I didn’t understand the cost of rising until I stood high enough for the air to thin. People talk about climbing the ladder like it’s a triumph, but they never mention the bruised hands, the strained breath, or the quiet distance that forms between you and the life you used to know. I chased status thinking it would bring clarity, only to learn it brings a different kind of loneliness—one dressed in applause but rooted in expectation. When I finally reached the rooms I’d once dreamed of entering, I realized the real work began after the door closed behind me. Up here, every word is weighted, every step interpreted, every victory questioned. People don’t see me anymore; they see the leverage, the title, the position. Maintaining it requires sacrifice—pieces of softness traded for survival, illusions surrendered in exchange for understanding how the game is really played. And yet, I keep going. Not out of vanity, but because I’ve learned to carry what I once feared would crush me. Heavy is the crown, yes—but its weight reminds me of how far I’ve come and how much strength I’ve built along the way. I didn’t climb to be admired; I climbed to belong to myself, to prove I could endure the cost without losing the core of who I am. ------- Get the image: Get the tracks: ........ Relax a bit with this 2 hour journey through, retro, jazz, funk music inspired by the golden era of 1980s vibes. Featuring jazzy saxophone melodies, smooth basslines, funky guitar riffs, and soulful vibes, this retro mix will have you grooving like it's 1980. Perfect for: 📖 Studying 💻 Coding 👨‍💻 Working late nights 🛋️ Relaxing Join the Club: --------------------------------------------- Track List: 00:00 Quiet at the Top 04:01 Burden of the Throne 07:35 Rooms I Fought For 11:04 Climbing Costs Extra 14:57 Polished but Tired 18:51 Behind Closed Power 22:23 Ghosts of Who I Was 25:44 Applause Ain’t Comfort 28:58 Played for Keeps 32:17 High Floors, Thin Air 34:31 Crown-Sized Pressure 38:41 Gold Isn’t Gentle 41:54 The Weight of Winning 45:11 Sharpened by Status 49:17 Crowded but Alone ------------------------------------------------- #lofi #chilllofimusic #RetroJazz #Jazz #RetroFunk #funkplaylist #analoggrooves #lofijazz #lofijazzhop #funkjazz