(Intro)
(Sound of a heavy gate opening)
(Yelling)
Ayy, man, shut up talking 'bout who’s "loved"!
"Niccolò this, Machiavelli that!"
Princes in the barber shop talking 'bout
"Niccolò ain't 'bout this, Niccolò ain't 'bout that!"
SHUT UP!
You haven't even read the Discourses!
You know he’s with the Medici!
(Laughs)
BANG BANG!
(Chorus)
These princes love Niccy! (HUH?)
O'Block, no, it’s Florence in the city! (GLO!)
Better to be feared, yeah, it’s gritty! (YAH!)
Keep a fox and a lion right with me! (BANG!)
The ends justify the means, yeah, I’m winning! (CHOP!)
From the very start to the ending, I’m sinning! (A-HA!)
The crown on my head, yeah, it’s spinning! (WHOO!)
Cesare Borgia, he my shooter, he grinning! (SOSA!)
(Verse 1)
Look—
Don't be loved, that’s a trap, that’s a weakness!
If they love you, then they’re hiding all their secrets!
But if they fear you, then the loyalty is permanent!
I’m the architect, the ruler, and the government!
I’m a fox in the trap, I see the snares, man!
I’m a lion in the field, I give 'em scares, man!
Virtù over Fortune, yeah, I’m taking it! (BANG!)
The state was a mess, so I’m making it! (GLO!)
Medici family, they want the blueprint!
Left my mark on the world, that's a boot print!
I don't need no mercenaries, they be faking!
I got my own army, now the world is for the taking! (AYE!)
(Chorus)
These princes love Niccy! (HUH?)
O'Block, no, it’s Florence in the city! (GLO!)
Better to be feared, yeah, it’s gritty! (YAH!)
Keep a fox and a lion right with me! (BANG!)
The ends justify the means, yeah, I’m winning! (CHOP!)
From the very start to the ending, I’m sinning! (A-HA!)
The crown on my head, yeah, it’s spinning! (WHOO!)
Cesare Borgia, he my shooter, he grinning! (SOSA!)
(Verse 2)
(Flow gets heavy and rhythmic)
Fortuna is a woman, you gotta be aggressive! (TRUE!)
You gotta hold the power, gotta be successive!
If you’re too kind, then the people gonna play you!
Keep the sword sharp or the people gonna slay you!
I’m in the palace, writing scrolls in the dark!
Machiavellian, yeah, I’m leaving a mark!
You talk about "morals"? Man, that’s for the weak!
I’m talking 'bout the throne, that’s the peak that I seek!
Ayy! (BANG! BANG!)
Niccolò the Great!
I just saved the state!
Put the crown on the plate! (GLO!)
(Outro)
(Brass hits continue to loop)
Yeah.
The Prince, man.
1513 shit.
Stop talking 'bout "morality" if you ain't got no power.
You either a lion or you're lunch.
BANG BANG!
(Fades out with heavy snare rolls)