Diamonds are often called “rocks”, and are known as “precious stones”. This person is promising Cleopatra a future where they’ll be “diamonds in the rough”; shining figures in a dark and gloomy world

While this could be the Pharaoh talking about his future if he had Cleopatra back, it also sounds like the kind of promises a pimp might make to a girl he’s trying to turn out, or like anybody who tries to exploit another person (this will make sense later)

A skilled prostitute must be skilled in the art of making their client feel confident, comfortable, and satisfied.

While we may have been hoping that there was an actual loving relationship going on, this makes it clear that it’s more of a business transaction.

The song again changes perspective, and is now told by modern-day Cleopatra’s ex-lover, who shares a connection with Ancient Egyptian Cleopatra’s betrayed lover earlier in the song

He describes a sexual encounter between them, leaving us thinking that maybe he has won her back…

This could also be a frequent john of Cleopatra’s. He is under the delusion that she belongs to only him. Thus, he treats her as his lover although Cleo is a prostitute.

Just as above, Cleopatra is here referred to as “your” girl, and explicitly NOT the narrator’s. He says it both times as a brag, as a way of lording his relationship with his worker over her former lover. This objectivization of women in hip-hop is extremely common, with ‘taking your girl’ seen as a hard hitting line. Frank is saying this line not from his perspective, but from that of the pimp, using it as a tool to illustrate the modern objectified woman.

The “Strip”, again hints to Las Vegas as the setting of second half of the song, though it could be any major city, where prostitutes work “the strip”

While it has certainly been hinted at prior, this line is the first one that makes explicit the pimp/prostitute relationship between the narrator and the modern Cleopatra. He’s referring to the shoes he has on while he’s pimping, setting up a scene for the listener. He further proves this by speaking of ruby chains and cars with woodgrain.

While prostitution is legal in some limited areas of Nevada, it remains illegal, though widespread, in Las Vegas. Thus, it is possible that Cleo is looking for customers near the Luxor in Las Vegas, a hotel/casino featuring large pyramid architecture, and a general Egyptian theme

It is possible that we merely assume that Cleo is doing something seedy, which suggest something more about us than the subject of this song. The Luxor is a giant pyramid structure which is situated along a long road in downtown Las Vegas known as “The Strip”. When she hits “The Strip”, she is merely heading to work inside the Luxor where she works tending to customers to keep her “bills paid”. Though she is doing nothing illegal or untoward, she is still dwelling in a station beneath that in which this descendant of queens deserves. Meanwhile, gaudy fat “pimps” with too much jewelry, twist cigars and watch TV, or the security camera (with the VCR) in a top floor suite.