It's a movie and the whole world is viewing it
And the popcorn is dreams torn, but we're always chewing it.
The set designs by God but the costumes by the devil
And the screenplay is adapted by a book that's embezzled.
This is where I grew up.
This is where I grew proud.
This is where neighbors never say music is too loud.
This is where the streets have no name, but they have history.
This is loss is victory.
Oh my name it ain't nothing; my age it means less.
The country I come from could be like the rest.
I was taught and brought up there, laws to abide
And the land that I live in has God on his side.
I was young; I grew. I could tie my shoe.
I was blind, but I knew that I would always see blue.
Blue seas I see through on the bottom I'll meet you
And when we come up for a breath would you mind if I kiss you?
Childhood came up for the kiss, but it slips its pain in with mist
And the sunny skies came and I missed it,
Vanished and when swept.
Landed we slept in the arms of convenience, blanket obedience.
Now to some of the Americans,
War had its day
And the Civil War too was soon laid away
And the names of our warlords
I was made to memorize.
With guns in their hands, they said,
God's on their side.
I had an undying wish to keep from dying.
I had an untimely hitch keep me from climbing
But I climbed a hitch itself and I tried flying.
I had an uprising in my soul.
The left was fight in the right
And the right was fight in the light
And the light was blind in the night
And the night woke up in tears
When my fingers went to wipe them
They became a poem but to write then
They would have to speak tears in another language
That would take years.
So now as I'm leavin'
I'm weary as Hell
The confusion I'm feelin'
Ain't no tongue can tell
The words fill my head
And fall to the floor
I put a pen to the paper,
This time as visual as possible,
Guns blast at the hospital,
The walls are white washed with tin rooftops,
To show love you lick two shots,
It's dangerous man,
Journalists hire gunmen there's violent women,
Kids trust no one cause fire burnt them,
Refugees die in boats, headed for peace,
Is anyone scared of death here' Not in the least,
I walk by the old lady selling coconuts under the tree,
Life is cheap here but wisdom is free,
The beach boys hang on the side, leaning with pride,
Scam artists and gangsters fiendin to fight,
I walk with three kids that can't wait to meet God
Lately, that's Bucktooth, Mohamed and Crybaby,
What they do everyday just to eat lord have mercy,
Strapped with an AK and they blood thirsty...
So what's hardcore? Really, are you hardcore? Hmm.
So what's hardcore? Really, are you hardcore? Hmm.
We begin our day by the way of the gun,
Rocket propelled grenades blow you away if you front,
We got no police, ambulance, or fire fighters,
We start riots by burning car tires,
They looting, and everybody start shooting,
Bullshit politicians talking bout solutions, but it's all talk,
You can't go half a block with a road block,
You don't pay at the road block you get your throat shot,
And each road block is set up by these gangsters,
And different gangsters go by different standards,
For example, the evening is a no go,
Unless you wanna wear a bullet like a logo,
In the day you should never take the alleyway,
The only thing that validates you is the AK,
They chew on Jad it's sorta like coco leafs,
And there ain't no police...
So what's hardcore? Really, are you hardcore? Hmm.
So what's hardcore? Really, are you hardcore? Hmm.
I'm a spit these verses cause I feel annoyed,
And I'm not gonna quit till I fill the void,
If I rhyme about home and got descriptive,
I'd make Fifty Cent look like Limp Biskit,
It's true, and don't make me rhyme about you,
I'm from where the kids is addicted to glue,
Get ready, he got a good grip on the machete,
Make rappers say they do it for love like R-Kelly,
It's HARD, harder than Harlem and Compton intertwined,
Harder than harboring Bin Laden and rewind,
"To that earlier part when I was kinda like"
We begin our day by the way of the gun,
Rocket propelled grenades blow you away if you front,
We got no police, ambulances, or fire fighters,
We start riots by burning car tires,
They looting, and everybody starting shooting...
So what's hardcore? Really, are you hardcore? Hmm.
Ooooooh Wooooooh
Give me freedom, give me fire, give me reason, take me
higher
See the champions, take the field now, unify us, make
us feel proud
In the streets our head are liftin’, as we lose our
inhibition,
Celebration it surrounds us, every nations, all around
Singin forever young, singin songs underneath that sun
Lets rejoice in the beautifull game.
And together at the end of the day.
WE ALL SAY
When I get older I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom Just like a wavin’ flag
And then it goes back
And then it goes back
And then it goes back
And then it goes back
When I get older I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom
Just like a wavin’ flag
And then it goes back
And then it goes back
And then it goes back
And then it goes
Oooooooooooooh woooooooooohh hohoho
Give you freedom, give you fire, give you reason, take
you higher
See the champions, take the field now, unify us, make
us feel proud
In the streets our head are liftin’, as we lose our
inhibition,
Celebration, it surrounds us, every nations, all around
Singin forever young, singin songs underneath that sun
Lets rejoice in the beautifull game.
And toghetter at the end of the day.
WE ALL SAY
When I get older, I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom
Just like a wavin’ flag
And then it goes back
And then it goes back
And then it goes back
And then it goes back
When I get older I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom
Just like a wavin’ flag
And then it goes back
And then it goes back
And then it goes back
And then it goes
Wooooooooo Ohohohoooooooo ! OOOoooooh Wooooooooo
WE ALL SAY !
When I get older I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom
Just like a wavin’ flag
And then it goes back
And then it goes back
And then it goes back
And then it goes back
When I get older I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom
Just like a wavin’ flag
And then it goes back
And then it goes back
And then it goes back
And then it goes
Wooo hooooo hohohohoooooo
And everybody will be singing it
Wooooooooo ohohohooooo
When I get older I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom, just like a wavin' flag
When I get older, I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom just like a wavin' flag
And then it goes back, and then it goes back
And then it goes back, oh
Born to a throne, stronger than Rome
A violent prone, poor people zone
But it's my home, all I have known
Where I got grown, streets we would roam
Out of the darkness, I came the farthest
Among the hardest survival
Learn from these streets, it can be bleak
Accept no defeat, surrender, retreat
So we struggling, fighting to eat
And we wondering when we'll be free
So we patiently wait for that fateful day
It's not far away, but for now we say
When I get older I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom just like a wavin' flag
And then it goes back, and then it goes back
And then it goes back, oh
So many wars, settling scores
Bringing us promises, leaving us poor
I heard them say 'love is the way'
'Love is the answer,' that's what they say
But look how they treat us, make us believers
We fight their battles, then they deceive us
Try to control us, they couldn't hold us
'Cause we just move forward like Buffalo Soldiers
But we struggling, fighting to eat
And we wondering, when we'll be free
So we patiently wait for that faithful day
It's not far away but for now we say
When I get older I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom just like a wavin' flag
And then it goes back, and then it goes back
And then it goes back, and then is goes
When I get older I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom just like a wavin' flag
And then it goes back, and then it goes back
And then it goes back, and then it goes
And then it goes
And everybody will be singing it
And you and I will be singing it
And we all will be singing it
When I get older I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom just like a wavin' flag
And then it goes back, and then it goes back
And then it goes back, and then it goes
When I get older I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom just like a wavin' flag
And then it goes back, and then it goes back
And then it goes back, oh
When I get older, when I get older
I will be stronger just like a wavin' flag
Just like a wavin' flag, just like a wavin' flag
Ooooooh Wooooooh
Give me freedom, give me fire, give me reason, take me higher
See, the champions take the field back, you define us, make us feel proud
In the streets are ex a lift in, as we lose our inhibition,
Celebration is around us, every nation, all around us
Singin forever young, singin songs underneath that sun
Lets rejoice in the beautiful game.
And together at the end of the day.
WE ALL SAY
When I get older I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom Just like a wavin' flag
And then it goes back
And then it goes back
And then it goes back
When I get older I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom
Just like a wavin' flag
And then it goes back
And then it goes back
And then it goes
Oooooooooooooh woooooooooohh hohoho
Give you freedom, give you fire, give you reason, take you higher
See the champions, take the field back, you define us, make us feel proud
In the streets are ex a lift in, every loser in ambition,
Celebration is around us, every nations, all around us
Singin forever young, singin songs underneath that sun
Lets rejoice in the beautiful game.
And together at the end of the day.
Your Ad Here
WE ALL SAY
When I get older, I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom
Just like a wavin' flag
And then it goes back
And then it goes back
When you here in the water and you feel like it's order releasing your tension, the stress and disorder is big in America, Stephanie, Erica, both of them suffer from livin in hari cause,
Livin is very competitive, hassling creditors, hazardous, accidents, driving with negligence, to many beverages, people got to many things on they letters, says tvs deadliest, professing the ugliest, war, war, war, war
What the hell you keep on killing me for, please won't you come and bend down low, let me tell you what little I know, and if it's worth something, spread it indeed like shit and vomit that's under your feet, I was born in a pot boiling black and hot, waiting to be tasted and rapping alot, but justice would not come and eat my flesh, instead I had poverty to feed my stress, until my life became an ode to the gun, not needed like an overcoat to the sun, so I thought I was just made to exist, not to live or, change or resist, but fear will have you believe in fear, paralyze have you believe in tears, this is the therapy needed so use it, music is water, you know how I might prove this, people need music like they need excuses, people need water like kanye needs jesus, so wash it down, (wash it down) wash it down, (wash it down) wash it down, (wash it down), wash it down, (wash it down), wash it down, (wash it down), wash it down, (wash it down) wash it down, (wash it down) wash it down, (wash it down) I know you stressin, this is a little meditation for you to relax and jump in the pool and you know, sink and sing, my people drum on water, drink on water, live on water, die for water, my people drum on water, drink on water, live on water, die for water.
[Verse 1:]
Until the lion learns to speak
The tales of hunting will be weak
My poetry hales with in the streets
My poetry fails to be discrete
It travels across the earth and seas
From Eritrea to the West Indies
It knows no boundaries
No cheese
It studied in parts of Greece
(runtaa hadii kale waxaan lahaa aaheey)
I am sick as far as lyrics
And with this far as gimmicks
I spit par age and limit
The shit they talk in rapid
I am hip the hop as living
I skip the obvious woman
Don't get what I am presenting
No rims my mind spinning
(runtaa hadii kale waxaan lahaa aaheey)
[Verse 2:]
I was born and raised in a place
Where torn of flame would place
Where the foreigners not embrace
Where they warn you jog and pace
Where loners low what they gaze
Where the corners slow at a chase
Where they tarts and turn in the maze
With the pistol upon your face
(runtaa hadii kale waxaan lahaa aaheey)
So come with me to my longs
The death and deal we run
With passion see how I come
No cash I am free in the slums
The past can we overcome
I am asking we be the ones
To actually be the ones
To free our people from gun
(hadii kale waxaan lahaa aaheey)
[Verse 3:]
I was born and raised in a place
Where torn of flame would place
Where the foreigners not embrace
Where they warn you jog and pace
Where loners low what they gaze
Where the corners slow at a chase
Where they tarts and turn in the maze
With the pistol upon your face
(runtaa hadii kale waxaan lahaa aaheey)
So come with me to my longs
The death and deal we run
With passion see how I come
No cash I am free in the slums
The past can we overcome
I am asking we be the ones
To free our people from gun
(hadii kale waxaan lahaa aaheey)
[Verse 4:]
Until the lion learns to speak
The tales of hunting will be weak
My poetry hales with in the streets
My poetry fails to be discrete
It travels across the earth and seas
From Somalia to the West Indies
It knows no boundaries
No cheese
It studied in parts of Greece
(Hadii kale waxaan lahaa aheey)
Say I am sick as far as lyrics
And with this far as gimmicks
I spit par age and limit
The shit they talk in rapid
I am hip the hop as living
I skip the obvious woman
Don't get what I am presenting
No rims my mind spinning
[Intro:]
Yo, just imagine, like whistling down a desert or some shit
Don't this make you wanna swing like monkeys outta trees?
[Verse 1:]
I don't got no parameters,
This amateur's famous,
All you fame getters,
Hate caterers,
Our main names are date of births,
On a later verse,
Make a nigger play reverse (move backwards),
Marching with some soldiers here,
We coming over there,
The kind of niggers soldiers fear,
You just gotta stare,
You ain't got no option (no),
Please relax son,
I'm taking over like drug dealer cars to auctions,
Oh these are hungry men,
These are angry men,
Heard you got a lot of guts,
They'll call your bluff,
Your shit is laughable,
Why you rapping oh,
Why don't you just wrap sandwiches to earn a capital?
And have the shit that you spit,
And even have sick,
If you was doing my physical you couldn't have my shit,
Back to my verse flow,
I don't get shit yo,
My skills so bright when I spit my lips glow,
[Chorus:]
The dusty foot philosopher
Ripping up kilometers
Winking at you officers da dum da dum da dum
The dusty foot philosopher
Sicking up the monitor
Waking up the auditors da dum da dum da dum
[Verse 2:]
And I've seen war and some,
Survived the slaughter son,
Kids play cops and robbers and not with the water guns,
So yeah yeah picture me,
And big brotherly,
Walking through the fire,
We came to claim our victory,
And I roll with a harder pen,
I might start a trend,
Beat down a wack MC cause you know there's a lot of them,
Wait till my shit crashes,
Rip asses,
Women who give me neck suffer from whiplashes,
I frighten the masses,
Cause I'm that nasty,
I heard to get a deal you had to give lap dances,
This shit is serious,
Sincere it is,
The people wanted something real,
Well yo here it is,
My rhymes push records back like a belly button dirty rutting,
I got stiff neck steady nothing it ain't nothing,
I got the track laid like I'm fucking,
The only balls you got is made outta cotton,
[Chorus: x2]
The dusty foot philosopher
Ripping up kilometers
Winking at you officers da dum da dum da dum
The dusty foot philosopher
Sicking up the monitor
Waking up the auditors da dum da dum da dum
[Verse 3:]
This is what you waited for,
Glad you stayed the chorus,
Cause a lot of rappers is getting treated like lady whores,
And I don't like Babylon,
I don't like your song,
I don't like hearing that fake accent from Dylon,
The industry commentator,
Fuck it I'm a hater,
My mind is like your life straight up cause it's made up,
I'm strolling like babies with big gas ladies (yeah),
That rock more fellahs than ten thousand daisies,
Harder than harbour and Bin Laden inside the bottom compound with Donald Rumsfield and Bush blood,
Moving along like people who don't want it,
Even if I had jewels I'd be the type who don't run it,
They call me dusty cause my feet have been through a lot,
The wisdom of my survival that's just due to a lot,
So I'm not gonna sit here and whine like crushed grapes,
My mind leaves you speechless like duct tape,
[Chorus: x2]
The dusty foot philosopher
Ripping up kilometers
Winking at you officers da dum da dum da dum
The dusty foot philosopher
Sicking up the monitor
[Verse 1:]
I take it home
I take [? ]
Don't think about it, just take it from my rule, it's done
I am sick about it
I feel like I am surviving alone
I got a record and I am not afraid of cops at all
I am like a Ja-Rule poster, cause I am off the wall
Yo, basically the revolution is here
K'Naan and Mwafrika, there's no solution and fair
Yeap, I'm taking it back like clothes that don't fit
That you purchased in a happy-make-home and old shit
I'm so sick my rhyme book throws a fit
I need a vaccination just so I can spit my own shit
Hard to be, when I release these rhymes out of me
I am so ridiculous, I got to compose this
I am sorta a reporter strapped to a little recorder
The warder having a order not to let me in, in order
For me not to cause a slaughter
Lyrically, I am flowing water
Take it easy on me suckers
Harrass more niggas then a sleazy undercover
But seriously, I remember when I was 7
When rap came mysteriously and made me feel 11
It understood me, and made my ghetto heaven
I understood it as the new poor people's weapon
But now it tap ass like a chick with one butt cheek
Dusty foot philosopher came to change things, trust me
From Ethiopia, Tanzania, Somalia
Heathrow airport and customs in Laguardia
Uganda, Kenya, my people, up in Ghana
Kingston, Jamaica, big up, because you know it's time for the African way
[Chorus:]
It's the African way [x5]
What more can I say
It's the African way [x5]
Live from Revolution radio, welcome East Africa's illest Mwafrika
[Verse 2: Mwafrika - Rap]
Na watu wameng'ara ma mini na nini
Kushinda wakizifuruta chini na chini
Utashindwa maana yao kuzivaa ni nini
Vumbi wakati wa jua matope wakati wa mvua
Potholes huwa ni lazima kawaida kwa njia
Nairobi city mji wa Mathree fiti fiti
Boardi zimejazwa graffiti
Ndani speaker biggi biggie za kulipua hiyo muziki
Na AK47 ndio utacheki kwa mikono ya polisi
Wala kutafoutisha na wezi si kitu rahisi
Wote wanataka pesa yako
Na ukikataa wataichukua toka kwa mfuko wako
Bling bling nazo huwanga kwa mashing za ma MC
Na hata nazo kushine kwa MIC bado hawawezi
Na ikiwa sauti yangu yangu ikiwa unlimited kwa vichwa zao empty
Nikiwaambia hata waking'ara NiKE kwa usahihishi wa lyriksi hawataona hiyo tiki
Mwafrika na K'naan Canada to Kenya
Hatubabaiki
Cause we doin' it like
[Chorus]
Mwafrika na K'Naan
Canada to Kenya
[Verse 3:]
I got a plan to reclaim all of my fam
I got brothers in Japan now that order my damn
I got record-propelled spit more [? ]
I heard hip hop started with (sorta death scam)
A lot of people is ignorant and don't understand
They separate it and they celebrate it (part of the plan)
I got my people consider [? ]
I break a needle in pieces and eat them like reeses
Y'all are just cheesing
Y'all are hate
Y'all are just teasing
Y'all don't believe in the African (y'all just sleeping)
I am sick and tired
I am on a riot
I'm [? ]
Rap it, like a lion [? ] (taste me)
I am so ridiculous, can you believe how vivid this shit is
Got theories like conspiracists, this shit is sick
A lyricist before I even spoke a word of English
I'm serious
I got it locked and y'all are just visitors
Just get busy
And snap your neck back and forth till you get busy
And tell your mother, tell your brother and tell your Aunt Lizzy
And you know you got to know some things before you get with me
Just break it down
Before I was born, I knew I was the shit
I used to kick so much, I was born with a broken hip
I had a twin brother, I used to battle day in
But I was so sick, the little nigga stayed in
I knew the doctor was shocked when I was first dropped
Cause I had a gold chain, a fade and a high tie
Be buoyant, rocking around, ego destroying
I won't chill, till I hear the people enjoying
And any man who knows a thing knows
He knows not a damn, damn thing at all
And every time I felt the hurt
And I felt the givin' gettin' me up off the wall
I'm just gonna take a minute and let it ride
I'm just gonna take a minute and let it breeze
I'm just gonna take a minute and let it ride
I'm just gonna take a minute and let it breeze
How did Mandela get the will to surpass the everyday
When injustice had him caged and trapped in every way?
How did Gandhi ever withstand the hunger strikes and all?
Didn't do it to gain power or money if I recall
It's to give, I guess, I'll pass it on
Mother thinks it'll lift the stress of Babylon
Mother knows, my mother she suffered blows
I don't know how we survived such violent episodes
I was so worried and hurt to see you bleed
But as soon as you came out the hospital you gave me sweets
Yeah, they try to take you from me
But you still only gave 'em some prayers and sympathy
Dear mama, you helped me write this
By showing me to give is priceless
And any man who knows a thing knows
He knows not a damn, damn thing at all
And every time I felt the hurt
And I felt the givin' gettin' me up off the wall
I'm just gonna take a minute and let it ride
I'm just gonna take a minute and let it breeze
I'm just gonna take a minute and let it ride
I'm just gonna take a minute and let it breeze
All I can say is the worst is over now
We can serve the hard times, divorce, it's over now
They try to keep us out but they doors is open now
My nigga, Akon is gettin' awards and covers now
This is K'naan and still reppin' the S
Comin' out of Mogadishu and still draped in the mess
And no matter how we strong, homie
It ain't easy comin' out of where we from, homie
And that's the reason why, I could never play for me
Tell 'em the truth is what my dead homies told me
Ooh yeah, I take inspiration from the most heinous of situations
Creating medication out my own tribulations
Dear Africa, you helped me write this
By showing me to give is priceless
And any man who knows a thing knows
He knows not a damn, damn thing at all
And every time I felt the hurt
And I felt the givin' gettin' me up off the wall
I'm just gonna take a minute and let it ride
I'm just gonna take a minute and let it breeze
I'm just gonna take a minute and let it ride
I'm just gonna take a minute and let it breeze
Nothing is perfect man, that's what the world is
All I know is I'm enjoying today
You know 'cause it isn't every day that you get to give
And any man who knows a thing knows
He knows not a damn, damn thing at all
And every time I felt the hurt
And I felt the givin' gettin' me up off the wall
I'm just gonna take a minute and let it ride
I'm just gonna take a minute and let it breeze
I'm just gonna take a minute and let it ride
I'm just gonna take a minute and let it breeze
I got nothin' to complain about
You know where I'm from
You know where I'ma last, so
You know I was flyin' high
I'm just gonna take a minute and let it ride
I'm just gonna take a minute and let it breeze
I'm just gonna take a minute and let it ride
I'm just gonna take a minute and let it breeze
I hope you got your passports, and vaccine shots.
[Verse 1]
I take rappers on a field trip any day
They never been opposite real clip anyway
I know where all the looters and the shooters stay
Welcome to the city we call Doomsday.
When niggaz is just fried chicken like Tuesday
Oh you from the hood huh, who say?
My Nigerian niggaz would call you Pussy
My Somali niggaz are quick to grab the uzi
Around here we only bumping Fela Kuti
Tupac, or Bob Marley, Lucky Dube.
So we don't really give a fuck about your groupies
This Is Africa, Hooray.
T.I.A.
(Hooray)
T.I.A.
(Hooray)
T.I.A.
(Hooray)
It means, This Is Africa
(Hooray)
[Hook]
You don't know how hard it is here
The streets is tricky in these parts here
You don't know how hard this is here
The streets need this shit here
You don't know how hard it is here
The streets is tricky in these parts here
You don't know how hard this is here
The streets need this shit here
[Verse 2]
I walk rappers through the Killa woods any day
They never been opposite real goons anyway
I know all the tricky sticky icky alley ways
Welcome to the continent of Holidays (Africa)
Where Holidays quickly turn to hell days
Stars fall quicker than box of shell case
No Bill Gates, No PCs
Why you cats debating, acting and faking these days
I deliver what they need like milk crates
I learned from the deadly streets no regrets
And I wasn't ever looking for street cred
But these streets bred me to be street safe
It's no secret we know how to squeeze lead
But the Pre-set is not to have to squeeze it
Used to be at peace but now we using T-Shirts
And it reads RIP cause the peace dead
When I walk through the slums like (Nomane)
Little children say K'naan (Bumaye)
The rap game just got itself a new day
This is Africa, Hooray.
T.I.A.
(Hooray)
T.I.A.
(Hooray)
T.I.A.
(Hooray)
It means, This Is Africa
[Hook]
You don't know how hard it is here
The streets is tricky in these parts here
You don't know how hard this is here
The streets need this shit here
You don't know how hard it is here
The streets is tricky in these parts here
You don't know how hard this is here
Yeah, Yeah, it’s me, strugglin.
Verse1: I start out, just to vibe out, I ain’t about
to bow out, I’m more gangsta than you are but I ain’t
about the raw raw, my season will come, it has to,
honestly I feel like I’m ten months pregnant or
something, I’m passed due, sincerely I’m touchy these
days I can’t take nothing, I’m tryna treat my record
like the law shit I’m dying to break something, and
mostly, I’m up and stressin, when other folks sleep,
believe me, I know struggle, and struggle knows me, my
life owes me, like an overdose I’m slowly, drifting in
the arms of trouble, then trouble holds me, and
nothing else’s close to me, more than pain
unfortunately, like a self fulfilling prophecy, I’m
suppose. SDK
Chorus: Strugglin, and it’s trouble in, in this
circumstance I’m dwelling in I find myself in the
corner huddling, with some angry men, and I gotta
settle shit again before they gotta kill again, I’m
strugglin, and it’s trouble in, in this circumstance
I’m dwelling in I find myself in the corner huddling,
with some angry men, and I gotta settle shit again
before they gotta kill again.
Verse2: I should be chillin on beaches, instead my
bone freezes, ducking glocks and I walks, well, like
Jesus, the realest thing for me is, since I was a
fetus, the only break I ever got, was at recess, so
legitimately, I remain very little relieved, and at
thug rappers, I remain very little intrigued, and can
you blame me, look how we lived in the late eighties,
throwing rocks at the crazy ladies, and when we’d play
these, crazy game, the whole crew had crazy names, we
even had a cripple we use to call em lazy legs, but my
faith remains, untouched and unchanged, still in my
block you hear more shots than a gun range, I’m…
Chorus: Strugglin, and it’s trouble in, in this
circumstance I’m dwelling in I find myself in the
corner huddling, with some angry men, and I gotta
settle shit again before they gotta kill again, I’m
strugglin, and it’s trouble in, in this circumstance
I’m dwelling in I find myself in the corner huddling,
with some angry men, and I gotta settle shit again
before they gotta kill again.
Verse3: Aight aight, more to the truth, no writing
just record me at the booth, forced by the loop and
the guitar but I’m the boss of the groove, I speak
truth my deep roots remain in equal danger, the pain
on my song is crazy but the sequel is stranger, hey
man, I’m from the hardest heartless projects, dear
departed I’m now known as a recording artist, spilling
what little remains of your memories in the process,
bitter a little, but making your names in to a
colossus, believe me, I’m thankful my brother is still
with me, and ain’t much changed Bobby is still
troubling Whitney, and Bush is still bombing poor
people yo he’s deadly, and me I got a little recording
gig but evidently, I’m….
Basically, I got beef
I wanna talk to you directly
I can't ignore, I can't escape
And that's 'cause you affect me
You cripple me, you shackle me
You shatter my whole future in front of me
This energy is killing me
I gotta let it pour like blood, soobax
Dadkii waa dhibtee nagala soobax
Dhibkii waa batee nagla soobax
Dhiigi waad qubtee nagala soobax
Dhulkii waad gubtee nagala soobax
Nagala soobax, nagala soobax
Dadkii waa dhibtee nagala soobax
Dhibkii waa batee nagla soobax
Dhiigi waad qubtee nagala soobax
So for real, who's to blame?
We lose lives over Qabiil's name
Disregard for the soul
We just don't give a fuck no more
Left alone, all alone
Settle your issues on your own
What to do? Where to go?
I got to be a refugee damn, soobax
Dadkii waa dhibtee nagala soobax
Dhibkii waa batee nagla soobax
Dhiigi waad qubtee nagala soobax
Dhulkii waad gubtee nagala soobax
Nagala soobax, nagala soobax
Dadkii waa dhibtee nagala soobax
Dhibkii waa batee nagla soobax
Dhiigi waad qubtee nagala soobax
Mogadishu used to be
A place where the world would come to see
Jaziira, sugunto liida, wardhiigleey iyo Madiina
Hargeysa, Boosaaso, Baardheere iyo Berbera
My skin needs to feel the sand, the sun
I'm tired of the cold, god damn soobax
Dadkii waa dhibtee nagala soobax
Dhibkii waa batee nagla soobax
Dhiigi waad qubtee nagala soobax
Dhulkii waad gubtee nagala soobax
Nagala soobax, nagala soobax
Dadkii waa dhibtee nagala soobax
Dhibkii waa batee nagla soobax
Dhiigi waad qubtee nagala soobax
I guess I could use the last bar to flow
I'm known as a lyrical rhyme domino
I'm cynical, well, oh, now you know
Put a whole in an emcee like cheerio
They don't hear me though
I work for the struggle, I don't work for dough
I mean what I say, I don't do it for show
Somalia needs all gunmen right out the door
Dadkii waa dhibtee nagala soobax
Dhibkii waa batee nagla soobax
Dhiigi waad qubtee nagala soobax
Dhulkii waad gubtee nagala soobax
Nagala soobax, nagala soobax
Dadkii waa dhibtee nagala soobax
Dhibkii waa batee nagla soobax
Dhiigi waad qubtee nagala soobax
Dadkii waa dhibtee nagala soobax
Dhibkii waa batee nagla soobax
Dhiigi waad qubtee nagala soobax
Dhulkii waad gubtee nagala soobax
Nagala soobax, nagala soobax
Dadkii waa dhibtee nagala soobax
Dhibkii waa batee nagla soobax
Dhiigi waad qubtee nagala soobax
Yeah,
Somalia
Yeah,
I spit it for my block,
It’s an ode, I admit it.
Here the city code is lock and load
Any minute is rock and roll
And you rock and roll,
And feel your soul leavin’.
It’s just the wrong dance
That'll leave you not breathin’.
I’m not particularly proud
Of this predicament but,
I’m born and bred
In this tenement, I'm sentimental, What?!
Plus it’s only right to represent my hood
And what not.
So I’m about to do it in the music; in the movies.
Cut to the chase pan across to the face
I'm right there.
Freeze frame on the street name
Oops wait a minute,
This is where the streets have no name
And the drain of sewage.
You can see it in this boy how the hate is brewin’
Cause when his tummy tucks in
Fuck the pain is fluid.
So what difference does it make,
Entertaining threw it.
Some get high mixing coke and gun powder, sniffin’.
She got a gun but could have been a model or physician.
So what you know bout the pirates terrorize the ocean.
To never know a simple day without a big commotion.
It can’t be healthy just to live with a such steep emotion.
And when I try and sleep, I see coffins closin’. (Repeat)
Yeah,
Yeah,
We used to take barb wire
Mold them around discarded bike tires.
Roll em down the hill in foot blazin’.
Now that was our version of mountain bike racing
Daammn!
Do you see why it’s amazing,
When someone comes out of such a dire situation
And learns the English language,
Just to share his observation!
Probably get a Grammy without a grammar education.
So fuck you school and fuck you immigration!
And all of you who thought I wouldn’t amount to constipation.
And now I’m here without the slightest fear and preservation,
They love me in the slums and in the native reservations.
The world is a ghetto with ministerin’ deprivation.
My mommy didn’t raise no fool did she hooyo?
I promise I would get it and remain strictly loyal.
Cause when they get it then they let it all switch and spoil.
But I just illuminated it like kitchen foil.
A lot of main stream niggas is yappin’ about yappin’
A lot of underground niggas is rappin’ about rappin’.
I just wanna tell you what’s really crackalackan
Before the tears came down this is what happened.
So what you know bout the pirates terrorize the ocean.
To never know a simple day without a big commotion.
It can’t be healthy just to live with a such steep emotion.
My tragedy's different
My life's deep, listen,
Gotta bail, I'm limpin
Walked outta hell's kitchen
Why bother cherishin'
My past is everything, wrong, and my arrogance
Walk down the stairs pissin'
Cop us cause they're bitchin'
Life isnt fair, singin'
Blues and my rap drippin'
Ooze out the blood Sinkin
Deep down to earth thinking
Leave out a nerp chicken
I should run, forfit, and everything I know LISTEN,
I was The misdirected
I was The least expected
Hop on And get rejected
Walk on And feel neglected
I feel Like I'm the message
Unheard But I'm the message
I'm the last prolific remaining offer from the gutter
SHOT was my girlfriend
When We was younger
Her I was scarred yo
Bullets I survived though
Death It's came easy
Truth the games needs me
Never let them see me down, smile while I'm bleeding
Smile When your struggilin
Smile when Your in jail
Smile When your dead broke
Smile And the rents due
Smile You ain't got friends now
Smile And no one knows you
Never let them see you down smile while you bleeding
Smile When he leaves you
Smile Cause girl he needs you
Smile Plenty single mothers cry the tears you do
Smile Dispite the war
Smile despite the pain yo
Never let them see you down smile while you bleeding
To my man Kareem in prison
I can't speak your name
It hurt me that you never listened
It can't be the same
I had to grow my intutision
Had me deep in pain
Cause I knew my options were either broke or the prison chains
I can't do it
I can't see it, look
Damnit, I can't blow it
I got a judge tellin me my lifes key
They will throw it
Nuh-uh, no sir
I plan to have a chauffeur
It seems to me this chopping crack is really going no where
Therefore
I'm resurrected
They call me
The poor Injection
I infect you with the real
The Dustyfeetphilosahectagos
I spit, so sick
I skid out
I'm fallin'
I'm Shit outta luck and I'm trapped but I'll get out
Can You Help me
I'm goin crazy
My mom plays trix and I beat on the floor like bush wick
My fists bloody and blistered
A pair Like I'm balistic
I just stare at the red and smile while I'm bleedin
Smile When your struggilin
Smile When Your in jail
Smile When your dead broke
Smile And the rents due
Smile You ain't got friends now
Smile And no one knows you
Never let them see you down smile while you bleeding
Smile When he leaves you
Smile Cause girl he needs you
Smile Plenty single mothers cry the tears you do
Smile Dispite the war
Smile despite the pain yo
Never let them see you down smile while you bleeding
There are a few things you gotta take into acount
I'm not an entertainer I've never been a clown
I was born where tha mothers give birth while they frown
I would walk with the kids that would bbbrrraaaa a sound ah
Never really thought I'd make it to fourteen
And anybody wanted to fight I was most keen
Plus I had a little temper it was often forseen
Yo say somethin bout my momma id shoot ya dead out clean
But ya gotta keep in mind that I grew up Mogadishu (tell em)
The only law was gun law
And we don't walk with a pistol
You get laughed at for being so insensitive to the environment
Cause how will you be heard when those big boys are firin'
War is no place for a child
Especially if hes rollin' with an AK and a smile
He had witnesses on mother bloody in a towel
But please, please, please, please
But never let em see you down smile while you bleedin'
Smile When your struggilin
Smile When Your in jail
Smile When your dead broke
Smile And the rents due
Smile You ain't got friends now
Smile And no one knows you
Never let them see you down smile while you bleeding
Smile When he leaves you
Smile Cause girl he needs you
Smile Plenty single mothers cry the tears you do
Smile Dispite the war
Smile despite the pain yo
Never let them see you down smile while you bleeding
Smile When your struggilin
Smile When Your in jail
Smile When your dead broke
Smile And the rents due
Smile You ain't got friends now
Smile And no one knows you
Never let them see you down smile while you bleeding
Smile When he leaves you
Smile Cause girl he needs you
Smile plenty single mothers cry the tears you do
Smile Dispite the war
Smile despite the pain yo
Heaven, is there a chance that you could come down
and open doors to hurtin people like me
People like me (4x)
Is it fair to say that I am stressing out
I'm stationed in Iraq and they won't let me out
My homeys said I was stupid for even joining
My counsoller said that my decision was disappointing
How she had good for good state colleges
and with my good grades it wouldn't have been a problem
but they don't understand the power of significance
more than brilliance and certainly more than dividends
and if you ask me now would i repeat it
Would i fight in a war i don't believe in
Well the answer is if not me where the cancer is
they been doing this before Jesus of Nazereth
and after all this time it is still deadly hazardous
and bush isn't really being all that inaccurate
When he says we're winning the war cos its staggering
but thats cos we're killing everybody that we see
and most of us soldiers we can barely fall asleep
and time and time again i'm feeling incompetent
cos my women back home, we're constantly arguing
and i must be crazy cos all i'm obsessing with is
her myspace and facebook and who's commenting
I swear to god if she's cheatin' I'm doin her ass in
I can tell with one look and it came to me sounding like something from a song hook
Heaven, is there a chance that you could come down
and open doors to hurtin people like me
People like me (4x)
Meet Sarah, the proud mother of young sabastian
suburban professional went to college in ...shton
In self pity she suddenly cried,
would my life be important if I suddenly died?
Neighbours saying what a nice women she was
keeping mostly to herself ever since the divorce
and with the compant downsizein and the fall and all
she really shouldn't take it that personal at all
It wasn't her boss who had his eyes on her thighs
and got a rise from her risin off the desk though
and despite rememberin sayin no plenty of times
it was still a damn surprise being let go
and now stuck with a mortgage she cant afford
and too educated to blame the corporate world
She got on welfare and hated it case work a power trippin
and generally being degraded if,
nothing else she was treated sick
and ineffective which is the worst thing
that she'd been left with
Damn, no magic from david blane,
no painter to pain this pain,
No morgan freeman to narrate the shame
So she took refuge and prayer
kinda like findin god in the phonebook
and it came to her sounding something like a song hook
Heaven, is there a chance that you could come down
and open doors to hurtin people like me
People like me (4x)
I guess I told you about myself to a degree
just by telling you about people like me
but people like me they speak politely
they don't start no beef or peace ...
Everybody gotta eat but everybody doesn't
which is why i want to tell you about my favourite cousin
he and I grew up where the sun shines
and we both partook with the gun crimes
and we both liked american rap rhymes
even though we didn't understand one line
if you remember my line of notes in my last album
I talked about a close call with a grenade
I think we both must have been about 7th grade
but dont panic we both survived without damage
but we developed a bond like we survived the titanic
but when the country became frantic
my mother tried to get us out, planned it
to the last detail except the plan got derailed
cos there wasn't enough money for the plane tickets
how bitter when my mother had to chose who to take with her
so my cousin got left in the war and thats just hard to recall
but now i take refuge and prayer,
kinda like finding god in the phonebook
it came to me sounding kinda like something from a song hook .
Heaven, is there a chance that you could come down
and open doors to hurtin people like me
People like me (4x)
Heaven, is there a chance that you could come down
and open doors to hurtin people like me
uh, someone called the cops on him
someone told his pops on him
he was talking crooked and he had some rocks on him
tucked, tucked in his socks' corner
chucks, chucks and the charlotte hornet
cap, when he flowed then they all surprised on him
yes, he's a fugee but he go all nas on 'em
well, can't go pras on 'em
and he got that crossover
but he from the streets you don't cross over
hut, hut to the block soldiers
buck, buck to the cop vultures
nope, no i don't know pilots
nigga i know pirates
violence the islands
shout out to my idrens
put your hands up like it's a mother fuckin' siren
well, i paid all my dues
yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
shone a million [shoes](undefined)
yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
'cause when you got nothing left
yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
you got nothing to lose
yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
i used to stand on vernon and 10
burnin' a spliff burner on hip
wishing to flip a bird, yac burning my chest
black certainly i'm dressed
strictly that army shit
finish my shift
pack gone before the dawn hit
anything i could earn on the strip
turn it and flip
watching my back
cooking the pot
making it stretch
discussing with' my clique
should we duct tape the connect
it's rough and k'naan knows
he had the same woes
i'm voicing my opinions
i forgot y'all was there
i ain't know y'all was still listenin'
be honest i ain't care
y'all don't get my innuendos my interests
y'all on some simple shit
thinking i'm preachy
yeah my church is the world
christians sip a cup of this holy water
stuck at this phony border
it's custom to enter the main stream
you must front and record
a poorer oratory
your life story corny
yo, my somali niggas know what war be
we fam'
well, i paid all my dues
yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
shone a million [shoes](undefined)
yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
'cause when you got nothing left
yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
you got nothing to lose
yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
remember when niggas said nas was somalian
baseball caps had the tags, like a yardie and
it was written just came out, i was gnarly then
niggas dreaded seein' me like a rastafarian
we didn't know the dress code though we was bargainers
the knock off filas, with the pumps and cheap cardigans
niggas looked corny i admit, we was foreigners
but this corny kid, quick to send you to the coroners
y'all know my war story, i won't repeat it
it's just injury, my victory's undefeated
thought you knew me well, go back and delete it
i'm in every joint this year, orthopedic
and yes the ak's are instruments we do drum 'em
i'm somewhere between killa and king solomon
and the shades take half the face we over stun 'em
and treat obstacles like ass we overcome 'em
man, they really made me do this
i was peaceful like a buddhist
but then niggas came and screwed it up like judas
now i'm suited up with lugers
rugers suddenly intruders
turn around like hoola hoopers
fucking losers
well, i paid all my dues
yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
shone a million [shoes](undefined)
yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
'cause when you got nothing left
yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
you got nothing to lose
yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
this one's for the world
this one's for your girl
this one's for your mama
So yea basicaly alot of people ask me how life was then... so here it is
My old home smelled of good birth
Boiled red beans kernal oil and hand me down poetry
It's brick white washed walls widdowed by first paint
The tin roof tops humm in songs of promise while time ends
Locked into demonic rythm with the leaves
The trees had the wind huggin them loving them a torturous love
Bug in wind it was over and done the the rounds ment to pocket
Kept the rain drops cool neighbours dwellers spatter in the pool
Kids playing football with a sand in a sock
We had what we got and it wasn't alot
No one knew they were poor we were all inocent to grieve judgment
The country was combusing with life like a long hybernatin volcano
With a long tale of succes like j-lo farmers, fishers, fighters,
Even fools had a place in production teh coral reefs make your days
In reflection the costal line was the place of seduction
And women walked with grace and perfection
And we just knew we were warriors too nothing worried us too
We were glorious?
[Verse:]
And one day it came
Spoiled the parade like rain
Like oil in a flame it pained
The heart attack sudden
Harder then livin
Harder then a punch in the woom
Harder then the lunch you consume for us
It had a cancerous fume war, lust
Men who made killing hobbiest
Sellin powerfully
Like healthy livestock
It made tides rock
With a diligent mock
Confused with the people
Infused in the evil
(profester) reject
Like jews in the sequal
So when it came in the morning
With a warning and without
The hearding was a burden
Only certain was dealt
A mythical tale
No soul knows well
Liberty went to hell
Freedom caught four shells
Fears was the bloke
Keep your to the show
It apears old will
Was right in 84
Half baked brother
Killed mother in a store
But all of us watching
But they don't love her anymore
[Chorus:]
(peed) my poem
Mother was my old home
Good will is looted
In my old home
Religions is burnt down
In my old home
Kindness is shacklled
In my old home
Justice has been raped
In my old home
Murderers hold post
In my old home
The land vomits ghosts
In my old home
[Verse:]
We got pistols with eyes
Curuption and lies
Trust us snakes
And death without breaks
Suspicious new borns
Live in the horn
We used to teh pain
Rack bodies
Not grain
Chop limbs
Not trees
Spend lies
Not wealth
Seek vengance
Not truth
The craziest youth
Moist pains
Are plans
.nigga fuck your plans
[Chorus:]
Bandits are leaders down
In my old home
Rooms are a [? ]
In my old home
Seditives of faith
In my old home
Rapers are praised
In my old home
Demons dress well
In my old home
Infants are nailed
In my old home
Spirits are jailed
In my old home
Grudges grow tails
In my old home
[Bridge:]
Our roads have seen electric hate and
Our women labour, but need no invadin
Our farms produce giulty grubin
Our kids depend on shifty luck see
Our news is like "for death is all"
Don't blame me for the truth I've told
[Chorus:]
Good will is looted
In my old home
Religions is burnt down
In my old home
Kindness is shacklled
In my old home
Justice has been raped
In my old home
Murderers hold post
In my old home
The land vomits ghosts
[Chorus:]
Turn the light off
It's a light on in your heart
So let it be your guidance, guidance
Open your mouth if you would say
Could be more beautiful than silence, silence
[Verse 1]
Ok, ain't it funny how the talk is always talking
Never firing, but always shining cocking
When they're cocky until they end in parking lots
Suddenly they got parkinson, they can hardly talk
No karate buddy, no Pilates buddy
It's a new game, no atomic buddy!
Body talk, well I'm used to buddies talk
I've seen shit to give new meaning to the buddy shop
Look, I know you think I'm so right,
But mother fucker, I'm also ??
They try to tell these niggers I'm a baby in these dippers
I'm on my own shit, like this
I don't disseminate, I got my name in services
I don't discriminate, I got friends who are snipers
But some of them ended up being lifeless
Cause they kept silent, survivors
[Chorus:]
Turn the light off
It's a light on in your heart
So let it be your guidance, guidance
Open your mouth if you would say
Could be more beautiful than silence, silence
[Verse 2]
I'm the quiet type, breathe and steady
Never small talk speak when necessary
In the streets, I see niggers shop with..
My Jamaican girl say 'talk to me baby!'
What's on your mind, can say ??
Death do its part, memories, I marry
Got a library with no lies baby
And all the books look like they're made of strawberries.
It ain't easy being me
Cause my own fans can't relate to my streets
And my streets can't relate to those in the east
But I'm beats, so I make bread on release
I'm releasing my dinners, get the beat a life life I gave a fetus ??
Free to kick in the in your belly, that's free to breathing
Don't say nothing, cause now we're dreaming
[Chorus:]
Turn the light off
It's a light on in your heart
So let it be your guidance, guidance
Open your mouth if you would say
Could be more beautiful than silence, silence
Oh, oh, oh, silence, silence
Oh, oh, oh, silence, silence
Oh, oh, oh, silence, silence
[Nelly furtado]
i don't wanna be left
in this war tonight
am i alone in this fight?
is anybody out there?
don't wanna be left left in this world behind
say you'll run to my side
[k'naan]
something 'bout Mary
never won a pageant
never felt pretty
never looked like Cameron
Diaz was her last name
always been abandoned
keep your head up
baby girl this is your anthem
there goes Hannah
showin' off her banner
rocking that crown
make them boys go bananas
when you're insecure about yourself
it's a fact
you can point a finger
but there's three pointing back
i can see her crying out, yeah
is there anybody out there?
she's really counting on your love
still struggling uphill
but you act like you don't care
right now she could really use a shoulder
hanging onto the edge til it's over
she's crying for your love tonight
loneliest heart to survive, she said
[Nelly furtado]
i don't wanna be left
in this war tonight
am i alone in this fight?
is anybody out there?
don't wanna be left left in this world behind
say you'll run to my side
is anybody out there? yeah, yeah, yeah
is anybody out there?
(somebody, anybody)
[k'naan]
his name was Adam
when his mom had him
dad was a phantom never took a look at him
grew up mad and antisocial
hated outdoors, always in playing madden
Adam was lonely
drugs were the only
way out of his own life
now he's slowly losing his fire
close to retire
with one last hope he puts his arms up higher
i can see him crying out, yeah
is anybody out there?
he's really counting on your love
still struggling uphill
but you act like you don't care
right now he could really use a shoulder
hanging onto the edge til it's over
he's crying for your love tonight
loneliest heart to survive, he said
[Nelly furtado]
i don't wanna be left
in this war tonight
am i alone in this fight?
is anybody out there?
don't wanna be left left in this world behind
say you'll run to my side
is anybody out there?
[bridge]
if you feel the way i feel
like you've been talking to yourself
well this one's for everyone who's felt invisible
lonely in a crowded room
searching for someone like you
can't do it all alone (no one can baby)
can't do it all alone (no one should baby)
is anybody out there?
(somebody, anybody)
is anybody out there?
i'm right here for your
is anybody out there?
[outro]
i don't wanna be left
in this war tonight
am i alone in this fight?
is anybody out there?
don't wanna be left left in this world behind
say you'll run to my side
is anybody out there? yeah, yeah, yeah
i don't wanna do it all alone
i need your love to take me home
no one said you should be all alone
i'm right here
i'm right here
set to high
no callin the rerevulationary youths
dam marley alongside k'naan
gunpowder philosipher what some boy feel like
peppop huh
i made the list this year
im on honor role
you aint no east africa rock and roll
you dont know what time it is like your clock is old
you know y'all packin like the block is sold
how could it be to the deep and darkest of zero
to become the king of new york like a De Nero
and he aint even from new york that's what's weird though
but where he's from they repetatattapatatta
so come now dont you try to play the hero
around here we have pirates with trapedos
alongside all the warlords and beardos
the only city the people blacker than tuxedos
babygirl let me get all up in your earlobe
and if you shut me down you can kill my ego
which is my enemy makes you my amigo
so either way you and i are button and needle
and they say i might become big as the beetles
This ain't a good time
But when is it ever
I know the perfect time
And baby that's never
So don't you dare leave me now
Throw my heart on the ground
Cause tonight ain't the night for sorrow
But you can hurt me tomorrow, okay
It's on you...okay...
I used to be a strange fruit
Billy holiday, then you got me by my roots
Sent the pain away
I tried to question our direction, that was my mistake
I had to ask you where we going baby, marvin gaye
I used to do it like sinatra, do it my way
Now i'm the fuji of my lauren, he'll got away
I felt we had it at last love, etta james
But now i'm wondering...
If what I heard it's true
Then I know what you came to do
Love may be blind but i'm looking at you
So before you pull the trigger, did you ever consider
This ain't a good time
But when is it ever
I know the perfect time
And baby that's never
So don't you dare leave me now
Throw my heart on the ground
Cause tonight ain't the night for sorrow
But you can hurt me tomorrow,
You can hurt me (repeat)
Tomorrow (repeat)
If you can take a rain check on a stormy night
Then I will love you till you oh, like you betty white
You can hurt me any other day, pick a fight
But not on monday, tuesday, wednesday, thursday, friday night
And I believe we can be, cause I got a song to write
I promise i'mma hear you out when the time is right
Let's have a talk, august 7, 2099
At your place or mine?
This ain't a good time
But when is it ever
I know the perfect time
And baby that's never
So don't you dare leave me now
Throw my heart on the ground
Cause tonight ain't the night for sorrow
But you can hurt me tomorrow
Is there an instrument to measure all the hurting ache
A looking glass so we can see where all the magic went
I need a button, I can push so we can start again
Cause girl you bring me to my knees nancy kerrigan
Hey why you turn around and walk away
I know you got a lot to say
And I really want to talk about it
Just not today
This ain't a good time
But when is it ever
I know the perfect time
And baby that's never
So don't you dare leave me now
Throw my heart on the ground
Cause tonight ain't the night for sorrow
But you can hurt me tomorrow,
You can hurt me (repeat)
Nee kaatru, naan maram, yenna sonnaalum thalayaattuven
Nee mazhai, naan bhoomi enge vizhunthaalum enthikkolven
Nee iravu, naan vinmeen, nee irukkum vare thaan naan iruppen
Nee alai naan karai enne adithaalum ettrukolven
Nee udal naan nizhal nee vizhavendaam naan vizhuven
Nee kilai naan ilai unnai ottum varaikkum thaan uyirthiruppen
Nee vizhi naan imai unnai serum varaikkum naan thudithiruppen
Nee swaasam naan dheham naan unnai mattum uyirthoda anumathippen
Nee vaanam naan neelam unnil naanai kalanthiruppen
Nee ennam naan vaarthai nee sollum pozhuthe velippaduven
Nee veyil naan kuyil un varugai paarthu thaan naan isaippen
Nee udai naan idai unnai urangum pozhuthum naan uduthiruppen
Hook:
There's no way to write it, there's no way to fight it
And I kick and scream but you got me despite it
And I got my pride so I begin to hide it
Like fire in Freetown you begin to light it
Chorus:
Aha, aha, sidii hogasha roobka
Aha, aha, you shine down on me
Aha, aha, sidii hogasha roobka
Aha, aha, you shine down on me
By some higher order you keep getting bolder
By God or by country you kill like a soldier
By some widdle you sung little but scream mighty stronger
Like fire in Freetown you old magic spoiler
Chorus
You place pins in my ribs and ask me to lie down
My pain is your pleasure but pleasure is all mine
You lend me your false ear, I lend you my false lines
Like fire in Freetown I'm fueled by your gold mine
Chorus 2x
Hook
Fire, fire, fire, fire
She pulled out her match and she burned down my home
Fire, fire
She always come find me, she know where I roam
Fire, fire
She know where to touch me to turn me into stone
Fire, fire
She came like a storm and she rained on my lawn
Fire, fire
She know where to touch me to turn me to stone
Fire, fire
She always come find me, she know where I roam
Fire, fire
Yeah
Believe it or not
What kept me alive
Is mah dream
Maybe I'm just a dreamer
Cause this woman is a keeper
Got me feeling like I need her
Every day I'm getting weaker
Baby I'm just a dreamer
Cause this woman is a keeper
Got me feeling like I need her
Every day I'm getting weaker
Maybe I'm just a dreamer
Cause this woman is a keeper
Got me feeling like I need her
Every day I'm getting weaker
Baby I'm just a dreamer
Cause this woman is a keeper
Got me feeling like I need her
Every day I'm getting weaker
Maybe I'm just a dreamer
Cause this woman is a keeper
Got me feeling like I need her
Every day I'm getting weaker
Baby I'm just a dreamer
Cause this woman is a keeper
Got me feeling like I need her
Every day I'm getting weaker
When you're lonely
Just give me a call
My love or my homie
We can share it all
Always been there for me
We witnessed it all
And we plan to be,
Till eternity.
Maybe I'm just a dreamer
Cause this woman is a keeper
Got me feeling like I need her
Every day I'm getting weaker
Baby I'm just a dreamer
Cause this woman is a keeper
Got me feeling like I need her
(speaking) yea uhhh....its k'naan....yeaa uuhh about to take over with this here we go i check it...
They don`t expect me on this beat the thunder on the street but i never turn the cheek surrender or retreat you can bet that i am strong trying to right what is wrong they say it wont be long keep on singing your song but hey yo you need a single, single to make a mingle something that's kinda simple i would hate to call it jingle a single is a missile takes you right to the middle of 106 and park and maybe jimmy Kimmel you will need somebody famous co-singin it for your anus who you got on your album i don`t see where the name is but i do it my own way i do it my own way i do...if you do what you do your own way you could be famous too.
( CHORUS)
if the beat is hot does it matter where or who its from
if the flow is hot does it really matter where i am from
if the song is hot does it matter cuz the dj drum
if the girl is hot does it really matter where she is from
if the beat is hot does it matter where or who its from
if the flow is hot does it really matter where am from
if the club is hot does it really matter how we drum
if the girl is hot does it really matter where she is
from.
I could`ve been from the west side or the shat town like twista with a flow so sick it blow you to bits it will show you the glits and gold in the wrist and the boat in the fish and i blow them a kiss, lets blow give them em a sweet talking in a piss while taking a piss are you talking to the fish or the girls in the boat exposing their tits
I could've been from NY like rock`em with the my pen i can get paid in full with praise and tools erased and rules my case of jewels am cold like glazier glew with blades and fools am ragging bulls
I could`ve been from L.A like dre and snoop rolling in my six four with fresh case jewels and am ridding on em niggaz unless they cool and i got border troubles like em essays fool
I Could`ve been i could`ve been from the dirty like A town and M.I.A i could ride an invisible motor cycle and go HEY (echo) hey hey...storm like the hurricane and i don't mean ey bay bay am from african where they say K'naan umayey
(repeat chorus)
if you wana make it hot then you better do a drop (echoes drop drop drop drop drop drop...) if you wana get a hit you better add to the street (echoes street ooh yea...) and he is tougher than you suckers non of you could ever bark at him look at him make you tough guys look like you are from suckatem i do it my own my own my i do it my own way ido...if you do what you do your own way you could be famous too
[Verse 1:]
It's like writing to the dead, dear people, I don't know if you'll hear my last plea,
But somebody needs to be a little concerned about me, it's like I'm standing on the edge of a high tower by kanie,
Ya'll are rootin me to jump, nobody stoppin me,
It's like a drug filled rock n roll documentary,
Just wait till the world knows what's inside of me,
Cause you ll be sorry when I'm gone, and I'll be gone so very soon,
If the pressure on my diaphragm keeps resisting,
If the feds keep my brothers stompin up and down prisons,
If you can't understand my offerings and deep mission,
No label is willing to see my unique vision,
If metro housing keep threatning my poor mother with eviction,
You'll be sorry, (you'll be sorry),
You'll be sorry if I stay so poor I can't afford my own medicine to cure my ulcer,
And get vexed at every rich person that walks passed, that won't blast, just yet I don't even have enough gas to pass the exit, so don't laugh, (don't laugh) I think a smile is a charity, but fuck don't laught my anger, (resulted) from pressure, (exhaustion) my boys be (orphans), my voices, (is all bent), I'm tired (I'm coughing) my daddies, (divorcin), my momma (is hopin), my eyes be (so open), for chances, (I'm walkin), I'm walkin an
Talkin and boxing my shadow.
[Chorus: x3]
I hate you!, I hate this
I hate food, I won't eat,
In case you, Offend me
I wait you, so don't sleep
[Verse 2:]
It's like the possibility of making it in the industry is just around the corner now,
It's just about your ability, but see it's like an enigma,
An insomniac singer, a dream a figment of your imagination it seems,
Itll never be succesful, please protect your neck before they squeeze,
I'm your biggest hater you suck, and even if you don't,
You know your luck you'll probably get runover by a truck before your first label meeting,
Meeting is the issue you prick, yo yo you really make me sick, no no you make me sick,
I can't stand this argument, see this is what happens when my mind starts to dwell
And my strenght starts to fail,
And I get an anxiety (resulted) in panic attacks (exhaustion)
I might as well look for (a fence), my health is (dissolving)
I am tired (I'm coughing) my wife is (divorcing), my girlfriend, (is open)
Cause I gotta so (open) over these niggas, (walkin) I'm walkin and talking,
And boxing my shadows.
[Chorus x3]
[Verse 3:]
And now I sing about the poor, and I sing about the war,
And how can I not represent, when I'm the most critically acclaimed,
Put most emcees to a lyrical shame, get some um fame,
Express my pain and still keep this shit raw, how can one person be so poor,
Look at it, your better off, (without me), I mean even I (doubt me),
My own dreams, (mock me) the snicker and talk, (about me),
They want me to suffer, [? ], take my life around me, (rob me),
They got me boxing my own shadow!
Yes! Yes yes.
In a conservative form
I wanna ask you a few things before I conform
To the popular belief about where I was born
Are they still illin', still killin' poppin' the corn?
How's the horn, how's the love wavin' the ocean morn'?
How 'bout the young, do they still possess the poetry tongue?
And do they still grief [? ] like the depth of the lung?
How's the nomad, did the herd graze well this year?
From the news to what I know the growin' gap ain't clear
How's the earth, how 'bout the stars and the [? ]
Do you still await on change like a new moon's birth?
Does it still flood ancient wisdom parallel with blur?
Do you still see the pain [? ] deep?
Or did you fight off the plight of the colonized mind?
What of the rainy season, do the kids still bury seeds?
And get taken with uncertainty like me scared of leavin? '
How are the poets, the women and the orphans torn?
I miss 'em all like, old opportunities gone
What of the elders, story tellers in abandoned homes
Miss 'em all like, childhood, reminisceful songs
Disputes, do they still settle 'em by bloodying your shoes?
Fist rules, rather finger equipped with sick tools
What of the wind, I recall it was serenity's end
When the breeze would come and the trees would bend
And the people would say "look what it leads with sin".
And the air was violent and our care was silent
And the only law we [? ] was a pair of tyrants
Man you know, this is why I'm down in deep indigo
And I sleep really poor, on the circumstance floor
Anyway, how's stress, does it still rule your chest?
Do [? ] still rape baby girls without breasts?
How are moms, are they still screaming "put away the arms"?
And against the dispossession of their family-owned farms
How are the many rivers and the lakes and the seas
Are they still angry with us for our poisonous deeds
How are the many rivers and the lakes and the seas
Are they still angry, at Africa
So who's dead and who's alive, did the raids multiply?
Did the poor fight the draught with their minimum supply?
Did the warlords abort the wars and force a part of the peace to pork?
To promote disease and easening 'creased divorce?
What of police and courts, are they still heatin' forests?
Leaking pores and cheatedly to the bleeding corpse
What of the kind and good, can they still, laugh intensely
Like the, mind and word or is it, innocent slaughters by way the, iron stood
And what of the playwrights, reflection in the scapes of great sights
Revolution from power's the writings of brave fights
Despite the legendry that you hear we left by
I head with refuges and niggers they shit right, and
Don't you play soccer by the ocean front?
In America, I shovel the snow while I'm smoking blunts
You mean to tell me that you out there still totin' guns?
Blow incense of the hardened hardly copin' moms
Damn you and circumstance too I can't stand you
You make a mockery of our struggle [? ] with plans too
And I swear to god I wish you helped [? ] back/beck? too
And I caressed the Europeans who instigated your words
And I curse the Russians who impregnated the [? ] they call birth and hurts 'cause you never wake and see the death snake
It's like the conflict of self, submerged in satanic hate
Remember [? ] walking back and hide [? ] from school
Bare feet, the hot sand, massaging our feet is [? ]
'Cause now my mother slips on the ice and her back is weak.
And I feel like a failure, a mute in the age of speech,
Since I was a kiddo
I was a leader
Heard life was a beach but
Man I wanna meet her
Swimmin deeper but the grim reaper will always creep up
No ice on my bed,So I never sleep up
Flow Bolt like Usain try n keep up
Way before waving flag in the FIFA
I was a dreamer life was a gamble
Born in a casino, but god never give burdens you can't handle
Music is my ammo i'm ready for battle
Hook:
When I lose right now I'm betting all my chips
When I'm broken down I be brushing off my kicks
I'ma get somehow yeah you CAN count on this
I'm only gettin better, better better better
I'm only gettin better, better better better
I would say that I've always been a winner but
I've probably always been a sinner
Two kids and a wife couldnt' give her
What she wanted so I had to break like the winter
Summer saw me fall coldplay when I shiver
Spring back up K'naan not a quitter
And success just sex tryna get her wetter
Failing is just an excuse for me to get better
Life means love
Love means pain
Lust is just a part of it
Charges to the game
Rolling in the deep, what's a nice jeep
If you can drop the top just to park it in the rain
[Hook]
Yeah
One time for my thugs over seas and
Two time for my brother big league and
Three for yourself if you know to grow up
Is never giving up on your dreams and
Roll the dice life is a breeze
[Hook]
One time for my thugs over seas and
Two time for my brother big league and
Three for yourself if you know to grow up
Is never giving up on your dreams and
(Intro)
She shot me, she shot me,
Bang, bang… she shot me. (x3)
She shot me, she shot me,
Bang, bang. (Get out the way, yo)
(Verse 1)
Ahh… there she goes again,
The girl is Ethiopian.
In other words, she came through explodin’
In the podium, dynamite
Napoleon like sodium mixed with petroleum,
Slowly but surely, she was walking toward me
Cut the convo short ‘cause she had to wake up early,
But continuing the story,
Don’t worry she gave me digits for her Blackberry
“You’re very handsome” is what she said.
And the way she looked in my eyes said “Put me to bed.”
(Pre-chorus)
Oh my, oh my, I should have known when she said to me on the phone:
“You do not know me very well, but I would never hurt a fly.”
Then she aimed at my chest with love in her eye.
I said she aimed at my chest with love in her eye.
(Chorus)
Adam Levine:
She was walkin’ around with a loaded shotgun
Ready to fire me a hot one.
It went bang, bang, bang…
Straight through my heart. (Straight through my heart)
Although I could have walked away,
I stood my ground and let her spray.
K’naan:
She shot me, she shot me
Bang ,bang… she shot me (x3)
She shot me, she shot me
Bang, bang.
(Verse 2)
Scorpion,
She’s so hot she’s a scorch-ian,
Killing me softly,
Lauryn or Kevorkian,
Couldn’t tell if she’s coo-coo or corky, when
I asked her her name she said “Call me Ten.”
Testing, testing
Things just got more interesting
She’s dressed in a vest pin, double-breasted holster,
A very Western toaster,
She ain’t nothing Kosher.
Ah… she lets me closer.
Hotter than a pepper-crusted Samosa
While I try to keep my composure.
(Chorus)
(Bridge)
Am I wrong?
But what is love without the pain to go along?
And what is pain if not the reason for me to sing this song?
And this song is for the weak and for the strong.
Cause I was strong and still…
She got me, she got me,
Bang, bang… she got me.
She got me, she got me,
Bang, bang.
Bundle up my whole style is so cold
I glow like old guys who go bald
My flow got no front in the vocal
Your flow got no button it's so old
I don't mean to sound like a showboat
But it's true my persona's no joke
I stepped into some kinda portal
I'm legend and sometimes I'm noble
I'm from the most risky zone, oh
No place is more shifty global
More pistols, Russian revolvers
We shootin' all that is normal
But it ain't just because we want to
We ain't got nowhere we can run to
Somebody please press the undo
They only teach us the things that guns do
They don't teach us the ABC's
We play on the hard concrete
All we got is life on the streets
All we got is life on the streets
They don't teach us the ABC's
We play on the hard concrete
All we got is life on the streets
All we got is life on the streets
Rock, you know my era
B-boy seasoning, salt-n-pepa
Grown and sexy, come with the extra
Crushed up linen, fly like Cessna
This type brew, I gave it birth
Now it's time again to give it a verse
Jamaican born, not a fan of the ganja
Boulevard, Brooklyn to Somalia
And it goes in the background
Playa, that is my sound
The green doesn't symbolize I made it on the top
Pioneer legend and they call me Mr. Rock
No B word or N word, I don't need those words
Respect for hers
The game dried up, so we come with the grease
Leadin' ya right and treatin' ya right, so peace
They don't teach us the ABC's
We play on the hard concrete
All we got is life on the streets
All we got is life on the streets
They don't teach us the ABC's
We play on the hard concrete
All we got is life on the streets
All we got is life on the streets
Superman is known by the locals
As this dude who's so fly it's global
Attitude that came outta struggle
Destitute but I make it hopeful
You real but my real is tenfold
My real will make yours a rental
Gangsta if at ease, essential
Fight with guns or utensils
So bold, nothing's confidential
Breakfast was not continental
And lunch could not compliment all
We still become competent souls
These streets ain't paved with no gold
Matter fact someone stole the light bulb
Nobody fat enough for lypo
They don't teach us to read and write, so
They don't teach us the ABC's
We play on the hard concrete
All we got is life on the streets
All we got is life on the streets
They don't teach us the ABC's
We play on the hard concrete
All we got is life on the streets
Give me freedom, give me fire, give me reason, take me higher.
See the champions take the field now, unify us, make us feel proud.
In the streets our heads are lifting, as we loose our inhibitions.
Celebration, it surrounds us every nation all around us,
Singing forever young, singing songs underneath the sun.
Let's rejoice in the beautiful day, and together at the end of the day we'll all say-
When I get older, I will be stronger.
They'll call me freedom, just like a waving flag.
(Spoken) 'ey yo, welcome to my world. Please, listen.
Poison in my veins;
Inside, I'm tortured in my brains
And still I try, ah-ah-ah-ah-aye.
Voices in my head:
Am I alive or am I dead?
Alone, I cry, ah-ah-ah-ah-aye.
Consider, come figure the shit that I'm in, and the pain:
I'm literally going insane. I'm frightened;
My heart and my head have been fightin'.
I'm certain it's hurtin' the rest of my body.
Them voices as loud as Manhattan come chattin',
They say "What made us and let us in?
You know you're better than all of these replicants
Screamin' they represent; come on, man, come on!"
And the people inside me say
They wanna see me goin' tragically.
And it's evil, 'cause I'm only twenty-somethin',
Workin' for a crumb, some bread or nothin'.
Poison in my veins;
Inside, I'm tortured in my brains
And still I try, ah-ah-ah-ah-aye.
(Prr, hey-hey, hey-hey)
Voices in my head:
Am I alive or am I dead?
Alone, I cry, ah-ah-ah-ah-aye.
(Come wit' me)
The harder the struggle, the deeper the trouble.
Come out of the bubble - I'll teach you to cuddle
With demons inside me. What demon is not me?
These demons inside me, they got, they stop me
From sleepin' and eatin' and keepin' it even,
And even my reason for breathin' is seizin'.
It's sleetin' on danger - it knows when I'm readin',
It's bleedin' on paper, it's bleedin' on paper.
And I'm tired of this violence, I'm tortured inside.
Ain't it awkward, I'm overly open inside?
Have I already died? Has mom already cried?
Then why do I feel like I'm over this life?
I'm not hateful - I'm grateful, my girlfriend is tasteful.
I'm livin' it up, and I might even blow
Like a leak in a truck, with a torch and a clutch:
An explosion that leaves all coughin' up dust.
And the people inside me say
They wanna see me goin' tragically.
And it's evil, 'cause I'm only twenty-somethin',
Workin' for a crumb, some bread or nothin'.
Poison in my veins;
Inside, I'm tortured in my brains
And still I try, ah-ah-ah-ah-aye,
(Yo, these)
Voices in my head:
Am I alive or am I dead?
Alone, I cry, ah-ah-ah-ah-aye.
I'm still awake and it's quarter-to-six.
I'm tryin'o write and I ain't thought o' no shh... (Tss)
I live with guilt like a slaughtered a Sikh;
I live with shame like my daughter a bitch. (Ha! )
I don't make livin', but I still persist! (Listen! )
I could sell out, but I still resist!
So don't tell me about no pain and shit:
I was born and raised in poverty, bitch!
And I smile all the while, and I don't complain;
I'm somethin' like Gill Scott: Heroine.
Do you know what it feels like to lose a friend
Again and again, again and again?
The bitter, the sinner, the killer, the poet, (Yeah! )
The river, the blood within him that's flowin'. (Who am I? )
I'm the bitter, the sinner, the killer, the poet,
The river, the blood *fades* within him that's flowin'...
And the people inside me say
They wanna see me goin' tragically.
And it's evil, (it's evil! ) 'cause I'm only twenty-somethin',
Workin' for a crumb, some bread, or nothin'!
Poison in my veins;
Inside, I'm tortured in my brains
And still I try, ah-ah-ah-ah-aye,
('ey yo, these)
Voices in my head:
Am I alive or am I dead?
Alone, I cry, ah-ah-ah-ah-aye.
Poison in my veins;
Inside, I'm tortured in my brains
And still I try, ah-ah-ah-ah-aye,
(Yo, come wit' me)
Voices in my head:
Am I alive or am I dead?
Yeah,
Yeah,
It's me,
Strugglin.
I start out, just to vibe out,
I ain't about to bow out,
I'm more gangsta than you are
But I ain't about the raw raw,
My season'll come, it has to,
Honestly I feel like I'm ten months pregnant or something,
I'm passed due,
Sincerely I'm touchy these days I can't take nothing,
I'm tryna treat my record like the law shit I'm dying to break something,
And mostly, I'm up and stressin, when other folks sleep,
Believe me, I know struggle, and struggle knows me,
My life owes me, like an overdose I'm slowly,
Drifting in the arms of trouble, then trouble holds me,
And nothing else's close to me, more than pain unfortunately,
Like a self fulfilling prophecy, I'm suppose to be...
Strugglin,
And it's troublin,
In this circumstance I'm dwelling
And I find myself in the corner huddling,
With some angry men,
And I gotta settle shit again before they gotta kill again,
I'm strugglin,
And it's troublin,
In this circumstance I'm dwelling
And I find myself in the corner huddling,
With some angry men, and I gotta settle shit again before they gotta kill again.
I should be chillin on beaches,
Instead my bone freezes,
Ducking glocks and I walks,
Well, like Jesus,
The realest thing for me is,
Since I was a fetus,
The only break I ever got,
Was at recess,
So legitimately,
I remain very little relieved,
And at thug rappers,
I remain very little intrigued,
And can you blame me, (ha)
Look how we lived in the late eighties,
Throwing rocks at the crazy ladies,
And when we'd play these,
Crazy games,
The whole crew had crazy names,
We even had a cripple we use to call em lazy legs,
But my faith remains,
untouched and unchanged,
Still in my block you hear more shots than a gun range, I'm...
Strugglin,
And it's troublin,
In this circumstance I'm dwelling
And I find myself in the corner huddling,
With some angry men,
And I gotta settle shit again before they gotta kill again,
I'm strugglin,
And it's troublin,
In this circumstance I'm dwelling
And I find myself in the corner huddling,
With some angry men, and I gotta settle shit again before they gotta kill again.
Aight aight,
More to the truth,
No writing just record me at the booth,
Forced by the loop and the guitar but I'm the boss of the groove,
I speak truth
My deep roots remain in equal danger,
The pain in my song is crazy but the sequel is stranger,
Hey man,
I'm from the hardest
Heartless projects,
Dear departed
I'm now known as a recording artist,
Spilling what little remains
Of your memories
In the process,
Bitter a little,
But making your names into a colossus,
Believe me,
I'm thankful my brother is still with me,
And ain't much changed Bobby is still troubling Whitney,
And Bush is still bombing poor people yo he's deadly,
And me I got a little recording gig but evidently, I'm...
Strugglin,
And it's troublin,
In this circumstance I'm dwelling
And I find myself in the corner huddling,
With some angry men,
And I gotta settle shit again before they gotta kill again,
I'm strugglin,
And it's troublin,
In this circumstance I'm dwelling
And I find myself in the corner huddling,
With some angry men, and I gotta settle shit again before they gotta kill again.
Yeah
Yeah.
The pain on my song is crazy,
The pain on my song is crazy,
Strugglin,
in the beginning
there was a hum
from a poet whose pulse fell
DRUM DRUM DRUM!
He would perform prayers and all
till one day he heard a voice call
COME COME COME!
Sus'pi'cious he moved
with vicious caution
Dismisses,
he thinks is a little often
People get held back
by the void inside 'em.
The void said,
I'm poised to speak inside you...
"Rejoice then ...please let me invite you
...To evil, greed and lies too."
YEAH!
Confused and dazed
he moved in ways
he soon became "Hakuna"
BOOM BOOM BOOM
A knock on his door, his heart is no more
A knock on his door, his soul is no more
Yeah...
That was in the beginnin'
As the story goes on...
So -
The poet’s got a proposal
he would always hope but never know
what it feels
to be free
He would be the frozen
imposed as the chosen,
all laws oppose him
But it would be greed
That’s got him there
he's power-hungry,
and proud too
People don’t care, he will just care
Evil don't care, he will just prayer...
Yeah
That was In the beginning..
there was a hum
...then things changed
They say-
it is better to light a candle than to curse the dark
in the eyes of the youth
there are question marks
like freedom
freedom for the mind and soul,
we don't see them
see them for their worth at all,
that’s why we lead em
lead em to these wars
and what is it we feed em
feed em our impurities
and who it is we treat em
treat em like the enemy
humanity will need em
need em like the blood we spill
and we're freedom
freedom for the hearts we fill
we mislead em
they hunger for the love we give
but we cheat em
the guys beat him and all he wants
is his freedom,
so they defeat him,
whatever spirit he’s got
"beat him"
and they teach him
the rest of the world don’t need him
and he believes
in the disease that he’s heathen
Put up your fists if all you want is freedom
Put up your fists if all you want is -
That was in the beginning...
then things changed..
yeah
and we keep holdin' on,
and we keep bein' strong...
and we keep goin' on
So good things come to those who wait
Sure, I've waited about pop, pop, pop, pop
That's four cousins shot
I got grudges, let's discuss this, my music needs no touch ups
I got a long record of fuck ups, trust me you don't know who has this
Weight as mine, or a life as hard as mine
I had to hustle, chop, sell drugs, grind
Whatever you want to call it is fine
But just listen and don't preach us
I don't want anyone dismissin' me
As another thug or some shit like that
No, sir, if I fall I will get right back
I got circumstances but let me stop dancin' around the issue
And tell you straight forward, I'm poor
A refugee, been in prison and survived the war
I come from the most dangerous city in this universe
You're likely to get shot at birth
So I can rap quench my thirst
I don't even hear verses no more
I hear jerkin' off, punks with lip glosses and purses
I don't see nobody I can reach anymore
I see nurses, fuck that, I'm gonna stay alive, I'd rather do a stage live
And if rap gets jealous 'cause I rock heavy
It don't worry me if m'aa fuckers don't get it
Yo, if rap gets jealous, words that were admitted
I used to be a public enemy, don't forget it
And if rap gets jealous 'cause I rock heavy
It don't worry me if m'aa fuckers don't get it
Yo, if rap gets jealous 'cause of where I'm headed
Aggression, obsession, we're pain in the gain
So, yeah, basically I gotta release occasionally
I gotta let you know what's goin' on with me
And facing me are some tough choices
I got a good side and a bad side
Inside my head, I hear screams and loud voices
And I can't lie, ain't got shit
I ain't got to brag, I'm hard pressed for some cash
'Cause that's where I'm at with that, you're so superficial
Of course it's for shizzle, now my choice is to pass on you
[ From: ]
Voice, 'cause my mission is the world
To know my name, my aim is plainly success
But I still gotta come practice
So I can rap quench my thirst
I don't even hear verses no more
I hear jerkin' off punks with lip glosses and purses
I don't see nobody I can reach anymore
I see nurses, fuck that, I'm gonna stay alive, I'd rather do a stage live
And if rap gets jealous 'cause I rock heavy
It don't worry me if m'aa fuckers don't get it
Yo, if rap gets jealous, words that were admitted
I used to be a public enemy, don't forget it
And if rap gets jealous 'cause I rock heavy
It don't worry me if m'aa fuckers don't get it
Yo, if rap gets jealous 'cause of where I'm headed
Aggression, obsession, we're pain in the gain
And if rap gets jealous 'cause I rock heavy
It don't worry me if m'aa fuckers don't get it
Yo, if rap gets jealous, words that were admitted
I used to be a public enemy, don't forget it
And if rap gets jealous 'cause I rock heavy
It don't worry me if m'aa fuckers don't get it
Yo, if rap gets jealous 'cause of where I'm headed
Aggression, obsession, we're pain in the gain
And if rap gets jealous 'cause I rock heavy
It don't worry me if m'aa fuckers don't get it
Yo, if rap gets jealous, words that were admitted
I used to be a public enemy, don't forget it
And if rap gets jealous 'cause I rock heavy
It don't worry me if m'aa fuckers don't get it
Yo, if rap gets jealous 'cause of where I'm headed
Aggression, obsession, we're pain in the gain
And if rap gets jealous 'cause I rock heavy
It don't worry me if m'aa fuckers don't get it
Yo, if rap gets jealous 'cause of where I'm headed
One two, one one two
[Chorus]
I was stabbed by Satan, on the day that I was born
I was promised lovin', but instead I was torn
La la la, la la la, My heart bled tears
La la la, la la la, My eyes she'd tears
A poor black ghetto child
He can't shoot and he can't go run a mile
There's no school and the kids go running wild
The police and the courts wanna run 'em out
He's so? and the police hate 'em all
He ain't seen his daddy since back in '84
But oh well so it be now he's in jail
His mother's stressing just to get him out on bail
Let's sing it out
[Chorus]
And the story goes on
There's no glory and the worry takes a toll on
His own body but his buddies wanna roll on
It's all bloody when the car comes to a stop
The police with the big glocks pull 'em out
They say freeze but there's only one one coming out
There's two dead with a legal gun to his head
It's stupid, he should of played ball instead
[Chorus]
So one day when it's all said and done
My life will be the bluest rap song ever sung
My verses will be curses to the rich
And all sorts of authority will cease to exist
My daughters will be free of war?
Raisin they aim in the silence of revolution my face will appear
Like the vision of a prisoner with his last bed
This song is a poem and the whole poem is a tear
Drop to no ear
Picture the morning taste and devour
We rise early pace up the hour
Streets is bustling hustling their heart out
You can't have the sweet with no sour
Spices herbs the sweet scent of flower
She came out precisely the hour
Clouds disappear the sun shows the power
No chance of a probable shower
I fell in love with my neighbors daughter
I wanted to protect and support her
Never mind I'm just 12 and a quarter
I had dreams beyond our border.
Is it true when they say all you need is just love,
Is it true
What about those who have loved
Only to find that it's taken away
And why do they say that the children have rights to be
free
To be free
What about those who I've known
Whose memory still lives inside of me.
Fatima,
What did the Young Man say
Before he stole you away
On that fateful day Fatima
Fatima,
Did he know your name
Or the plans we made,
To go to New York City, Fatima
And after school we studied the lessons
I ask God to slow down the seconds
He does the opposite that's what I'm guessing
I better chill and count my own blessings
Fatima, Fatima what is the matter
How come you ain't come up the ladder
So we can be like there's no tomorrow
Damn you gonna make me wait until tomorrow
She spoke Arabic and Swahili
She'd say Upendo (Swahili for love) Anta Habibi (Arabic
for, you are my love/dearest friend)
You so bright, you shine like my TV
Then one day she never came to meet me
Is it true when they say all you need is just love,
Is it true
What about those who have loved
Only to find that it's taken away
And why do they say that the children have rights to be
free
To be free
What about those who I've known
Whose memory still lives inside of me.
Fatima,
What did the Young Man say
Before he stole you away
On that fateful day Fatima
Fatima,
Did he know your name
Or the plans we made,
To go to New York City, Fatima
(Repeat)
If beauty was in the eyes of beholder
how come everyone hushed when she walked by
How come girls would look just to scold her
How come the angel wanted to hold her?
Fatima, Fatima I'm in America
I make rhymes and I make them delicate
You would have liked the parks in Connecticut
You would have said I'm working too hard again.
Damn you shooter, Damn you the building
Whose walls hid the blood she was spilling
Damn you Country so good at killing
Damn you feeling, for persevering
Is it true when they say all you need is just love,
Is it true
What about those who have loved
Only to find that it's taken away
And why do they say that the children have rights to be
free
To be free
What about those who I've known
Whose memory still lives inside of me.
Fatima,
What did the Gun Man Say
before he took you away on that fateful day
Fatima
Did he know your name, or the plans we made
To go to New York City
(Repeat)
Fatima..
(Spoken)
Now I just want to make it clear, I don't want you to
shed a tear.
Because this here, is a celebration, We're not
mourning, We're celebrating
Yeah
So baby don't cry, Please don't let the tears fall
Yea, uhhh.. Its K'naan.. Yea, uuhh. About to take over
with this, here we go I check it...
They don`t expect me on this beat, the thunder on the
street
But I never turn the cheek, surrender or retreat
You can bet that I am strong, trying to right what is
wrong
They say it wont be long, keep on singing your song
But ayo you need a single, single to make a mingle
Something that's kinda simple, I'd hate to call it
jingle
A single is a missile, takes you right to the middle of
106 and park and maybe Jimmy Kimmel
You'll need somebody famous co-signing for your anus
Who you got on the album I don't see where the name is
But I do it my own way I do it my own way I do, if you
do what you do your own way you could be famous too.
(CHORUS)
If the beat is hot does it matter where or who its
from?
If the flow is hot does it really matter where I'm
from?
If the song is hot does it matter 'cause the DJ dumb?
If the girl is hot does it really matter where she's
from?
If the beat is hot does it matter where or who its
from?
If the flow is hot does it really matter where I'm
from?
If the club is hot does it really matter how we bump?
If the girl is hot does it really matter where she's
from?
I coulda been from the west side or the Chi-Town like
twista
With a flow so sick it blow you to bits it will show
you the glits and gold in the wrist and the boat in the
fish and i blow them a kiss, -?lets blow give them em a
sweet talking in a piss while taking a piss?- are you
talking to the fish or the girls in the boat exposing
their tits
I coulda been from NY like Rock'em with the my pen
I can get paid in full with praise and tools erased and
rules my case of jewels I'm cold like a glacial cool
with blades and fools I'm raging bulls
I coulda been from L.A like Dre and Snoop
Rolling in my six-four with fresh case jewels
And I'm riding on 'em niggas unless they cool
And I got border troubles like 'em essays fool
I coulda been- I coulda been from the dirty like A town
or M.I.A
I could ride an invisible motor cycle and go HEY (echo
hey hey)
Storm like the hurricane and I don't mean ay-bay-bay
I'm from Africa where they say K'naan- boom-aye-ay
(repeat chorus)
If you wanna make it hot then you better do a drop
(echoes drop drop drop drop drop drop...)
If you wanna get a hit you better auto-tune this shit
(shit, ooh yea...)
And he is tougher than you suckers none of you could
ever bark at him
Look at him make you tough guys look like you are from
suckatem
I do it my own my own my I do it my own way I do...If
you do what you do your own way you could be famous
too.
gabar yaroo subhaano
maro shabeelo hirato
maro qafiifa huwato
maga'aaga ii sheeg
magaeygu waa sharaf
sharaf haaji weeyan
aqalada hariirta
dhina baan ka jooga
alla ya u sheega
tinta u shanleeya
nahoy zamzamey
sabaah nuurey
adoo kin kin iyo
kaluun badaneey
adoo hajka jira
xasuus badaneey
sahiibtaa asho ashaq baa dilay
ugu dambeyntiina
aniyo geeluba
wa u banaanbahnay
(chorus)
wanagii orodnee
nabad barinee
(Spoken)
I hope you got your passports, and vaccine shots.
[Verse 1]
I take rappers on a field trip any day
They never been opposite real clip anyway
I know where all the looters and the shooters stay
Welcome to the city we call Doomsday.
When niggaz is just fried chicken like Tuesday
Oh you from the hood huh, who say?
My Nigerian niggaz would call you Pussy
My Somali niggaz are quick to grab the uzi
Around here we only bumping Fela Kuti
Tupac, or Bob Marley, Lucky Dube.
So we don't really give a fuck about your groupies
This Is Africa, Hooray.
T.I.A.
(Hooray)
T.I.A.
(Hooray)
T.I.A.
(Hooray)
It means, This Is Africa
(Hooray)
[Hook]
You don't know how hard it is here
The streets is tricky in these parts here
You don't know how hard this is here
The streets need this shit here
You don't know how hard it is here
The streets is tricky in these parts here
You don't know how hard this is here
The streets need this shit here
[Verse 2]
I walk rappers through the Killa woods any day
They never been opposite real goons anyway
I know all the tricky sticky icky alley ways
Welcome to the continent of Holidays (Africa)
Where Holidays quickly turn to hell days
Stars fall quicker than box of shell case
No Bill Gates, No PCs
Why you cats debating, acting and faking these days
I deliver what they need like milk crates
I learned from the deadly streets no regrets
And I wasn't ever looking for street cred
But these streets bred me to be street safe
It's no secret we know how to squeeze lead
But the Pre-set is not to have to squeeze it
Used to be at peace but now we using T-Shirts
And it reads RIP cause the peace dead
When I walk through the slums like (Nomane?)
Little children say K'naan (Bumaye ?)
The rap game just got itself a new day
This is Africa, Hooray.
T.I.A.
(Hooray)
T.I.A.
(Hooray)
T.I.A.
(Hooray)
It means, This Is Africa
[Hook]
You don't know how hard it is here
The streets is tricky in these parts here
You don't know how hard this is here
The streets need this shit here
You don't know how hard it is here
The streets is tricky in these parts here
You don't know how hard this is here
Chorus
And any man who knows a thing knows, he knows not a
damn, damn thing at all,
And everytime I felt the hurt and I felt the givin'
gettin' me up off the wall,
I'm just gonna take a minute and let it ride,
I'm just gonna take a minute and let it breeze,
I'm just gonna take a minute and let it ride,
I'm just gonna take a minute and let it breeze,
How did Mandela get the will to surpass the everyday,
When injustice had him caged and trapped in every way,
How did Ghandi ever withstand the hunger strikes and
all,
Didn't do it to gain power or money if I recall,
It's to give; I guess I'll pass it on,
Mother thinks it'll lift the stress of babylon,
Mother knows, my mother she suffered blows,
I don't know how we survived such violent episodes,
I was so worried, and hurt to see you bleed,
But as soon as you came out the hospital you gave me
sweets,
Yeah, they try to take you from me,
But you still only gave 'em some prayers and sympathy,
Dear mama, you helped me write this, by showing me to
give is priceless.
{Chorus}
All I can say is the worst is over now,
We can serve the hard times, divorce is over now,
They try to keep us out, but they doors is open now,
My nigga Akon is gettin awards for covers now,
This is K'NAAN, and still reppin' the S
Comin' out of Mogadishu and still draped in the mess,
And no matter how we strong, homie,
It ain't easy comin out of where we from, homie.
And that's the reason why, I could never play for me,
Tell 'em the truth, is what my dead homies told me,
Oh yeah, I take inspiration from the most heinous of
situations,
Creating medication out my own tripulations.
Dear Africa, you helped me write this, by showing me to
give is priceless.
{Chorus}
Nothing is perfect man, that's what the world is,
All I know is,
I'm enjoying today.
You know, 'cause it isn't everybody that you get to
give.
{Chorus}
Yeah, yeah, yeah yeah
