King of the Jungle

Switchin’ ten scales every day,

Seein’ ten clients, twenty grand every night,

Shem parties — first Marriott, then Ritz-Carlton,

But when I come down, I think: Mom’s gettin’ lines.

My life ain’t just a poem, it’s a book of scars,

I do love you, but I can’t show you who I are.

Screw the streets and all the noise around it,

Wouldn’t hurt a fly, but I’d wreck the king if he crowned it.

⸻

Phone off, got too many headaches,

Bags on bags, but still got dudes in my neckspace.

Got a big heart, can’t lump ‘em all together,

Start diggin’ too deep and I’ll collapse the tether.

My rhymes run out like cigarettes,

Quiet with 50k chillin’ on a stair-step set.

First came money from the dust, then the cash turned dust,

Smell you in the room though I chain-smoke blunt.

If I move with time, y’all just move along,

We the ones inside — y’all just sing the song.

Luck’s chasin’ me, but misfortune plays it smart,

Time fades fast, but I want you to stay in my heart.

I wear no crown, but I walk like royalty,

Street-born king — scars laced with loyalty.

Came from the bottom but I made that gold,

A throne in the jungle, where the fire stays cold.

⸻

Switchin’ ten scales every day,

Seein’ ten clients, twenty grand every night,

Shem parties — first Marriott, then Ritz-Carlton,

But when I come down, I think: Mom’s gettin’ lines.

My life ain’t just a poem, it’s a book of scars,

I do love you, but I can’t show you who I are.

Screw the streets and all the noise around it,

Wouldn’t hurt a fly, but I’d wreck the king if he crowned it.

⸻

Can’t enjoy my smoke with coffee,

After studio nights, my stomach turns softly.

We were twenty-three before we were eighteen,

If you knew the scene, you’d stay down — not lean.

You go crazy when no one can touch you,

But all your homies locked while luck don’t rush you.

Lick your hair, curls twist wild,

Counting bills while you peel spuds — I felt vile.

You had no smile, still tried to make me grin,

I laughed at you — not with — I was cold within.

You never thought I’d ever make it out,

You cried alone, wiped tears with doubt.

I wear these shades to hide my eyes,

Or when I don’t want you to see where the fire lies.

Lucky only sips the strong,

Look into my soul — is dead still hangin’ on?

⸻

Switchin’ ten scales every day,

Seein’ ten clients, twenty grand every night,

Shem parties — first Marriott, then Ritz-Carlton,

But when I come down, I think: Mom’s gettin’ lines.

No gold robe, just a body full of war,

But if you dance in fire long enough, you become the torch.