We built this city, we built this city
We built this city, we built this city on rock

We built this city
(On these blocks we hustle)
We built this city on rock
(On rock)
We built this city
(Turn bricks to whips)
We built this city on rock and roll
(On rock)

We built this city
(In the midst of the struggle)
We built this city on rock
(On rock)
We built this city
(From bottom to top)
We built this city
(Through the agony and pain, diplomatic will reign)

Ay yo, my dipset Taliban
We on these streets like the wars on them streets of Afghanistan
Better yet of ****stan to America, Harlem's our cater
Any problems I spray her that can startle the mayor

But in this 50-block radius let's get the rock and shave the ****
Or get the glock and blaze the ****
*****es get the **** and savor it
They say Jim Jones the capo my favorite

'Cause some of this **** my city wasn't built up over
Drugs and money, some **** you get killed up over
Slumped on your wheel, straight tilt it over
Trust me dogs, I seen it in peril, *****z wasted and painted
And seen on the mural
(That's Harlem)

In this apple of mine is rhyme, clap up your shines
Pop shots that will crack up your minds
And cop rocks and cook that crack up to dimes
New York City, the capital of crime

We built this city
(On these blocks we hustle)
We built this city on rock
(On rock)
We built this city
(Turn bricks to whips)
We built this city on rock and roll
(On rock)

We built this city
(In the midst of the struggle)
We built this city on rock
(On rock)
We built this city
(From bottom to top)
We built this city
(Through the agony and pain, diplomatic will reign)

We built this city
(On these blocks we hustle)
We built this city on rock
(On rock)
We built this city
(Turn bricks to whips)
We built this city on rock and roll
(On rock)

We built this city
(In the midst of the struggle)
We built this city on rock
(On rock)
We built this city
(From bottom to top)
We built this city
(Through the agony and pain, diplomatic will reign)

Now once again it's Santana the Great
I built this city on hammers and weight
Gasoline, rope, bandannas and tape
Lots of fiends, lots of coke being handed away

You know, the usual
Shut 'em down, set up show, how we usually do
Cut 'em down, hit the block man, we moving through
Diplomats is the strongest force

On and off the court we ballers more than sports
We built this city from ground zero
To spitting the pound zero, brown pistol
At ya get down kicka, yeah, this is from the ground up *****

So get your weight and your pounds up *****
'Cause when it's beef my homies mound up quicker
Fit the pound much quicker, lay you down much quicker
You never been approached by Golden Eagles
Vultures that will scope and feed you, no court just leave you
**** you know

We built this city
(On these blocks we hustle)
We built this city on rock
(On rock)
We built this city
(Turn bricks to whips)
We built this city on rock and roll
(On rock)

We built this city
(In the midst of the struggle)
We built this city on rock
(On rock)
We built this city
(From bottom to top)
We built this city
(Through the agony and pain, diplomatic will reign)

We built this city
(On these blocks we hustle)
We built this city on rock
(On rock)
We built this city
(Turn bricks to whips)
We built this city on rock and roll
(On rock)

We built this city
(In the midst of the struggle)
We built this city on rock
(On rock)
We built this city
(From bottom to top)
We built this city
(Through the agony and pain, diplomatic will reign)

It's like what I wouldn't do for a buck
My enemies can't rest in peace Jones, you see they funerals up
New gangstas in the city *****, ring the alarm
All y'all hoes bow down, kiss the ring of a don

It's about to get real big playa, humongous
Stacked money so long 'til it grew fungus
We was gon' let you live 'til you threw punches
Now we got to get critical and we got to get rid of you

And we the most talked about, the most popular
We live by the codes, we the Dipset mafia
You never know who's watching ya
You never know who's plotting to pop at ya

We focused like a pair of binoculars
I'm 'bout to get gritty
M-5 CLK's garage look like Alphabet City
And I'm a *******, I put cracks in communities

Cops can't touch me, got Diplomatic Immunity
Now try I'm guaranteed a million shipped in scam
If not, back to the block, ship some grams

If not, get with Cam, I got clips to lift a van, flip a van
****, they can kick the can
This cat think he sling 'cause he got a pinky ring
Rinky-dink diamonds, they don't even make your pinky bling

(We built this city)
And now I'm about to kill this city
(We built this city)
Cradle to 50, yeah I'm acting real seditty

(We built this city)
'Cause I collect mils and fifties
For real it's pretty and y'all gonna feel the pity
(We built this city on rock)
Dipset *****

We built this city
(On these blocks we hustle)
We built this city on rock
(On rock)
We built this city
(Turn bricks to whips)
We built this city on rock and roll
(On rock)

We built this city
(In the midst of the struggle)
We built this city on rock
(On rock)
We built this city
(From bottom to top)
We built this city
(Through the agony and pain, diplomatic will reign)

We built this city
(On these blocks we hustle)
We built this city on rock
(On rock)
We built this city
(Turn bricks to whips)
We built this city on rock and roll
(On rock)

We built this city
(In the midst of the struggle)
We built this city on rock
(On rock)
We built this city
(From bottom to top)
We built this city
(Through the agony and pain, diplomatic will reign)

We built this city
(On these blocks we hustle)
We built this city on rock
(On rock)
We built this city
(Turn bricks to whips)
We built this city on rock and roll
(On rock)

We built this city
(In the midst of the struggle)
We built this city on rock
(On rock)
We built this city
(From bottom to top)
We built this city
(Through the agony and pain, diplomatic will reign)