We describe and explain the turbulent processes at play in the lower part of the urban boundary layer through performing a large-eddy simulation of the flow over an urban-like canopy composed of a staggered array of cubes with a packing density of 25%. The simulation models neutral thermal conditions at a Reynolds number (based on both velocity at the top of the domain and the domain height) of Re = 50,000. A dynamic Smagorinsky model is implemented in order to allow for energy backscattering from subgrid scales. A wall refinement of the grid allows resolving the viscous sublayer. Turbulent statistics up to the third order, as well as each term of the turbulence-kinetic-energy budget, are computed individually everywhere in the domain. Results are discussed in relation to experimental and numerical data from the literature in order to describe turbulent energy transfers occurring in the roughness sublayer. The fine grid resolution close to surfaces serves to analyze in depth the three-dimensional distribution of turbulence production inside the urban canopy layer. This analysis in turn leads to discovering areas, never previously documented in an urban-like canopy, of highly positive and highly negative production close to the surface, away from the well-known high production area in the shear layer. Furthermore, evidence of a close link between high and low production areas near the surfaces and singular points in the mean flow is presented, thus laying the groundwork for a simple pre-diagnostic tool to detect turbulence-kinetic-energy production areas near surfaces.