Last night the word came down
Ten dead in chinatown
Innocent, their only crime was
Being in the wrong place at the wrong time
Too bad, people say
What's wrong with the kids today
Tell you right now they've got nothing to lose
They're building empire

Johnny used to work after school
At the cinema show
Gotta hustle if he wants an education
Yeah, he's got a long way to go
Now's he's out on the street all day
Selling crack to the people who pay
Got an ak-47 for his best friend
Business the american way

Eastside meets westside downtown
No time the walls fall down
Can't you feel it coming
Empire
Can't you hear it calling

Black man trapped again
Holds his chains in his hand
Brother killing brother
For the profit of another
Game point nobody wins
Decline, right on time
What happened to the dream sublime
Tear it all down we'll put it up again
Another empire

Eastside meets westside downtown
No time, no line, the walls fall down
Can't you feel it coming
Empire
Can't you hear it coming
Empire
Can't someone here stop it