K'naan Lyrics

EP: More Beautiful Than Silence (2012)

Is Anybody Out There? lyrics - K'naan (feat. Nelly Furtado)

[Nelly Furtado:]

I don't wanna be left

In this war tonight

Am I alone in this fight?

Is anybody out there?

Don't wanna be left left in this world behind

Say you'll run to my side

[K'naan:]

Something 'bout Mary

Never won a pageant

Never felt pretty

Never looked like Cameron

Diaz was her last name

Always been abandoned

Keep your head up

Baby girl this is your anthem

There goes hannah

Showin' off her banner

Rocking that crown

Make them boys go bananas

When you're insecure about yourself

It's a fact

You can point a finger

But there's three pointing back

I can see her crying out, yeah

Is there anybody out there?

She's really counting on your love

Still struggling uphill

But you act like you don't care

Right now she could really use a shoulder

Hanging onto the edge til it's over

She's crying for your love tonight

Lonely is hard to survive, she said

[Nelly Furtado:]

I don't wanna be left

In this war tonight

Am I alone in this fight?

Is anybody out there?

Don't wanna be left, left in this world behind

Say you'll run to my side

Is anybody out there? yeah, yeah, yeah

Is anybody out there?

(somebody, anybody)

[K'naan:]

His name was Adam

When his mom had him

Dad was a phantom never took a look at him

Grew up mad and antisocial

Hated outdoors, always in playing madden

Adam was lonely

Drugs were the only

Way out of his own life

Now he's slowly losing his fire

Close to retire

With one last hope he puts his arms up higher

I can see him crying out, yeah

Is there anybody out there?

He's really counting on your love

Still struggling uphill

But you act like you don't care

Right now he could really use a shoulder

Hanging onto the edge til it's over

He's crying for your love tonight

Lonely is hard to survive, he said

[Nelly Furtado:]

I don't wanna be left

In this war tonight

Am I alone in this fight?

Is anybody out there?

Don't wanna be left left in this world behind

Say you'll run to my side

Is anybody out there?

If you feel the way I feel

Like you've been talking to yourself

Well this one's for everyone who's felt invisible

Lonely in a crowded room

Searching for someone like you

Can't do it all alone (no one can baby)

Can't do it all alone (no one should baby)

Is anybody out there?

(somebody, anybody)

Is anybody out there?

I'm right here for you

Is anybody out there?

I don't wanna be left

In this war tonight

Am I alone in this fight?

Is anybody out there?

Don't wanna be left, left in this world behind

Say you'll run to my side

Is anybody out there? yeah, yeah, yeah

I don't wanna do it all alone

I need your love to take me home

No one said you should be all alone

I'm right here

Is anybody out there?

Nothing To Lose lyrics - K'naan (feat. Nas)

[Verse 1: K’naan]

Someone called the cops on him

Someone told his pops on him

He was talkin’ crooked

And he had some rocks on him

Tucked, tucked in his socks’s corner

Chucks, chucks and the Charlotte Hornet

Cap when he ‘flow

Then they all surprised on him

Yes he’s a fugee

But he go all Nas on ‘em

Well can’t go pras on ‘em

And he got that crossover

But he from the streets

You don’t cross over

Hut, hut to the block soldiers

Buck, buck to the cop vultures

Nope, no I don’t know pilots

Uh, nigga I know pirates

Violence the islands

Shout out to my idrens

Put your hands up

Like it’s a motherfuckin’ siren

[Hook]

Well I paid all my dues

Yeah, yeah yeah yeah

Shone a million shoes

Yeah, yeah yeah yeah

‘Cause when you got nothing left

Yeah, yeah yeah yeah

You got nothing to lose

Yeah, yeah yeah yeah

[Verse 2: Nas]

I used to stand on Vernon and 10

Burnin’ a spliff burner on hip

Wishing to flip a bird

Yac burning my chest

Black certainly I’m dressed

Strictly that army shit

Finish my shift

Pack gone before the dawn hit

Anything I could earn on the strip

Turn it and flip

Watching my back

Cooking that pot

Making it stretch

Discussing with my cliq

Should we duct tape the connect

It’s rough and K’naan knows

He had the same woes

I’m voicing my opinions

I forgot y’all was there

I ain’t know y’all was still listenin’

Be honest I ain’t care

Y’all don’t get my innuendos my interests

Y’all on some simple shit

Thinking I’m preachy

Yeah, my church is the world

Christians sip a cup of this holy water

Stuck at this phony border

It’s custom to enter the main stream

You must front and record

A poorer oratory

Your life story corny

Yo, my Somali niggas know what war be

[Hook]

Well I paid all my dues (paid my dues)

Yeah, yeah yeah yeah

Shone a million shoes

Yeah, yeah yeah yeah

‘Cause when you got nothing left

Yeah, yeah yeah yeah

You got nothing to lose

Yeah, yeah yeah yeah

[Verse 3: K’naan]

Remember when niggas said Nas was Somalian

Baseball cap had the tags

Like a yardie and it was written just came out

I was gnarly then

Niggas dreaded seeing me like a Rastafarian

We didn’t know the dresscode though

We was bargainers

The knock off filas with the pumps and cheap cardigans

Niggas looked corny I admit

We was foreigners but this corny kid

Quick send you to the coroners

Y’all know my war story

I won’t repeat it

It’s just injury

My victory’s undefeated

Thought you knew me well

Go back and delete it

I’m in every joint this year

Orthopedic and yes the AK’s are instruments

We do drum ‘em

I’m somewhere between killa and king Solomon

And the shades take half the face

We over stun ‘em and treat obstacles like ass

We overcome ‘em

Man, they really made me do this

I was peaceful like a Buddhist

But then niggas came

And screwed it up like Judas

Now I’m suited up with Lugers, Rugers suddenly intruders

Turn around like hoola hoopers

Fucking losers

[Hook]

Well I paid all my dues

Yeah, yeah yeah yeah

Shone a million shoes

Yeah, yeah yeah yeah

‘Cause when you got nothing left

Yeah, yeah yeah yeah

You got nothing to lose

Yeah, yeah yeah yeah

[Outro]

This one’s for the world

This one’s for your girl

This one’s for your Mama

This one’s for your Nana

More Beautiful Than Silence lyics - K'naan

[Chorus:]

Turn the light off

There's a light on in your heart

So let it be your guidance, guidance

Open your mouth if what you'd say

Could be more beautiful than silence, silence

OK, ain't it funny how the talkers always talking?

Never firing, but always say they cocking

And they're cocky until they in the parking lots

Suddenly they got Parkinson, they can hardly talk.

No karate buddy, no Pilates buddy

It's a new game, no Atari buddy!

Body chalk, well I'm used to bodies chopped

I've seen shit to give new meaning to the body shop

Look, I know you think I'm so righteous,

But mother fucker, I'm also into rifles

They try to tell these niggers I'm a baby in these diapers

I'm on my own shit, like this

I don't disseminate, I got my name in services

I don't discriminate, I got friends who are snipers

But some of them ended up being lifeless

Cause they kept silent, survivors.

[Chorus:]

Turn the light off

There's a light on in your heart

So let it be your guidance, guidance

Open your mouth if what you'd say

Could be more beautiful than silence, silence

I'm the quiet type, breathe and steady

Never small talk speak when necessary

In the streets, I see niggers chopped with machetes

My Jamaican girl say "talk to me baby!"

What's on your mind? can't say cemetery

Death do us part, memories, I marry

Got a library with no lies buried

And all the books look like they're made of strawberries.

It ain't easy being me

Cause my own fans can't relate to my streets

And my streets can't relate to dough in the yeast

But I'm beast, so I make bread on release.

I'm releasing my demons

Give the beat it's life like I gave a fetus semen

Feel the kick in your belly, that's freedom breathing

And don't say nothing, cause now we're dreaming!

[Chorus:]

Turn the light off

There's a light on in your heart

So let it be your guidance, guidance

Open your mouth if what you'd say

Could be more beautiful than silence, silence

Oh, oh, oh, oh, silence, silence

Better lyrics - K'naan

[K'naan:]

Since I was a kiddo

I was a leader

Heard life was a beach but

Man I wanna meet her

Swimmin deeper but the grim reaper will always creep up

No ice on my bed, So I never sleep up

Flow Bolt like Usain try n keep up

Way before waving flag in the FIFA

I was a dreamer, life was a gamble

Born in a casino, but God never give burdens you can't handle

Music is my ammo, I'm ready for battle

[Hook:]

When I lose right now I'm betting all my chips

When I'm broken down I be brushing off my kicks

I'm a get it somehow yeah you can count on this

I'm only gettin better, better, better

I would say that I've always been a winner but

I've probably always been a sinner

Two kids and a wife couldnt' give her

Wish you wanna so I had to break like the winter

Summer saw me fall coldplay when I shiver

Spring back up K'naan not a quitter

And success just sex tryna get her wetter

Failing is just an excuse for me to get better

Life means love

Love means pain

Lust is just a part of it

Charges to the game

Rolling in the deep, what's a nice jeep

If you can drop the top just to park it in the rain

[Hook]

Yeah

One time for my thugs over seas and

Two time for my brother big league and

Three for yourself if you know how to grow up

Is never giving up on your dreams and

Roll the dice life is a breeze

[Hook]

I'm only gettin better, better, better

One time for my thugs over seas and

Two time for my brother big league and

Three for yourself if you know how to grow up

Is never giving up on your dreams and

Roll the dice life is a breeze

Coming To America lyrics - K'naan

This K'naan

This goes out to anybody that's ever had to leave their home

I came out of a killer, neighborhood called River

Where life expectancy is shorter than a caterpillar

I was once a guerrilla, Mogadishu was my cage

My trainer was the gauge, AK was my baby sitter

While we be out and looting, the whole city was shooting

I know it's fucked up but somehow, that sound became soothing

Niggas heard African rappers and thought about them foofoo

You superman, tell the real soldier boy come to shoot you

Sexual intercourse what you in nigga

Fuck what you heard, yeah nigga

Come walk in the dark no fear nigga

It's a dry in my eyes no tear nigga

Working malaria, your hood can't really compare here

Got keys, they really love barrier

Come near here, I'm daring you

I'll shoot you not being afraid

Life gave me a rock and a lemonade

Blew up my school in the 8th grade while playing catch with a hand grenade

Yeap, that's a true story, this ain't Hollywood glory

I ain't the prince of Zamunda, dog, my life is too gory

I'm tired of always going through barriers

I just wanna live a good life

So I'm coming, coming to America,

I hope we gonna have a good time

Baby thanks for letting me marry ya

A green card sure looks fine

So I'm coming, coming to America,

I hope we gonna have a good time

Now my second home city, what can I say

It took my fucking heart from me

I played the judge part pardon if I'm larceny

Oh yeah, that mean it never got no bars for me

T-dot O to the motherfuckering dot B

And the Rexdale project [?]

Fuck puck but it ain't no hockey

When the cops came, they knocked me, they got me

I had to flee, they said to bargain, I had to plea

So I crossed the border while they put a warrant out for me

I'm tired of always going through barriers

I just wanna live a good life

So I'm coming, coming to America,

I hope we gonna have a good time

Baby thanks for letting me marry ya

A green card sure looks fine

So I'm coming, coming to America,

I hope we gonna have a good time

I know, everywhere in the world, got his problems

Everybody got a dream, of the green, to dollars

But some of us are dying in the streets can you figure out

Even in America the hoods need a ticket out

I know, everywhere in the world, got his problems

Everybody got the dream, of the green, to dollars

But some of us are dying in the streets can you figure out

Even in America the hoods need a ticket out

I'm tired of always going through barriers

I just wanna live a good life

So I'm coming, coming to America,

I hope we gonna have a good time

Baby thanks for letting me marry ya

A green card sure looks fine

So I'm coming, coming to America,

I hope we gonna have a good time.

Troubadour (2009)

T.I.A.
Abc's
Dreamer
I Come Prepared
Bang Bang
If Rap Gets Jealous
Wavin' Flag
Somalia
America
Fatima
Fire In Freetown
Take A Minute
15 Minutes Away
People Like Me
Does It Really Matter? (iTunes Bonus Track)

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

[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

[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

[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.

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.

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...

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...

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...

When I get older,

I will be stronger,

They'll call me "Freedom",

Just like a wavin' flag.

And then it goes back.

When I get older,

I will be stronger,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

Dadki waa dinten nagalaa soobax

Dibki waa butten nagalaa soobax

Deegii waa butten nagalaa soobax

Duulki waa guubten 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

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.

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.

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.

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

Moment lyrics - K'naan

(Instrumental)

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!

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