Yup, the truth gon hurt,
play by the rules but the rules don't work,
cash rules everything prove your worth,
enough to make a pure heart do some dirt,
so, light this swish up, start this bitch up,
do what you gotta and I'm right there with you,
got no permission, on a mad mission,
to fuck shit up from all positions.
These are the days when shit goes down,
reach for the sky or kiss the ground,
nothing to lose when the pigs come round,
we rebel royals with no crown
Ring the alarm, that war sound,
Rise with the tide or ya'll drown,
pump your brakes and just slow down,
we rebel royals with no crown.
My peoples ain't copping no porsches,
they hopping up all on my warship,
they burning down shit they don't like,
and destroying all that they worship,
We live a quick life with no foot brake,
my people push rhymes or they push weight,
kush ain't no crime, it's the hood way,
but a crooks nine is a crooks fate.
It's a good day, for a campaign
Shaka Zulu my damn name,
New York, Egypt, Bahrain,
every siren sound the damn same.
No half crooks, no half kings,
no title prize for a half win,
my mind hungry, like fasting,
for a shine that's everlasting.

CHORUS
I been to the top while I was wrestling with my shadow,
I been a rebel in the desert, I done battled through the fire,
Through the fire,
Done led an army and I brought down walls of castles,
Done been alone against the world and I done battled through the fire,
Through the fire

Through the fire, passed it,
did that shit my own way,
a phoenix from the ashes,
a diamond in a roach tray,
so okay, you best know,
the world is mine, Esco,
the ghetto manifesto,
rally my troops and let's go
'Cause these days, the whole hood hurt,
can't make rent, put in work,
they with the pay get to run earth,
and never look what they done birthed.
So, these are the days my team reigns,
watch for the coup on the replay,
victory laps on the freeway,
got my head spinning like weed haze.
No time for beefing with cliques,
no mind for heaving these bricks,
tat read 'Azad' so I'm free as god,
and I'm saving wall street a clip,
Money don't know how to act,
so guerillas on attack,
I set fire to they backs,
yeah, I lit it with they racks,
'Cause I love the smell of gasoline,
balaclavas at the cash machine,
and these Guy Fawkes on my blocks,
Norman Rockwell come paint this scene,
I been the best, survived the worst
been tested and died of thirst,
been passed and I been cursed,
I been the last and now I'm the first.

CHORUS
I been to the top while I was wrestling with my shadow,
I been a rebel in the desert, I done battled through the fire,
Through the fire,
Done led an army and I brought down walls of castles,
Done been alone against the world and I done battled through the fire,
Through the fire

'Cause I hear a humming coming from all around,
killer bees on their way up from underground,
can't nobody, nobody hold us down,
we rebel royals with no crown.
'Cause I hear a humming coming from all around,
killer bees on their way up from underground,
can't nobody, nobody hold us down,
we rebel royals with no crown.

CHORUS
I been to the top while I was wrestling with my shadow,
I been a rebel in the desert, I done battled through the fire,
Through the fire,
Done led an army and I brought down walls of castles,
Done been alone against the world and I done battled through the fire,
Through the fire