Royalty Rumble Echoes

Lyrics

TITLE: “SOUNDCHECK” Artists: Xpollo X x MJ Genre: Hip-Hop / Rap / R&B / Pop Tempo: 94 BPM Mood: Competitive brotherhood, studio chemistry, playful confidence, legacy [INTRO — STUDIO AMBIENCE] (Door closes. Beat humming quietly through the monitors.) MJ — spoken, playful: You really think you can sing tonight? XPOLLO X — spoken: I was about to ask you the same thing. MJ: Ohhh… okay. XPOLLO: Run the track. (Beat drops.) ⸻ [VERSE 1 — XPOLLO X | RAP] Walk in Platinum, midnight session, Founder in the booth but I came here stress-testin’. AETERNUM on my back, whole Empire in motion, But tonight ain’t business, we just testing devotion. MJ by the board like, “Bro, let me hear it,” I hit one note, whole room changed spirit. He laughed like, “Rap boy, you really wanna sing?” I said, “Put that mic up — lemme show you everything.” Came from destruction, now I balance both sides, Still human when I step through these studio lights. God of Gods outside, but in here I’m X, No throne, no title — just lungs and respect. Royalty Nation roots, Platinum on rise, Two brothers in the booth putting pride to the side. This ain’t competition where somebody gotta lose, It’s iron sharpening iron when we step to the booth. ⸻ [PRE-CHORUS — MJ | R&B] You got that fire in your voice tonight, I hear the pain underneath that pride. Don’t hide it, brother, let it breathe, If you feel that note, then sing it to me. (soft ad-libs: “Yeah… come on…”) ⸻ [CHORUS — MJ LEAD / XPOLLO BACKING] MJ: Turn the lights down, turn the speakers high, We testing every limit till the morning light. You bring the thunder, I bring the melody, Two different voices, same family. XPOLLO: Same family. MJ: Royalty and Platinum standing side by side, Different roads, but the blood runs through the vibe. No egos when the red light shines— XPOLLO + MJ: Brother, take your part… I’ll take mine. ⸻ [VERSE 2 — MJ | MELODIC R&B] I step to the microphone, headphones tight, Give you one clean run, no second take tonight. You watching through the glass with that look on your face, Like, “Okay MJ… I see you came to play.” I take it up high, then I pull it down low, Little rhythm in the pocket, let the whole thing flow. You tapping on the desk trying not to react, Then you hit record again like, “Nah, run that back.” We came from a kingdom where loyalty was tested, Now two different empires got the same direction. I built Royalty, you built Platinum strong, But tonight we’re just brothers trying to perfect a song. (ad-libs: “Ooh… yeah… come on…”) ⸻ [XPOLLO — SPOKEN] Okay. That was clean. But can you do it again… One key higher? ⸻ [MJ — SPOKEN] Oh, you wanna play now? ⸻ [VOCAL BATTLE / CALL & RESPONSE] MJ — sung: Tell me how hiiigh— XPOLLO — melodic response: Higher than the ceiling, I ain’t touching ground. MJ: Tell me how strooong— XPOLLO — rap: Strong enough to carry everybody around. MJ: Can you hold that noooote— XPOLLO — sustained: I been holding weight my whole life anyway. MJ — laughing ad-lib: Okay! Okay! XPOLLO: Your turn. ⸻ [VERSE 3 — XPOLLO X | RAP BUILD] Look— MJ got range, I got scars in the cadence, Different generations but the hunger ain’t changing. He smooth with the rhythm, I’m pressure and patience, Put both in one record, that’s a dangerous placement. I been Head of Security, Director, then CEO, Walked away, came back, had somewhere else to go. Now Platinum Empire got my name on the stone, But none of that matters when the headphones go on. That’s when X is just X. No celestial eyes. No Sentinel power. No kingdom outside. Just a man with a mic and a brother nearby, Trying to make something real enough to outlive time. ⸻ [BRIDGE — MJ | EMOTIONAL] When the titles disappear, When the crowds are gone, Who’s still in the room When they stop playing your song? Brother, that’s the part They don’t ever see. You don’t need a kingdom To sing beside me. XPOLLO — low response: That’s real. ⸻ [FINAL CHORUS — BOTH] MJ: Turn the lights down, turn the speakers high, We testing every limit till the morning light. XPOLLO: You bring the melody, I bring the truth, Put Royalty and Platinum inside the booth. MJ: Different voices— XPOLLO: Different lanes— MJ: Different stories— XPOLLO: Same pain. BOTH: And when that red light shines, Brother, take your part— I’ll take mine. ⸻ [OUTRO — STUDIO TALK] (Beat fades. Silence.) MJ: So… who won? XPOLLO: The record. (MJ laughs.) MJ: That’s the right answer. XPOLLO: Run another one. (Tape rewind / studio click.)