Balcony

I had a balcony on top of the shops that was bang in the middle of estate And from there I would see wagwan outside and usually plan my day I remember I woke to the sound of a copter, louder than they usually make That's the first time I saw how propellers move grass and create these ripples through the blades Cos it landed right downstairs from me - like where we kick ball all the time It was red, much bigger than I thought it would be, and had a virgin logo on the side Man, what an exciting day today, is there any kid luckier than I? Cos this feels like it's a Hollywood scene but still I ain't figured out why So I'd shout to my boy at his window Cos that's how we talked way back in the day "Yo wagwan whys this helicopter here?" "Bro, I don't even know but I heard one guy got stabbed in his face eight times" "Eight times?" "Eight times. And IF they can get him to the hospital fast then they might just save his life" And there's me thinking rah this is live With no real care that a man might die How this will be a great story to tell In many many years when I turn 25 From here I had this view of the flats I could see every story and floor (flaw) And focus on the war outside may distract from the one that's indoors Cranes decorated the sky There was too much trouble Now it's only a place in my mind And there's too much rubble I got it all here within me I got it all here within me I got another story from the city It's glorious, and gritty See that block to the left? That's where the big shotta stays The bottom half of his door is the normal type But the tops just a make shift gate As far as I knew he was always caked Lived with his daughter and wifey And his name was - let's call him shorty Sometimes he'd have this limo outside Looking all nice and shiny And he looks like a rapper with a big gold chain But still lives in a block that's grimey Back then I never thought of it that way Really I thought he was rich I never had a real understanding of wealth plus his kids Avirex was sick One time there was bare commotion And there he was, surrounded by feds He had his wrist out like "ARREST ME NOW 'Fore I leave all you coppers here for dead!" To us man he was a legend in the ends I assumed that came to the inevitable end Cos me I don't know how the rest of this ends One day he disappeared I don't know where he went Cranes decorated the sky There was too much trouble Now it's only a place in my mind And there's too much rubble I got it all here within me I got it all here within me I got another story from the city It's glorious, and gritty One time some move went left And this Irish brudda got chased down fast Late at night I found out in the morning Some guy got killed by General's yard From my balcony I saw these detectives All in protective gear They walked in a line, inspecting the floor "CHECK!... CLEAR!" That must have been early millennium days My whole estate looked like CSI For a long time after, his blood was stained Right on the grass where he died I never knew what came of that case So I thought I'd have a look online Found a real old piece with the suspects name and How he got put down for life He looked kinda familiar But he was way older than I Article said 2003 so I guess I was ten at the time Quick fast forward to summer last year London Town has a different vibe Crime nowadays hitting different heights Shooting in a station just nearby Time goes on we forget things right? But it's weird how things are connected right? Cos back to today when I went online Checked the name of the brudda that went inside Ex-killer left dead on sight Shot by a station just nearby I could barely believe what I seen (huh?) Cos I just found out that was him in 03 Did 15 years and got killed on the streets And in that time my life changed so much I see that boy on the balcony still Collecting gems for himself as a grown up Man... how time flies And revives these events Leaves a ripple in the mind And then life just ends