This City

## Single by Patrick Stump featuring Lupe Fiasco

"**This City**" is a song by Patrick Stump, released as the lead single and 11th track from his debut solo album *Soul Punk* on June 28, 2011. It features Lupe Fiasco on the intro and the second verse, where the rapper speaks about the pros and cons of their home city. Both natives of Chicago, the two also collaborated on "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race (Remix)" and "Only the Bulls (Remix)," with Stump as part of his band Fall Out Boy.

## Personnel

* Patrick Stump – vocals, writer, producer, recording engineer
* Wasalu "Lupe Fiasco" Jaco – vocals, writer
* Joe McGrath – recording engineer
* Manny Sanchez – recording engineer
* Phil Tan – mixer
* Damien Lewis – assistant mixer

## Background

Stump told *A.V. Club*, "Before *Food & Liquor* came out he and I were talking about working on something together. I ended up producing the song 'Little Weapon,' for his *The Cool* record. I actually wrote the hook for 'This City' with him in mind before I decided to use it for *Soul Punk*, so when the label asked me if I'd be interested in doing a remix with an MC he was the only real way I'd say yes." The track did not fit conceptually on the album at first, so Stump changed the record around to make it work. He told *Billboard*, "I had to go back and make an album for that song because I loved it so much. So one of the holdups on (the album) was re-writing..." It premiered to *A.V. Club* on June 28, 2011, while the remix version was made available for digital download on July 26, 2011.

## Music video

Several days prior there was a teaser for the upcoming visual. The official music video was uploaded to YouTube on September 20, 2011, directed by Ken Koller.

Stump told MTV News, "There's not really a plot, there's not really a story to it. The song's called 'This City,' and it describes a lot of these images in a city, and I feel like those images are already there; it would be kind of redundant to take a camera into a city; it's almost like the colors and the lights and the images that are going to be around this are going to be representing the life in a city." He continued, "One thing that Ken and I were talking about is that a city is so complicated, so ... we wanted to do something a bit different with it, and a bit more abstract. I mean, the treatment was really funny to look at; it was literally one sentence, like 'Patrick stands in a room and sings and we project all these images and lights on the walls.' And that was it."

## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
[Intro: Lupe Fiasco]

Now what if I told you my city was the best

And my city was a threat to the rest

And my city was a threat to the rest

[Refrain: Patrick Stump]

This city is my city

And I love it, yeah I love it

I was born and raised here

I got it made here

And if I have my way, I'm gonna stay

[Verse 1: Patrick Stump]

From every corner

To every block, yeah

Whether it's warm or storming or downright stupid hot, hot

From the problems all the way to the solutions yeah

Forget all the drugs and gangs, corruption and pollution no

[Hook: Patrick Stump]

'Cause this city is my city

And I love it, yeah I love it

I was born and raised here

I got it made here

And if I have my way, I'm gonna stay here

For life, uh huh

For life, uh huh

For life, uh huh

For life, uh huh

For life, uh huh

For life, uh huh

For life, uh huh

For life, uh huh

[Verse 2: Lupe Fiasco]

Now what if I told you my city was the best

And my city was a threat to the rest

But you can't rest inside my city

My city's so cold if you ain't dressed

And what they accept, better had a right address

Come to my city, certain colors can't step

And sadly I'm talking about the color of your skin

Sorry my brother can't let you in

'Cause the property value might go down to a level that's economically unacceptable

And socially taboo for us to live around you

Is this what it's down to?

Root for the same team, maybe have the same dream

Not the same reality

Actually, mine is a bad education and gentrification

Despite all the above I love

[Hook: Patrick Stump]

'Cause this city is my city

And I love it, yeah I love it

I was born and raised here

I got it made here

And if I have my way, I'm gonna stay here

For life, uh huh

For life, uh huh

For life, uh huh

For life, uh huh

For life, uh huh

For life, uh huh

For life, uh huh

For life, uh huh

[Bridge: Patrick Stump]

You can take my picture

You can take my name

But you're never gonna take my city away

'Cause you, you burn it to the ground

Oh, you let it flood

But it's in my blood

[Hook: Patrick Stump]

'Cause this city is my city

And I love it, yeah I love it

I was born and raised here

I got it made here

And if I have my way, I'm gonna stay here

For life, uh huh

For life, uh huh

For life, uh huh

For life, uh huh

For life, uh huh

For life, uh huh

For life, uh huh

For life, uh huh

## References

1. ↑ Rubenstein, Jenna (September 20, 2011). "New Video: Patrick Stump Featuring Lupe Fiasco, 'This City'". *MTV*.
2. ↑ Hyden, Steven (June 28, 2011). "Hear Patrick Stump's new single with Lupe Fiasco". *A.V. Club*.
3. ↑ Graff, Gary (July 25, 2011). "Patrick Stump: Solo Album Has 'Nothing To Do with Fall Out Boy'". *Billboard*.
4. ↑ "Patrick Stump - "This City" (feat. Lupe Fiasco) video teaser". *YouTube*. September 12, 2011.
5. ↑ Montgomery, James (July 25, 2011). "Patrick Stump's 'This City' Video: Go Behind The Scenes Now!". *MTV*.