Last night the word came down, ten dead in China Town, and they said that what their crime was, being in the wrong place, at the wrong time.
Too many people say; "What's wrong with the kids today?;
"I'll tell you right now, they've got nothing to lose, their building Empire."
Charlie use to work after school, at the set of the show. Got to hustle if he wants an education, yeah, he's got a long way to go. Now he's out on the streets all day selling crack to the people who'll pay. "Got an AK-47 for his best friend, business, the American way.
Pre-Chorus
" East side meets west side, downtown, no time, the walls fall down. CHORUS: Don't you hear it calling; "EMPIRE," Don't you hear it calling. Black man, trapped again, holds his chains in his hands, brother k**s brother for the profit of another, game point, nobody wins. Declines right on time, what happened to the dream sublime? "Tear it all down we'll build it up again, another EMPIRE".