I Can
by Nas

Album: God's Son (2002)
Charted: 19 12
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  • I know I can
    Be what I wanna be
    If I work hard at it
    I'll be where I wanna be
    I know I can (I know I can)
    Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be)
    If I work hard at it (If I work hard at it)
    I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be)

    Be, b-boys and girls, listen up
    You can be anything in the world, in God we trust
    An architect, doctor, maybe an actress
    But nothing comes easy, it takes much practice
    Like, I met a woman who's becoming a star
    She was very beautiful, leaving people in awe
    Singing songs, Lena Horne, but the younger version
    Hung with the wrong person, got her strung on that heroin
    Cocaine, sniffing up drugs, all in her nose
    Could've died, so young, now looks ugly and old
    No fun 'cause when she reaches for hugs, people hold their breath
    'Cause she smells of corrosion and death
    Watch the company you keep and the crowd you bring
    'Cause they came to do drugs and you came to sing
    So if you gonna be the best, I'ma tell you how
    Put your hands in the air, and take the vow

    I know I can (I know I can)
    Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be)
    If I work hard at it (If I work hard at it)
    I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be)
    I know I can (I know I can)
    Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be)
    If I work hard at it (If I work hard at it)
    I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be)

    Be, b-boys and girls, listen again
    This is for grown-looking girls who's only 10
    The ones who watch videos and do what they see
    As cute as can be, up in the club with fake ID
    Careful, 'fore you meet a man with HIV
    You can host the TV like Oprah Winfrey
    Whatever you decide, be careful, some men be
    Rapists, so act your age, don't pretend to be
    Older than you are, give yourself time to grow
    You thinking he can give you wealth, but so
    Young boys, you can use a lot of help, you know
    You thinking life's all about smoking weed and ice
    You don't wanna be my age and can't read and write
    Begging different women for a place to sleep at night
    Smart boys turn to men and do whatever they wish
    If you believe you can achieve, then say it like this

    I know I can (I know I can)
    Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be)
    If I work hard at it (If I work hard at it)
    I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be)
    Now, go
    I know I can (I know I can)
    Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be)
    If I work hard at it (If I work hard at it)
    I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be)

    Be, be-fore we came to this country
    We were kings and queens, never porch monkeys
    There was empires in Africa called Kush
    Timbuktu, where every race came to get books
    To learn from black teachers who taught Greeks and Romans
    Asian, Arabs and gave them gold, when
    Gold was converted to money it all changed
    Money then became empowerment for Europeans
    The Persian military invaded
    They heard about the gold, the teachings, and everything sacred
    Africa was almost robbed naked
    Slavery was money, so they began making slave ships
    Egypt was the place that Alexander the Great went
    He was so shocked at the mountains with black faces
    Shot up they nose to impose what basically
    Still goes on today, you see?
    If the truth is told, the youth can grow
    They'll learn to survive until they gain control
    Nobody says you have to be gangstas, hoes
    Read more, learn more, change the globe
    Ghetto children, do your thing
    Hold your head up, little man, you're a king
    Young Princess when you get your wedding ring
    Your man is saying "She's my Queen"

    I know I can (I know I can)
    Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be)
    If I work hard at it (If I work hard at it)
    I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be)
    I know I can (I know I can)
    Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be)
    If I work hard at it (If I work hard at it)
    I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be)

    Save the music, y'all
    Save the music, y'all
    Save the music, y'all
    Save the music, y'all
    Save the music Writer/s: Nasir Jones, Roy C. Hammond, Salaam Remi
    Publisher: BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sentric Music, Songtrust Ave, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 2

  • James from Riverside, Cathats why most hip hop i listen to now is christian hip hop, all the new stuff is just junk.
  • Lilly from Chicago, IlThis song has great lyrics. I wish more rap and hip hop songs would have lyrics like this, that inspire, rather than degrade. I'm glad this was a big hit, because it shows that positive messages can make for successful songs, which is something not understood by most mainstream artists today.
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