T.I.A. lyrics - K'naan
[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 say
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 [?]
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
The streets need this shit here
Abc's lyrics - K'naan (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 its 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
[Chorus]
They don't teach us the ABCs
We play on the hard concrete
All we got is life on the streets
All we got is life on the streets
[repeat]
[Chubb Rock]
Rock, you know my era
B-boy seasoning, salt and pepa
Grown and sexy, come with the extra
Crushed up linen, fly like sess-a
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 (no)
Respect for hers
The game dried up, so we come with the grease
Leadin' ya right and treatin' ya right, so peace
[Chorus]
They don't teach us the ABCs
We play on the hard concrete
All we got is life on the streets
All we got is life on the streets
[repeat]
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'll make yours a rental
Gangsta if at ease, essential
Fight with guns or utensils
So bold nothin'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...
[Chorus]
They don't teach us the ABCs
We play on the hard concrete
All we got is life on the streets
All we got is life on the streets
[repeat]
Dreamer lyrics - K'naan
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 OK 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 OK 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 than Kandahar
Well, that's kinda hard
But we still like to party and party 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 backstage, 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 a 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 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 than 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
I Come Prepared lyrics - K'naan (feat. Damian Marley)
Set to high
Now calling all revolutionary youth
Dam Marley alongside K'naan
Gunpowder philosopher what some boy feel like
I made the list this year
I'm honour roll, you ain't know East African rock 'n roll
You don't know what time it is like your clock is old
You know ya'll packin' like the block is sold
How could it be from the deepest darkest of zero
To become king of New York like De Niro
And he ain't even from New York that's what's weird yo
But where he's from they just ratatatatatata
So come now don't you try to play the hero
Around here we've got pirates with torpedoes
Alongside all the warlords and beardos
The only city nigga's blacker than tuxedos
Baby girl 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 a Beatle
But I don't let it get to my head or feet yo
And I got more street cred than legal
But just in case we keep a big, this eagle
Yeah, I come prepared, I come prepared, I come prepared
Yeah, I come prepared, I come prepared, I come prepared, always
Yeah, I come prepared, I come prepared, I come prepared, yeah Zion youths
Yeah, I come prepared, I come prepared, I come prepared
What was I on before this flow or sequel
Somethin' about how I thought I was a Beatle
I'm trippin' but it was something lethal
It was fresh but possessed something Medieval
I came solo I ain't even bring my army
The type of niggas that are always ruining the party
You know those socially inadequate Somalis
Who walk in uninvited in your VIP
And Africans love them some B.I.G.
But Tupac is official H.N.I.C.
And my job is to write just what I see
So a visual stenographer is what I be
Superman, superstar give me super-fat dough
So I can be super-rich and super phat so
But maybe not super fat but super stacked though
So I can fix some money shit on super back low
How many immigrants are this here sedan
And is anyone carryin' any contraband
Not really but I'm late for my concert man
And here's a card for my lawyer Mr. Sam Goldman
Yeah, I come prepared, I come prepared, I come prepared [4X]
[?]
Cause the Marleys and Somalis are some mad people
We a travel with some long strap in a vehicle
And a screech across the border like a Latino
Moving through the LAX's and London Heathrow
Wait, man a gangsta we no star freak show
No gimmicks nor shenanigans a real street flow
Fi mi women ha fi hier than a Flamingo
Real bullet we a bust and a no Placebo
K'Naan have so much gun him open gun depot
And we take way boy gun just like we a gun repo
So tell some tosse MC there's no more free throw
Soon as we finish a clip another clip reload because
Yeah, I come prepared, I come prepared, I come prepared [6X]
Bang Bang lyrics - K'naan (feat. Adam Levine of Maroon 5)
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."
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.
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]
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.
[Chorus]
If Rap Gets Jealous lyrics - K'naan (feat. Kirk Hammet of Metallica)
Yeaaa, Uh.
Let me introduce me, I don’t gotta pack due to the fact I’m Africa’s Rap Bruce Lee
Plus they’ve been trying to shoot me since I was two feet,
So I am never scared, you can Youtube me,
Where I’m from they will pull your card Mister, you ain’t hard mister
I was initiated into manhood at thirteen and it wasn’t a barmitzvah,
I break a bottle on ya like a bad bartender,
Let my star venture out, I got war in me, so let me vent it out
I don’t expect you to feel my pain, but with respects to the rules of the game, They don’t apply because I made it this far, stage dive like a ghetto rockstar
[Chorus]
And if rap gets jealous cause I rock heavy, it don’t worry me if mothafuckers don’t get it
So if rap gets jealous, cause of where i’m headed, 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 mothafuckers don’t get it
So if rap gets jealous, baby I’m a menace, you know, I came to bring the pain
I’ll admit it I could spit it like a fitted knitted cap. That means tight and won’t stop like a city cab
That means I’m not white but I figured do it big because the slum needs me
So instead of getting a beat from Kanye(eezy) who would probably take half my budget,
I could save the back end and send it back to Mogadishu where my family and friends getting patched up again you can ask hova
The hood is harder than you thought like a fifty chain getting snatched in Angola
I don’t expect you to feel my pain, but with respects to the rules of the game, They don’t apply because I made it this far, stage down like a ghetto rockstar
[Chorus]
And if rap gets jealous cause I rock heavy, it don’t worry me if mothafuckers don’t get it
So if rap gets jealous, cause of where i’m headed, 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 motherfuckers don’t get it
So if rap gets jealous, baby I’m a menace you know I came to bring the pain.
(You know) [x4]
[Kirk Hammett solo]
So don’t tell me I gotta be the same, I’m tryin to get you to know my name, And with respects to the rules of the game, they don’t apply because I came this far, stage dive like a rockstar
And if rap gets jealous cause I rock heavy, it don’t worry me if motherfuckers don’t get it
So if rap gets jealous, cause of where i’m headed, 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 motherfuckers don’t get it
So if rap gets jealous, baby I’m a menace, you know
Here we go
And if rap gets jealous
So if rap gets jealous baby I’m a menace, you know
I came to bring the pain
Wavin' Flag lyrics - K'naan (feat. David Bisbal)
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.
Born to a throne
Stronger than Rome,
But 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 strugglin',
Fightin' to eat.
And we wonderin'
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.
So many wars.
Settlin' 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 strugglin',
Fightin' to eat.
And we wonderin'
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.
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.
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.
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, flag, flag.
Just like a wavin' flag.
Somalia lyrics - K'naan
I spit it for my block, it's an ode I admit it
here the city cold as lock and load
any minute it's rock and roll
and then you rock and roll
and feel your soul leavin'
it's just the wrong glance 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 whatnot
so I'm about to do it in the music and 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 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 through it?
some get high mixin' coke and gun powder sniffin'
she got a gun but coulda been a model or physician
[chorus:]
so what you know about the pirates who terrorize the ocean?
to never know a simple day without a big commotion?
It can't be healthy just to live with such a steep emotion
And when I try and sleep, I see coffins closin'
Yeah, yeah we used to take barbed wire
mold em around discarded bike tires
and race 'em down the hill on foot blazin'
now that was our version of mountain-bike racin'
daaamn . . . do you see why it's amazin'?
when someone comes out of such a dire situation
and learns the English language as to share his observation
probably get a grammy without a grammar education
so fuck you school and fuck you immigration
and all you who thought I wouldn't amount to constipation
and now I'm here without the slightest fear or reservation
they love me in the slums and their native reservations
the world is a ghetto administerin' deprivation.
But mommy didn't raise no fool, did she hoyo?
I promised I would get it and remain strictly loyal,
'cause when they get it they let it all switch and spoil,
but I just illuminated it like kitchen foil.
A lot of mainstream niggas is yappin' about yappin'
A lot of underground niggas is rappin' about rappin'
I just wanna tell you what's really crack-a-lackin'
before the tears came down this is where it happened
[chorus]
America lyrics - K'naan (feat. Mos Def and Chali 2na)
uh huh uh huh uh huh
oh this takes me home,
it makes me think about sitting outside of my old home when I was younger and singing something like
[Chorus I (with translation)]
gabar yaroo subhaano [Young beautiful girl]
maro shabeelo hirato [wearing tiger-patterned]
maro qafiifa huwato [light, thin clothing]
maga’aaga ii sheeg [Tell me your name]
magaeygu waa sharaf [she says: My name is Sharaf]
sharaf haaji weeyan [Sharaf Haaji, it is]
aqalada hariirta [Those beautiful houses]
dhina baan ka jooga [I live beside]
alla ya u sheega [Somebody please tell them]
tinta u shanleeya [give them a clue]
nahoy zamzamey [of you, Zamzam]
sabaah nuurey [who shines like the morning light]
adoo kin kin iyo [like the scales]
kaluun badaneey [of a colorful fish]
adoo hajka jira [while you were gone on Hajj]
xasuus badaneey [had many memories]
sahiibtaa asho ashaq baa dilay [Your friend, Aisha died of love]
ugu dambeyntiina [at long last (I realized)]
aniyo geeluba [both I and the camels]
wa u banaanbahnay [need love]
[Chorus II - x2 (with translation)]
wanagii orodnee [Remember us fleeing]
nabad barinee [searching for peace?]
mareykan waa laga soo waayay [3x] [In America, none was found]
There are certain things fresh,
and certain things mesh,
I got my own sound I dont sound like the rest,
and even my attire and my choice of dress,
and not long ago I don’t spoke English
my point is police pull me over a lot
they wonder what kind of rap sheet I got.
and sometimes I take a young girl out to eat,
and hold the door open oh your so sweet,
of course my affection’s super illustrated
and I like to give don’t reciprocate it
unless you could give me someone innovated
well lets cook it up we dont refrigerate it
but back to the country of the educated
where people get robbed and they celebrate it,
[Repeat Chorus II x2]
[Mos Def:]
Maraken,
my country tis of thee
sweet land for robberies
dos smokin SUV’s
grab me an army green
fat and frills
thrills and spills
eat and sleep
hump and kill
shop til you drop
work til you dead
get all you can
then get in the wear
outta my face
on your knees
sleep in the mansion
shut out the streets
make that cake
woop that trick
lick my swagger
suck my sick
get high get low get stcky get rich
get yo own show get down get quick
you slow you blow you broke your fix
terror dome, home swag home
terror dome, home swag home
home swag home
home swag home
[Chorus II - x2 ("America" repeated)]
[Chali 2na:]
There are some things pure while certain things blur
dilute it with the lie and you believe when it occur
falsified information got my people in the stir
we have to be in search of something equal to the cure
straight out the door, I come to give you more
lay the law keep it raw, when I speak it from the core
get underneath your skin like especially with the claw
conflicted with the rich cuz i kick it with the poor
I laugh in the face of adversity
sound clashed with the bass cuz its natural to me
but if you pay attention to the past you will see
not long ago you black they’d hang your ass from a tree
but certain things things change, while some stay the same
some are recluse others are lovers of the game
I’m trying to walk the lane, the serahtal mustakeen [arabic for "straight path"]
instead of doing things that keep you covered in the flame.
[Chorus II - x2 ("America" repeated)]
Nanananana that shit was cool in English, but let me get that Somali verse.
[Chorus I]
Fatima lyrics - K'naan
[verse 1]
Picture the morning, taste and devour,
we rise early, pace up the hour
Streets is rustling, hustling they heart out
you can't have the sweet with no sour
Spices, herbs, sweets and the flour
she came out precisely the hour
Clouds disappear, the sun shows the power
no chance of a probably shower
I feel in love with my neighbor's daughter
I wanted to protect and support her
Nevermind, I'm just 12 and a quarter
I had dreams beyond our border
[bridge]
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 memories still lives inside of me?
[chorus]
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)
[verse 2]
After school, we studied the lessons,
I asked God to slow down the seconds,
He does the opposite, that's what I'm guessin',
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 is no tomorrow,
Damn, you gon make me wait 'til tomorrow
She spoke Arabic and Swahili,
She'd say "Upendo, Anta Habibi."
You so bright, you sound like my TV,
then one day, she never came to meet me
[bridge]
[chorus x2]
[verse 3]
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 em delicate,
You would have liked the parks in Connecticut,
You would have said I'm working to hard again.
Damn you shooter, damn you the building,
Whose walls hid the blood she was spillin'?
Damn you country, so good at killin',
damn you feelin' for persevering.
[bridge]
[chorus II x2]
Fatima,
what did the gunman say,
before he took 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)
Fire In Freetown lyrics - K'naan
There is no way to write it... there is 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 aha
Sidii hogasha roobka
Ah ah aha you shine down upon me
Aha aha aha Sidii hogasha roobka aha 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 riddle you sung little but scream mighty stronger
Like fire in free town 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 and I lend you my false lines
Like fire in free town I'm fueled by your gold mine
[Chorus]
There's no way to right (or write) it, there's no way to fight it
But I kick and scream and 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)
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 rain 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
Take A Minute lyrics - K'naan
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 at all?
Didn't do it to gain power or money if I recall. It's the gift,
I guess I'll pass it on, mother thinks it'll lift the stress of Babylon
my mother knows, my mother she suffered blows
I don't know how we survived such violent episodes
I was so worried, it hurt to see you bleed,
but as soons as you came out the hospital you gave me sweets yea,
they tried 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:]
And any man who knows a thing
knows he knows not a damn, damn thing at all
And every time I felt the hurtin'
I felt the givin' gettin' me up off the wall
I'm just gonna take a minute to let it ride
I'm just gonna take a minute and let it breathe
I'm just gonna take a minute to let it ride
I'm just gonna take a minute and let it breathe
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 and covers now
This K'naan, and still reppin' the S
Comin' out of Muqdisho 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 it's the reason why I can never play phony
"Tell 'em the truth" is what my dead homies told me, ooh yeah
I take inspiration from the most heinous of situations
Creatin' medication out my own tribulations
Dear Africa, you helped me write this
by showin' me to give is pricless
[chorus]
Nothin' is perfect man, that's what the world is
all I know is
I'm enjoyin' today, you know
'cause it ain't every day that you get to give
[chorus]
15 Minutes Away lyrics - K'naan
Yeah, I am sending this one out to everyone who has had to wait on a money transfer
Yeah, it's kinda whack when they charge you like ten percent on the dollar, but you know how go it feels when they say...
[Repeat 4x:]
You can pick it up today
It's 15 minutes away
The worst thing is the waiting, man
It's spiritually draining
I guess I could repaint
But don't think I'm complaining
I'm in my small apartment
This month has been the hardest
I couldn't afford some omelettes
I'm broken like an empty promise
Sometimes when I'm in a meeting
and everyone else is eating
I feel so awkward asking
So I pretend like I am fasting
My girl had paid my payments
She wants to save my anus
She says my love's contagious
But my pride is so outrageous
She sent me Western Union
So I can make it through'n
It felt so bad when she said write down this 11 digits
I go out to receive it
I'm desperate and I need it
Feels like an angel speaking
I can hardly believe it
[Repeat 4x:]
You can pick it up today
It's 15 minutes away
You finally got a caller
You met him in Sao Paula
A tourist with a dollar
He's some kind of a balla
Two babies in a scroller
And still he wants to holla
He likes your Pepsi cola
But you ain't running low-la
Brazilians make it easy
For bellas or fo sheezy
The sun would make him dizzy
Working for something mezlee
These girls will make you trust em
Because sweetness in the custom
But everyday they hustlin'
Every day they hustlin'
John calls her with the number
Home with her local lover
Who was it that picked up the phone?
Oh, that was just my brother
She goes out to receive it
She's desperate and she needs it
It's like an angel speaking
She can hardly believe it
[Repeat 4x:]
You can pick it up today
It's 15 minutes away
I got my conformation
The Western Union agent said grandma's destination
Had violent inclination
But now I'm proudly pacing
And walking to the station
Heavy perspiration
But you can't tell me nothing
I got my biz in order
I made it cross the border
Such dazzle, such a horror
His life is like an opera
Grandma I never forget you
Worry, I'll never let you
Soon as I leave the venue
This money I will send you
I still haven't gone astray
Don't drink or smoke and sway
Though sometimes I don't pray
It feels so good to say
Go out and receive it
Cause I just know you need it
Your boy has grow up decent
Grandma, can you believe it?
[Repeat 4x:]
You can pick it up today
It's 15 minutes away
People Like Me lyrics - K'naan
Heaven, is there a chance that you could come down
and open doors to hurting people like me
People like me
People like me
People like me
Yeah, 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 homies said I was stupid for even joining
My consulate said my decision was disappointing
How she had good slate for good state colleges
and with my good grades it wouldn't've 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 its not me here the cancer is
They've been doing this before Jesus of Nazareth
And after all this time its still deadly hazardous
And Bush isn't really being all that inaccurate
When he says we winning the war cus its staggering
But thats cus we killin' everybody that we see
And most of us soldiers we can barely fall asleep
And time and time again I'm feeling incompetent
Cus my woman back home we constantly arguin'
And I must be crazy cus all I'm obsessin' with
Is her myspace and facebook and who's commentin'
I swear to God if she's cheating I'm doing her ass in
I can tell with one look
And it came to be something like a song hook
Saying
Heaven, is there a chance that you can come down
And open doors to hurting people like me
People like me
People like me
People like me
Yeah, people like me
Meet Sarah, the proud mother of young Sebastian
Suburban professional, went to college in Ashland
In self pity, she suddenly cried
Would my life be important if I suddenly died?
Neighbours sayin' what a nice woman she was
Keepin' mostly to herself ever since the divorce
And with the company downsizing in the fall, and all
She really shouldn't take it that personal at all
It wasn't her boss who had his eyes on his thighs
And got a rise from her risin' off the desk though
And despite remembering 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, then hated it
Case worker powertrippin' and generally being degrading
if nothing else she was treated sick, and ineffective
Which is the worse thing, that she'd been left with
Damn
No magic from David Blaine
No pain and her pain was plain
No Morgan Freeman to narrate the shame
So she took refuge in prayer
Kind of like finding 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 hurting people like me
People like me
People like me
People like me
Yeah, people like me
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 for a piece of white meat
Everybody gotta eat, but everybody doesn't
Which is why I wanna tell you about my favourite cousin
He and I grew up where the sun shines
And we both partook in the gun crimes
And we both liked American rap rhymes
Even though we didn't understand one line
If you remember my liner notes in my last album
I talked about a close call with a grenade
I think we both must've been 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
cus 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 record
But now I take refuge in prayer
Kind of like finding God in the phonebook
It came to me sounding something like a song hook
Heaven, is there a chance that you could come down
and open doors to hurting people like me
People like me
People like me
People like me
Yeah, people like me
Heaven, is there a chance that you could come down
and open doors to hurting people like me
People like me
People like me
People like me
Yeah, people like me
Does It Really Matter? lyrics - K'naan
[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
[repeat chorus x2]
The Dusty Foot Philosopher (2005)
- Wash It Down
- Soobax
- What's Hardcore?
- My Old Home
- Moment (Instrumental)
- I Was Stabbed By Satan
- My God
- Smile
- If Rap Gets Jealous
- The Dusty Foot Philosopher
- Strugglin'
- In The Beginning
- Hoobaale
- The African Way
- Voices In My Head
- Boxing My Shadow
- For Mohamoud (Soviet)
- Until The Lion Learns To Speak
- Blues For The Horn
- Til We Get There
Wash It Down lyrics - K'naan
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.
Soobax lyrics - K'naan
Basically I got Beef
I wanna to you directly
I can't ignore
I can't escape
And that's 'cause you affect me
You crippled me
You chagrined me
You shattered my whole future in front of me
This energy is killing me, I gotta let it pour like blood soobax
Dhadkii waa dhinteen nagala soobax
Dhibki waa bateen nagala soobax
Dhiigii waa bateen nagala soobax
Dhulkii waa gubteen nagala soobax
Nagalaa soobax
Nagalaa soobax
Dadki waa dinten nagalaa soobax
Dibki waa butten nagalaa soobax
Deegii waa butten nagalaa soobax
So for real who's to blame
We lose lives over the disdain
Disregard for the soul, we just don't give a fuck no more
Left alone, all alone
Settle yo issues on yo own
What to do, where to go
I gotta be a refugee then soobax
Dhadkii waa dhinteen nagala soobax
Dhibki waa bateen nagala soobax
Dhiigii waa bateen nagala soobax
Dhulkii waa gubteen nagala soobax
Nagalaa soobax
Nagalaa soobax
Dhadkii waa dhinteen nagala soobax
Dhibki waa bateen nagala soobax
Dhiigii waa bateen nagala soobax
Dhulkii waa gubteen nagala soobax
Mogadishu (Yeah) used to be
A place where there world would come to see
Dasiida suuguumta Lida
Wardeegle iyo Madina
Argesa wasasoo Bardere iyo Berbera
My skin need to feel the same in the sun
I'm tired of the cold goddamn soobax
Dadki waa dinten nagalaa soobax
Dibki waa butten nagalaa soobax
Deegii waa butten nagalaa soobax
Duulki waa guubten nagalaa soobax
Nagalaa soobax
Nagalaa soobax
Dadki waa dinten nagalaa soobax
Dibki waa butten nagalaa soobax
Deegii waa butten nagalaa soobax
(Hey hey hey hey hey hey hey, Hey hey hey hey hey hey hey)
I guess I could use the last part to flow
Nomads the never go rondomino
And then they go oh oh now you know
Put a hole in the MC like Jerri o
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 gun men right out the door
Dadki waa dinten nagalaa soobax
Dibki waa butten nagalaa soobax
Deegii waa butten nagalaa soobax
Duulki waa guubten nagalaa soobax
Nagalaa soobax
Nagalaa soobax
Dadki waa dinten nagalaa soobax
Dibki waa butten nagalaa soobax
Deegii waa butten nagalaa soobax
Duulki waa guubten nagalaa soobax
Nagalaa soobax
Nagalaa soobax
Dadki waa dinten nagalaa soobax
Dibki waa butten nagalaa soobax
Deegii waa butten nagalaa soobax
Talking: Yeah, I hope more than language you can translate the vibe cause that right there is a protest song, you know I made a protest song and it's called soobax
Soobax means come out, directly talking to the gunmen and the warlords of Africa
Letting them know that we can't, you know the people can't take it no more, yeah and it's a- it's a soundtrack to a poor man's revolutionin East Africa right now playing for the people y'know and we went to Africa to shoot the video for this, the only way you can translate the vibe y'know Soobax.
Translation:
The people are dying, just come out
The troubles are filled, just come out
The blood has filled up, just come out
The floor is burnt, just come out
Just come out
Just come out
What's Hardcore? lyrics - K'naan
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.
So what's hardcore? Really, are you hardcore? Hmm.
My Old Home lyrics - K'naan
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
In my old home
I Was Stabbed By Satan lyrics - K'naan
[speaking]
1.2.1.2
[Chorus:]
I was stabbed by satan, on the day that I was born,
I was promised loving, but instead I was torn,
La la la, la la la, my heart bled fear,
La la la, la la la, I shed tears.
[Verse 1:]
A poor black ghetto child,
He can't shoot and he can't go run them out,
There's no school and the kids go runnin wild,
The police and the court wanna run them out,
He's so cold, and the po po hate em all,
He ain't seen his daddy since back in '84,
But oh well so it be, now hes in jail,
His mothers stressin just to get him out on bail,
Now sing it out.
[Chorus]
[Verse 2:]
And so the story goes on, There's no glory in the war he takes a tote on
His own body, but his buddies wouldn't of rolled on,
So bloody when the car comes to a stop,
The police with the big glocks, will em out
They say freeze but there's only one comin out,
There's 2 dead with a legal gun to his head,
It's stupid, should of played ball instead,
Let's sing it out.
[Chorus]
[Verse 3:]
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 wars in my honor your fist,
Will raise in the air, in the silence of revolution, my face will appear,
Like the vision of a prisoner with his last beer,
This song is a poem and the whole poem is a tear,
Dropped in your ear.
[Chorus]
[Chorus: with ad libs]
[talking]
So why do kids cry when there born,
Ever ask yourself that, I mean there's no scientific reason explanin that
Well it is said satan stabs a child at birth, as an introduction to pain,
Y'know, welcome to the world right.
My God lyrics - K'naan
My God, can you imagine livin' in a ghetto so hard
So facade? This is real oh my God
Can you imagine livin' in a city so fierce
No police better hand than your own, God
Can you imagine this is where the kids don't dance
Growin' up to be roughnecks, my God
Can you imagine this is where we come from, come from, come from, come from
Smile lyrics - K'naan
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
Never let them see you down smile while you bleeding
If Rap Gets Jealous lyrics - K'naan
[Verse 1:]
So good things comes for those wait, sure
I've waited about pop pop pop pop
That's four cousins shot
I got grudges, let's discust 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 of mine,
Or a life as hard as mine
I had to hustle, chop, sell drugs, grind
Whatever you wanna call it is fine,
But just listen
And don't prejudge
I don't want anyone dissmissin' 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 prisson and survived the war
I come from the most dangerous city in this universe
You're likely to get shot at birth
So how could 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 operating shit anymore I see nurses!
Fuck that! I'm gonna stay alive! I'd rather do a stage dive!
[Chorus:]
And if rap gets jealous
'cause I rock heavy
It don't worry me if motherfuckers don't get it
Yo if rap gets jealous
'cause of where I'm headed
I used to be public enemy, don't forget it
And if rap gets jealous, 'cause rock heavy
It don't worry me if motherfuckers don't get it
Yo if rap gets jealous
'cause of where I'm headed
Aggression! Obsession! With pain! Live a game!
[Verse 2:]
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 bad side, inside my head
I hear screams and loud voices
And I can't lie I ain't got shit, I ain't got to brag,
I'm hard pressed for some cash to send to my I'll dad
You're so superficial?, of course it's for shizzle?
Now my choice is to piss on you, boy
'Cause my mission is the world
To know, my name, my aim, is plainly success
But I still gotta come fresh!
So how could 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 operating shit anymore I see nurses!
Fuck that! I'm gonna stay alive! I'd rather do a stage dive!
[Chorus]
That's what it is, it's pain, you know what I'm saying?
I don't know man it's like
You spend years developing your artistry
Know what I'm sayin'? Perfecting your skills
Yeah, you can't do shit with it,
That has gotta be Fucked up!, know what I'm sayin'?
That's gotta be Fucked up, you know
Just imagine like, imagine you build a Fuckin' castle
And you can't live in it, 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 fresh!
So how could 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 operating shit anymore I see nurses!
Fuck that! I'm gonna stay alive! I'd rather do a stage dive!
[Chorus x2]
And if rap gets jealous, 'cause rock heavy
It don't worry me if motherfuckers don't get it
Yo if rap gets jealous
'cause of where I'm headed
Aggression! Obsession! With pain! Live a game!
The Dusty Foot Philosopher lyrics - K'naan
[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 aint 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
Waking up the auditors da dum da dum da dum
Strugglin' lyrics - K'naan
[Verse 1:]
I start out just to vibe out I ain't about to bow out. I'm more gangsta then u r but I ain't about to row out. My season will come it has to, honestly I feel like I'm 10 months pregnant, I'm past due. Sencierly, untouchy these days I can't take nuttin. I'm tryin to treat my record like the Lord shit I'm tryin to brake somthin'. N mostly I'm up n stressin when other folks sleep n believe I know struggle n struggle knows me. My life owes me like an oven dose I'm slowly driftin to the arms of trouble n trouble holds me n nothin else is close to me more than pain unfortunatly, like a self-fulfillin prophecy I'm supposed to be...
[Chorus: x2]
I'm strugglin n it's troublin in the circumstance I'm dwellin in to find myslef in the corner huddlin with some angry men n I gotta settle shit again before they gotta kill again
[Verse 2:]
I should be chillin on beaches instead my bone freezes duckin glocks n Iwas n 12s like Jesus The realest thing to me is since I was defeatedis the only break I ever got was at recess so legitematly I remain very little releaved n that thug rappas I remain very little entriged n can u blame me with how we lived in the late 80's throwin rocks at the crazy ladies n when we played these crazy games the whole crew had crazy names we even had a crypper we called him lazy legs but my faith remains untouched n unchanged still in my block you hear more shots then a gun range
[Chorus x2]
[Verse 3:]
More to the truth no writin just me recordin in the booth forced by the loop n the guitar but I'm the boss of the group I speak truth deep roots remain equal danger the pain in my song is crazy but the sequal is stranger
Hey man I'm from the oddest hardest progress then departed I'm now known as a recordin artist spittin what little remains of your memories in your process bigger or little making your name into a colossus believe me I'm thankful my brothers still with me n ain't much changed Bobbys still troublin with me I'm? still mom n pory but we always dently I got a little recordin gig but evidentally
[Chorus x2]
In The Beginning lyrics - K'naan
YOW!
So -
In the beginning there was hum
From a poet whose pulse felt
DRUM DRUM DRUM!
He would perform prayers and all
Till one day he heard a voice call
COME COME COME!
Just because he moved it was his cost
Just because he thinks he was a little lost.
People get held back
By the voice inside 'em.
Yo -
The voice said a voice speak inside you,
Rejoice and please let me invite you.
To evil greed and lies too.
Yeah
Confusing days he moved in ways it soon became hakuna
Koon Koon Koon.
And knock on his door the lord is no more
And knock on his door his soul is no more
La la la la la la la la... yeah
La la la la la la la la... that was in the beginning
La la la la la la la la... as the story goes on
La la la la la la la la...
So, so so-
The poets got a proposal
He would always hope but never know
What it feels to be free.
He would be the frozen imposed as the toes on all of the posin'
But it would be greed.
That's got him there
He's bound, hungry and, proud too.
People don't care, people just scared,
People don't care, people just prayer.
La la la la la la la la... yeah
La la la la la la la la... that was in the beginning
La la la la la la la la... there was a hum
La la la la la la la la... and things changed
La la la la la la la la... yeah, yeah
Say-
It's 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 em,
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 where freedom
Freedom for the hearts we fill
Mislead em
They hunger for the love we give but we cheat em
The guys beat em and all he wants is his feedom em
So they defeat em
Whatever spirit he's got
Beat em
And they teach em the rest of the world don't need him
And he believes it's a disease that he's heathen
Put up your fists if all you want is freedom
Put up your fists if all you want is
La la la la la la la la... that was in the beginning
La la la la la la la la... and things change
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
We keep holding on,
And we keep being strong,
And we keep going on,
And on and on and on.
[x3]
{And we keep holding on,
And we keep being strong,
And we keep going on,
And on and on and on.}
Hoobaale lyrics - K'naan
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
Nee pagal naan oli endrum unnai mattum saarndhe naan iruppen
The African Way lyrics - K'naan (feat. Mwafrika)
[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, cuz 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 [5x]
What more can I say
It's the African way [5x]
Live from Revolution radio, welcome East Africa's illest Mwafrika
[Mwafrika Rap Verse]
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
Cuz we doin' it like
[Repeat Chorus]
Mwafrika na K'Naan
Canada to Kenya
[Verse 2]
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
Cuz 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
[Repeat Chorus till fade]
Voices In My Head lyrics - K'naan
Eh yo, welcome to my world, please listen
HEY!
[Chorus:]
Poison in my veins, inside I'm torturing my brains,
And still I try, aiaiai
Voices in my head, am I alive or am I dead,
Alone I cry, aiaiaiai
[Verse 1:]
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 that it's hurtin the rest of my body
Them voices as loud as manhattan come chattin,
They say? and you kno you better than al of these replicates screamin they represent
C'mon man c'mon man
And the people inside me say they wanna see me go on tragically
And it's evil, cause I'm only 20 something working for a crumbs n some bread
[Chorus]
[Verse 2:]
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 me, they stop me from feedin,
And eatin and keepin it even, and even my reason for breathin this season,
Sleetin in a danger, my nose when I'm readin, it's bleedin on paper,
It's bleedin on paper,
And I'm tired of this violence, so tortured inside?, akward and overly open inside, have I already died,
Has mom already cried? And why do I feel like I'm over this life,
I'm not hateful, I'm grateful, my girlfriend is tasteful, livin it up,
I might even blow, like a leak in a truck, with a torch and a clutch,
And explosion that leaves a whole? of dust, and the people,
Inside me saying, they wanna see me go tragically,
And it's evil, cause I'm only twenty something, working for some crumbs and some bread
[Chorus]
[Verse 2:]
I'm still awake, and it's quarter to six,
I'm trying to write and I ain't thought of no shhh,
I live with guilt like I slaughtered the sick,
I live with shame, like my daughter a bitch,
I don't make living but I still persist, 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 don't complain,
I'm something like gail scott heroine,
Do you know what it feels like to lose a friend, again and again and again, again
The bitterness in the killer the poet, the river of blood within the mess flowin,
I'm the bitterness in the killer the poet, the river, the blood will keep on flowin,
People inside me say, the wanna see me go on tragically,
And it's evil, it's evil, cause I'm only twenty something years old working for a crumb or some bread or nothin
[Chorus: until end]
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Subscribe To
Posts
All Comments