1.T. I. A.
I hope you got your passports, and vaccine shots.
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)
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
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
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
2.Abc's(feat. Chubb Rock)
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
All we got is life on the streets
3.Dreamer
Yeah, believe it or not
What kept me alive is my dreams
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
We alive man, it's okay to feel good
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
Lock me up now, it's okay to feel good
I got a friend named Flow
Who got a friend named Blow
With a finger named Clap
That'll leave you on the side like a Kangol hat
He ain't have no choice, he was born this way
These streets pull your number like a phone display
And you gotta be defensive with your life
You gotta be like Bush and take pre-emptive strikes
And the boys from the hood are always hard
Let alone in Mogadishu it's a mastered art
If you bring the world hoods to a seminar
We from the only place worse then Kandahar
Well, that's kinda hard
But we still like to party and hardy hard
Something good happens we say, 'Mashallah'
Something bad happens, 'Que Sera Sera'
I close my eyes and all I can see is you dancing with me
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
We alive man, it's okay to feel good
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
Lock me up now, it's okay to feel good
I'm a dreamer
It's okay to feel good, yeah, it's the truth
Ay, yo' check it out
What would it take for a boy about my age
To hear cheers in his head upon that stage
And the cheers that would drown out
The tears from my brown eyes？
Come on back stage, you see the screams
Ain't the screams from gunshot streams
In my dreams, these screams are from hot teens
And I'm barely thirteen, I pack dirty
Old Russian firearm that shoots thirty
Just then I hear the bus engine
I'm transcending, I'm crowd surfing
I can't see the time burning
I'm not hurting with my mahogany pen
I'm on a world tour with Mohammad and them
And we'd be overseas and not in these trees
Where my peeps stay alive like the Bee Gees
And the likes of JZ would save my steeze
Singing handily brought Hip Hop peace
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
We alive man, it's okay to feel good
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
Lock me up now, it's okay to feel good, I'm a dreamer
Sometimes we just like to have fun
Man, we like to forget all the fighting
All the guns and the tires burning
Back on the verse, imagine crack was in birth
Imagine the earth wasn't hurt, imagine no homeland alerts
Imagine no record locater
So I wouldn't have to get a criminal waiver
Imagine the peace wasn't ; in my briefs
Instead peace could stretch across the seas
So finally we could just rest and ease, no refugees
And you, well, you could dress in a book
And I can read your body with less then a look
I got a dream girl in my mind that's the hook
An intellectual, sexual and still can cook
Yeah, and I feel good right now
I feel good right here, you feel good right now？
You feel good？
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
We alive man, it's okay to feel good
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
Lock me up now, it's okay to feel good
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
We alive man, it's okay to feel good
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
Lock me up now, it's okay to feel good
Yeah, we not down and out just because the times are hard
Yeah, shout out to the struggler's in my country
The hardest place on earth right now but still
I still know how to get down, I still know how to vibe out
I still know how to talk to a pretty girl, take it easy now,
yeah
4.I Come Prepared(feat. Damian Marley)
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 a roll
you aint no east african rock and roll
you dont know what time it is like your clock is old
you ain't 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 negro
and he aint even from new york that's what's weird yo
but 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
in the city the people blacker than tuxedos
babygirl let me get all up in your earlow
and if you shut me down you can kill my ego
which is my enemy makes you my emigo
so either way you and i are button and needles
and they say i might become because of beetle
but i dont let it all come it all to my head and feed y'all
and i got more street cred then lego but
just in case we keep a big deseagle
5.Bang Bang(feat. Adam Levine)
She shot me, she shot me, bang, bang, she shot me
She shot me, she shot me, bang, bang, she shot me
She shot me, she shot me, bang, bang, she shot me
She shot me, she shot me, bang, bang
(Get out the way, yo)
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'
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 for my chest with love in her eye
She was walkin' around with a loaded shotgun
Ready to fire me a hot one, it went bang, bang, bang
Straight through my heart
Although I could have walked away
I stood my ground and let her spray
She shot me, she shot me, bang, bang, she shot me
She shot me, she shot me, bang, bang, she shot me
She shot me, she shot me, bang, bang, she shot me
She shot me, she shot me, bang, bang
Scorpion, she's so hot, she's a scorchin'
Killing me softly, Lauryn or Kevorkian
Couldn't tell if she's coo-coo or corky, when
I asked her her name and 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
She lets me closer, hotter than a pepper crusted samosa
While I try to keep my composure
She was walkin' around with a loaded shotgun
Ready to fire me a hot one, it went bang, bang, bang
Straight through my heart
Although I could have walked away
I stood my ground and let her spray
She shot me, she shot me, bang, bang, she shot me
She shot me, she shot me, bang, bang, she shot me
She shot me, she shot me, bang, bang, she shot me
She shot me, she shot me, bang, bang
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
She was walkin' around with a loaded shotgun
Ready to fire me a hot one, it went bang, bang, bang
Straight through my heart
Although I could have walked away
I stood my ground and let her spray
She shot me, she shot me, bang, bang, she shot me
She shot me, she shot me, bang, bang, she shot me
She shot me, she shot me, bang, bang, she shot me
She shot me, she shot me, bang, bang
6.If Rap Gets Jealous(feat. Kirk Hammett)
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 realease occasionaly
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
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
Agression,Obsession,we're pain in the gain
He,He,He,That's what it is,it's pain,know what I'm sayin'？
I don't know man it's like...
You spend years developing your artistry
Know what I'm sayin'？,perfecting your skills
You can't do shit with it,Ha!
That's gotta be Fucked up!,know what I'm sayin'？
Ha! That's gotta be Fucked up
You know,just imagine like,imagine you build a Fuckin' castle
And you can't live in it,Ha! That's what it is
You can't live it you know
And you got problems,you got family,I got family
Moment of truth right!
And 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
Agression,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
Agression,Obsession,we're pain in the gain
7.Wavin' Flag
When I get older
I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom
Just like a wavin flag
Born from a throne
stronger than Rome
But violent prone
Poor people zone
But it's my home
All I have known
Where I got grown
but now its gone
Out of the darkness
in came the carnage
threatening my very survival
Fractured my streets
and broke all my dreams
Feels like defeat to wretched retreat
So we strugglin'
Fighting to eat
And we wonderin'
If we'll be free
We cannot wait for some faithful day
it's too far away so right I'll say
When I get older
I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom
Just like a waving flag
(And then it goes back x3)
Ahhho ahhho ahhho
So many wars, settling scores
All that we've been through
and now there is more
I hear them say love is the way
Love is the answer that's what they say
But were not just dreamers
of broken down grievers
Our hand will reach us
and we will not teeter
This can't control us
no it can't hold us down
We gon pick it up even though we still struggling
Au nom de la survie(In the name of survival)
and we wondering
Battant pour nos vie(Fighting for our lives)
We patiently wait
for some other day
thats too far away so right now we say
When I get older
I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom
Just like a waving flag
(And then it goes back x3)
Uhh – well alright
How come when the media stops covering
and there's a little help from the government
we forget about the people still struggling
and assume that its really all love again, nahh
see we don't have to wait for things to break apart
if you weren't involved before it's never too late to start
you probably think that it's too far to even have to care
well take a look at where you live what if it happened there？
you have to know the urge to make a change lies within
and we can be the reason that we see the flag rise again
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
Then it goes back
When I get older
I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom
Just like a waving flag
(And then it goes back x3)
When I get older
When I get older
I will be stronger
just like a waving flag.
8.Somalia
Uh, 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 'n' roll
And you rock 'n' 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'
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'
Yeah, yeah, we used to take barbed wire
Mold them around discarded bike tires
Roll 'em down the hill on foot blazin'
Now that was our version of mountain bike racing, damn
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 reservation
They love me in the slums and in the native reservations
The world is a ghetto with ministering deprivation
My mommy didn't raise no fool, did she？
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
And when I try and sleep, I see coffins closin'
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'
Yeah, Somalia
9.America(feat. Mos Def、Chali 2na)
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
wanagii orodnee
nabad barinee
mareykan waa laga soo waayay(3x)
10.Fatima
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
We 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
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
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
Fatima..
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
So don't cry..
11.Fire In Freetown
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
Aha, aha, sidii hogasha roobka
Aha, aha, you shine down upon me
Aha, aha, sidii hogasha roobka
Aha, aha, you shine down upon 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
Aha, aha, sidii hogasha roobka
Aha, aha, you shine down upon me
Aha, aha, sidii hogasha roobka
Aha, aha, you shine down upon me
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
Aha, aha, sidii hogasha roobka
Aha, aha, you shine down upon me
Aha, aha, sidii hogasha roobka
Aha, aha, you shine down upon me
Aha, aha, sidii hogasha roobka
Aha, aha, you shine down upon me
Aha, aha, sidii hogasha roobka
Aha, aha, you shine down upon me
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 fight it
Like fire in freetown you begin to light it
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 to stone
Fire, fire
She come 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
She pulled out her match and she burned down my home
12.Take A Minute
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
13.15 Minutes Away
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.
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.
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.
Yeah, yeah, yeah yeah
yeah, yeah, yeah yeah
14.People Like Me
album：Troubadour(2009)
genre：
Send 'People Like Me' Ringtone to Cell
Heaven, is there a chance that you could come down
And open doors to hurtin' people like me
People like me, people like me
People like me, people like me
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 counselor said that my decision was disappointing
How she had good slate for good state colleges
And with my good grades it wouldn't have been a problem
But they don't understand just 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 Nazareth
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 'cause it's staggering
But thats 'cause 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
'Cause my women back home, we're constantly arguing
And I must be crazy 'cause all I'm obsessing with is
Her MySpace and face book 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 something like a song hook, sayin'
Heaven, is there a chance that you could come down
And open doors to hurtin' people like me
People like me, people like me
People like me, people like me
Meet Sarah, the proud mother of young Sebastian
Suburban professional went to college in Ashton
In self pity she suddenly cried
Would my life be important if I suddenly died？
Neighbors saying what a nice women she was
Keeping mostly to herself ever since the divorce
And with the company down sizin' 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 can't 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 phone book
And it came to her
Sounding something like a song hook, sayin'
Heaven, is there a chance that you could come down
And open doors to hurtin' people like me
People like me, people like me
People like me, people like me
I guess, I told you about myself to a degree
Just by te＆# 108;ling you about people like me
But people like me they speak politely
They don't start no beef or piece of white meat
Everybody gotta eat but everybody doesn't
Which is why I want to tell you about my favorite 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 seventh grade
But don't panic we both survived without damage
But we developed a bond like we survived the Titanic
So when the country became frantic
My mother tried to get us out, planned it
To the last detail except the plan got derailed
'Cause 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 that's just hard to recall
But now I take refuge and prayer
Kinda like finding God in the phone book it came to me
Sounding something like a song hook, sayin'
Heaven, is there a chance that you could come down
And open doors to hurtin' people like me
People like me, people like me
People like me, people like me
Heaven, is there a chance that you could come down
And open doors to hurtin' people like me
People like me, people like me
People like me, people like me
15.Does It Really Matter
(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.
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
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
16.Wavin' Flag(Coca - Cola Celebration Mix)
When I get older
I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom
Just like a wavin flag
Born from a throne
Older than Rome
But violent prone
Poor people zone
But it's my home
All I have known
Where I got grown
but now its gone
Out of the darkness
in came the carnage
threatening my very survival
Fractured my streets
and broke all my dreams
Feels like defeat to wretched retreat
So we strugglin'
Fighting to eat
And we wonderin'
If we'll be free
We cannot wait for some faithful day
it's too far away so right I'll say
When I get older
I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom
Just like a waving flag
(And then it goes back x3)
Ahhho ahhho ahhho
So many wars, settling scores
All that we've been through
and now there is more
I hear them say love is the way
Love is the answer that's what they say
But were not just dreamers
of broken down grievers
Our hand will reach us
and we will not teeter
This can't control us
no it can't hold us down
We gon pick it up even though we still struggling
Au nom de la survie(In the name of survival)
and we wondering
Battant pour nos vie(Fighting for our lives)
We patiently wait
for some other day
thats too far away so right now we say
When I get older
I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom
Just like a waving flag
(And then it goes back x3)
Uhh – well alright
How come when the media stops covering
and there's a little help from the government
we forget about the people still struggling
and assume that its really all love again, nahh
see we don't have to wait for things to break apart
if you weren't involved before it's never too late to start
you probably think that it's too far to even have to care
well take a look at where you live what if it happened there？
you have to know the urge to make a change lies within
and we can be the reason that we see the flag rise again
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
Then it goes back
When I get older
I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom
Just like a waving flag
(And then it goes back x3)
When I get older
When I get older
I will be stronger
just like a waving flag.
17.Wavin' Flag(feat. Will. I. Am、David Guetta)
When I get older
I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom
Just like a wavin flag
Born from a throne
Older than Rome
But violent prone
Poor people zone
But it's my home
All I have known
Where I got grown
but now its gone
Out of the darkness
in came the carnage
threatening my very survival
Fractured my streets
and broke all my dreams
Feels like defeat to wretched retreat
So we strugglin'
Fighting to eat
And we wonderin'
If we'll be free
We cannot wait for some faithful day
it's too far away so right I'll say
When I get older
I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom
Just like a waving flag
(And then it goes back x3)
Ahhho ahhho ahhho
So many wars, settling scores
All that we've been through
and now there is more
I hear them say love is the way
Love is the answer that's what they say
But were not just dreamers
of broken down grievers
Our hand will reach us
and we will not teeter
This can't control us
no it can't hold us down
We gon pick it up even though we still struggling
Au nom de la survie(In the name of survival)
and we wondering
Battant pour nos vie(Fighting for our lives)
We patiently wait
for some other day
thats too far away so right now we say
When I get older
I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom
Just like a waving flag
(And then it goes back x3)
Uhh – well alright
How come when the media stops covering
and there's a little help from the government
we forget about the people still struggling
and assume that its really all love again, nahh
see we don't have to wait for things to break apart
if you weren't involved before it's never too late to start
you probably think that it's too far to even have to care
well take a look at where you live what if it happened there？
you have to know the urge to make a change lies within
and we can be the reason that we see the flag rise again
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
Then it goes back
When I get older
I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom
Just like a waving flag
(And then it goes back x3)
When I get older
When I get older
I will be stronger
just like a waving flag.
18.Wavin' Flag(Coca - Cola Chinese Celebration Mix)(feat. Jacky
Cheung、Jane Zhang)
Give me freedom, give me fire
Give me reason, take me higher
See the champions take the field now
You define us, make us feel proud
In the streets our heads are liftin'
As we lose our inhibition
Celebration, it surrounds us
Every nation, all around us
Saying forever young
Singing songs underneath the sun
Let's 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
When I get older I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom just like a wavin' flag
So wave your flag, now wave your flag
Now wave your flag
Give you freedom, give you fire
Give you reason, take you higher
See the champions take the field now
You define us, make us feel proud
In the streets our heads are liftin'
As we lose our inhibition
Celebration, it surrounds us
Every nation, all around us
Saying forever young
Singing songs underneath the sun
Let's 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
When I get older I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom just like a wavin' flag
So wave your flag, now wave your flag
Now wave your flag, now wave your flag
Now wave your flag, now wave your flag
Now wave your flag
We all say, 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
So wave your flag, now wave your flag
Now wave your flag, now wave your flag
Now wave your flag, now wave your flag
Now wave your flag
And everybody will be singing it
And we all will be singing it
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