[Intro: Silence, One Drum Strike: A single heartbeat kick drum. The air is empty. voices stripped raw]:

[Marcus: stoic, booming]:

"You build your throne with a black heart...

A kingdom without virtue will rot...

Chi-Raq, your chains will break in order’s hand."

[Cleo: sharp, defiant]:

"I wear my crown with a red tongue...

A kingdom without fear will fall...

Chi-Raq, your crown belongs to fire’s command."

[both]:Kingdom of rot

Kingdom of rot

[Verse 1: Marcus: Sparse bass drum + faint drone, nothing more]:

Virtue is the iron that outlasts flame,

Discipline alone preserves the name.

Fear will scatter, but law will bind,

The crown is mine, for fate aligned.

Doubt is the cage for your enemy

Mercy will get you anarchy

Peace will be mine when the sword I bring

Oh

My sword

My pen

[Pre-Chorus]:

Shadows chase but they never win

The fire fades but steel within

Holds steady through the storm and din

The unyielding truth I claim

Oceans roar but the tide obeys

Mountains bow to the steadfast gaze

Through endless nights and fleeting days

The iron bears no blame

[Verse 2: Cleo: Drumline cuts, a single hollow woodblock echoes her voice]:

Blood is currency, power’s breath,

A ruler is forged in life and death.

The people obey, not love, but fear,

The Pharaoh has spoken: (I rule here.)

Discipline sharp like a sword in hand

Carves the path through shifting sand

A fortress built not on demand

But by a will divine

[Chorus: Commanding, Minimal, Monolithic: Both voices collide, no harmony, just dueling raw lines over heavy single hits of a floor tom]:

[Marcus]: One shall rule!

[Cleo]: One shall reign!

[Marcus]: Through order’s truth!

[Cleo]: Through fire’s flame!

[Both: clashing]:

Chi-Raq bows...only One shall reign!

Kingdom of rot

Kingdom of rot

[Bridge: Trial of Voices: The beat drops out. Only silence, each voice isolated, echoing: shouted]:

[Both]: I see you are building your kingdom on fear

I see you are building your kingdom on pain

I see you are building your kingdom on chains

I see you are building your kingdom in vain

[Marcus]: A kingdom without virtue will rot.

[Cleo]: A kingdom without fear will fall.

[Marcus]: I am the spine of empire.

[Cleo]: I am the breath of gods.

[Final Verse: The Claim: Voice only, each word measured]:

[Marcus]:

"I am the breath of gods...

You are the spine of empire...

I rule eternal...stone, unbroken."

[Cleo]:

"You are the voice of kings...

I am the lips of fire...

I rule immortal...fire, unspoken."

[Final Chorus: Triumphant, Bare, Absolute: Drum strikes grow heavier, voice fills the void. The duel ends with only one voice carrying the last line]:

[Both: until the break]:

One shall rule! One shall reign!

Through blood or truth, Chi-Raq obeys!

Kingdom of rot

Kingdom of rot

[Final Line: choose victor]:

[Marcus]: “The Emperor commands...O’Block is mine.”

[Cleo]: “The Pharaoh decrees...O’Block is mine.”