Built This City
Cam'ron Lyrics

This is my city, my city
I am claiming ownership of this city where I grew up

Who ever thought Cam would grow to gross in the millions?
No one expected Cam'Ron to become so successful and make millions

101 West, you should've seen my building
My first building was located at 101 West and it was impressive

139 Park, started off as children
I grew up in 139 Park with my friends as children

Grew up with Big L and the dude who supposedly killed him
As I grew up, Big L was my friend along with the person who was said to have killed him later on

A week before that though, Big L had tried to kill him
I heard that Big L had attempted to kill the person who later reportedly killed him, a week before the incident

That's what I heard, please don't get in ya feelings
What I am saying is just what I have heard, so please don't take it personally

When the time's right I will tell you about these villains
I will share more about the people who have done wrong, but not right now

And everybody dead, so it ain't about squealin'
All those involved are now dead, so there is no reason to talk

Weapons we conceal 'em, knee deep, reveal 'em
We hide our weapons but show them when necessary to defend ourselves

Fly, nah, fly traps was hangin' from the ceiling
Our place was not fancy or stylish, it had fly traps hanging from the ceiling

Love my hood but to make it out Woo! What a feeling
I love the neighborhood where I grew up, but it feels great to have made it out

I couldn't sleep at night, in my bed I would keep a knife
I was so paranoid about my safety that I kept a knife next to my bed

Until I got a gun, where I'm from? They ain't believe in life
I had to get a gun for protection since where I am from, people don't value life

Cops come readin' rights, but we ain't the readin' type
We were not the type of people who cared about our rights being read when the police arrived

You don't need Adidas or a zebra, see my stripes
My achievements are more important than my attire, you can see my stripes

Goddamn, you got to feel me brother
I am asking you to understand me and where I come from

On my block, best friends they kill each other
It is common for close friends to turn on each other and commit murder in my neighborhood

No slouch or homicide'll vouch ya
You cannot be weak or unreliable if you want to survive in my neighborhood

How I was raised, think I give a fuck about ya
My upbringing has made me indifferent towards others who are not in my close circle

To my brothers that passed away See you when we get up top
I am dedicating this song to my friends who have died, hoping to see them again in the afterlife

Reggie White took me on my first stick up
Reggie White accompanied me on my first robbery experience

Fifteen years old, can't front I caught the hiccups
I was only fifteen years old, and I got nervous during the robbery

Told me calm down, then proceed to click up
Reggie White told me to relax and join forces with him during the robbery

Thought that car was a shirt The way we left that shit ripped up
We damaged the car we robbed so badly it looked like it was ripped apart like a shirt

8th Ave, dipped up, in my waist the grip tucked
After the robbery, we left using 8th Ave and I hid my gun in my waistband

Told me keep my lips shut I ever get picked up
Reggie White warned me to keep quiet if we ever got caught by the police

Been solidified way before Dipset
My reputation and credibility were established before I joined the rap group Dipset

No disrespect to the brotherhood They're my brothers, but brother I'm from another hood
I have respect for my fellow rappers in Dipset, but I come from a different neighborhood

Where it ain't fair, like Blair they leave you under wood
The environment I grew up in was not fair, and often people ended up dead and buried under the dirt

Old money go missin', shots where ya mother stood
People who had been around for a long time would suddenly disappear, and even shots were fired where someone's mother used to stand