Fivio Foreign, Kanye West & Alicia Keys, “City of Gods” | Rap BNGRZ 🔥

In the 22^nd edition of Rap BNGRZ 🔥 (2022), we break down the banger status of “City of Gods,” performed by Fivio Foreign, Kanye West, and Alicia Keys.  

Bring on the braggadocio, drip, sex, and kick-a$$ery – is that even a real word?  Regardless of whether it is or isn’t, you’ve entered Rap BNGRZ 🔥 territory! On Rap BNGRZ 🔥 (bangers, spelled properly), the premise is simple. BNGRZ provides background info and commentary on cocky, confident, ferocious hip-hop/rap songs. The bangers featured on BNGRZ can be brand-spanking-new or certified classics. In the 22^nd edition of Rap BNGRZ 🔥 (2022), we break down the banger status of 🎵 “City of Gods” performed by 🎙 Fivio Foreign, 🎙 Kanye West, and 🎙 Alicia Keys.

Theme & Lyrics ✍ 

“New York City, please go easy on me tonight / New York City, please go easy on this heart of mine.” Woo! 🎙 Alicia Keys is the first voice heard on the 2022 rap banger, 🎵 “City of Gods”.  In addition to Keys, the talents of rappers 🎙 Fivio Foreign and 🎙 Kanye West are in play.  Fivio Foreign is responsible for two of the three verses, following this brief, introductory chorus by Keys.  Following Fivio’s first verse (“Pop as the king of New York, now I’m the nigga in charge / Only the drillers, the city is ours”), Keys unveils the complete version of the chorus: “‘Cause I’m losing my lover to the arms of another / New York City, please go easy on me.”

Fivio Foreign’s second verse is longer than the first, which whets the palate. His flow is electric, idiomatic of the drill style.  He characterizes his city, calling it “the city of money and violence,” and asserts how things go down.  Woo! Among his most memorable lines is when he states, “This is the town of the big drip (Big drip), smooth talk (Smooth talk) / Milly rock (Milly Rock), Shmoney Dance (Shmoney Dance), Woo Walk (Woo).” Mr. Wests enters the mix in the third verse, which references “a Sunday Service in Brooklyn,” and asserts his attendance “with the drillers that come with the night,’ as well as embodying Frank Sinatra (“I feel like Sinatra in these streets, me and Drizzy, we at peace”).  Well, glad the beef with Drake is squashed, I guess.  Basically, West flexes.  All of this is over a hard-nosed drill beat and numerous producers.  Worth noting, “City of Gods” does sample 🎙 The Chainsmokers’ 🎵 “New York City”.  Also, worth noting, Keys unveiled her own  🎵 “City of Gods (Part II)” – she’s done this many times throughout her career, if you haven’t noticed.

Final Thoughts 💭 

All told, Fivio Foreign, Kanye West, and Alicia Keys dropped a surefire rap banger with 🎵 “City of Gods” in February 2022.  It didn’t tear up the Billboard Hot 100, however.  “City of Gods” didn’t crack the top 40 (it peaked at no. 46), spending only 10 weeks on the Hot 100.  I guess you can’t win them all, sigh.

🎙 Fivio Foreign, Kanye West & Alicia Keys • 🎵 “City of Gods” • 🏷 RichFish, LLC / Columbia • 🗓 2022

Fivio Foreign, Kanye West & Alicia Keys, “City of Gods”: Rap BNGRZ 🔥 No. 22 (2022) [📷: Brent Faulkner, Columbia, cottonbro, Epic, The Musical Hype, Pexels, RichFish, LLC]