, play the wild card
They just laugh, said, now we gon' ride till we crash, ain't no pretend
Blinded by glitter, chasin' the fool's gold stash Till the bitter end, had to choose my path
Before the chains got too tight, the grip grew strong Left the dark, stepped into the morning light, where I truly belong
They called me soft, said I lost my street cred Left a concrete trail, but I chose my brain
Instead of endin' up dead or locked in a jail
Top floor view, city lights blurrin' low, yeah Used to be down, now I'm watchin' them reap what they sow
What they planted in the dark, yeah, the reaper don't lie Karma's a cold truth, lookin' you dead in the eye
From the ashes, from the danger, I learned how to move Saw the signs and the shadows, had to break from the groove
Now they stuck in the mud, while the diamonds still shine Funny how the universe keeps track of the time
Fast forward years now, the picture is grim A stark, harsh reality, one locked away Another lost to the sin, buried in futility
Heard about Ray, caught a thirty year bid For that same old game, for the secrets he hid
Forever etched in the hall of shame And little Kev still hustlin', crumbs on the block
Lookin' haggard and worn, lookin' older than his years Punchin' the clock of the streets since he was born
Not a nine to five, but the clock of the grave Relentless and slow, trapped in a cycle
Can't find his own two feet, nowhere to go Meanwhile I'm here, boardroom bespoke attire
My empire stands tall, built an empire Fueled by a different fire, answer the different call
From them dark alleyways to a skyline so grand, a testament to might
Got the world in my pocket, new cards in my hand, step into the light
Every dollar they chased, cost them more than they gave us So crushing feet, dug their own graves
What they built, couldn't save, for the world to see The universe balances, don't matter how long
It finds its own way, hear that echo Old friends, this is Karma's song at the end of the day
Top floor view, city lights blurrin' low, yeah Used to be down, now I'm watchin' them reap what they sow
What they planted in the dark, yeah, the reaper don't lie Karma's a cold truth, lookin' you dead in the eye
From the ashes, from the danger, I learned how to move Saw the signs and the shadows, had to break from the groove
Now they stuck in the mud, while the diamonds still shine Funny how the universe keeps track of the time
It ain't joy I feel, watchin' my brothers fall deep, a hollow victory
There's a sadness and triumph, secrets that spirits keep, a shared history
But the lesson is vital, it's in my very soul, for all to discern
You sow what you reap, lose what you can't control, a harsh lesson to learn
I ain't forget where I came from, the struggle, the grime, the hunger and pain
Just learn to discern, read the hands of time, through sun and through rain
That street wisdom I gained, used it to transcend, not just to survive
Escaped the quicksand, found my own new end, made sure I stayed alive
Yeah, 93, the heartbeat of the streets, still echo in my mind
Some made it out, some got stuck, but neither left to pass behind
Karma's real, ain't no debatin' that fact, it always comes around
Young kings, choose your path, yeah
Once you're on it, ain't no turnin' back, yeah
Ain't no turnin' back
