Street lights flicker pulse through the fog

Mud-smeared Nikes dodging the dogs

On the grind cheddar in my claws

Life a paradox applause and flaws

Cash rules kings in a rusty Benz

War stories no amends life’s tense

Paint dreams on graffiti'd brick

Words cut deep poetic tricks

Snakes and ladders this game we play

Hustle for the light of a brighter day

Dice rolls destiny shiftin' sway

City jungle never led astray

Cheap liquor spilled on concrete tales

Barbershop gossip hidden grails

Cryptic messages in subway trains

Schemes unravel unbound unchained

Voices echo ghosts from the block

Past shadows chase round the clock

Heartbeats sync with the urban pulse

Rhythm of survival the gritty waltz

Vintage hoops chains and bling

Old-school hustler with a new-age sting

Crackled vinyl DJ spin the lore

Echoes of legends in every store

Vintage hoops chains and bling

Old-school hustler with a new-age sting

Crackled vinyl DJ spin the lore

Echoes of legends in every