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[00:16.28]Yeah
[00:17.87]I want all my niggas to come journey with me
[00:21.72]My name is Nas, and the year is 1973
[00:26.93]Beginning of me, therefore, I could see
[00:31.22]Through my belly button window, who I am...
[00:36.21]I existed in a womb, just like an abyss
[00:38.99]Came from behind the sun, my hands balled in a fist
[00:41.71]Punching on my moms stomach, kicking on her cervix
[00:44.73]Twitching cause I'm nervous, though my intended purpose
[00:47.27]Was to be born to reign, not in scorn or vain
[00:49.95]But to take on a name, my pops chose for me
[00:53.02]Bloodstream full of indo, developing eyes
[00:55.82]Nine-months process, infant size
[00:58.18]A prophet in his early stages, mother in her early thirties
[01:00.99]Was married to pops, wishing what she carried would drop
[01:03.60]I'm not worthy to come from a woman so pure, Ann Jones
[01:07.13]Flesh of her flesh, blood of her blood, her blood and bones
[01:09.66]Hearing prayers, she asking for my good health
[01:12.06]That I'd become a man and learn to make a way for myself
[01:14.69]Nervous she was, and her paranoia got in my blood
[01:17.62]Mixed with marijuana from my daddy's genes
[01:19.79]Lotta screams I'm hearin, it's crazy, both parents is scrappin'
[01:23.08]I'm not even a baby, a miscarriage could happen
[01:27.06]I shot my way out my mom dukes
[01:29.83]I shot my way out my mom dukes
[01:32.53]I shot my way out my mom dukes
[01:35.34]I shot my way out my mom dukes
[01:36.87]They must wanna keep me, 'cos four months pass, I'm still alive
[01:39.95]Guess I got what you call an Ill Will to survive
[01:42.49]When I look hard, the lights is killing my eyes
[01:45.08]I know when moms layin down, I get bored, start to get live
[01:48.23]Move side to side, hear loud music and vibe
[01:50.76]All black babies are born with rhythm, that's no lie
[01:53.40]Solar energize, mineralize food flowin through my mother's tube
[01:57.17]I'm covered in this thick layer of goo
[01:59.08]Month two was the least most comfortable
[02:01.51]My umbilical cord chokin me, but month three was closer, see
[02:04.97]Thats when pops took moms to see the doc at the clinic
[02:07.80]But I was saved, he changed his mind in the last minute
[02:10.55]Watching 'em yell, heard my moms voice well
[02:12.84]Feared fist fights, so terrified when we fell
[02:15.55]While they broke up furniture and smashed plates on the wall
[02:18.27]I wondered, "If I am born, will I be safe at all?"
[02:20.97]This place they call the world though my view was so large
[02:23.84]Couldn't wait to get up, grow up and take charge
[02:26.67]Month five, month six went by, hoping I'm born in July
[02:29.97]But the Lord already figured out a date and time
[02:32.58]September 14th, 73
[02:34.63]Get ready, world, doctor's in the front waiting for me
[02:37.63]Arms open cos they know when I drop, a lotta shit's gon' stop
[02:40.99]See how the goverment start retraining cops
[02:43.17]Month nine, I'm a week overdue, the labor induced
[02:46.22]Pops told my moms to push and take deep breaths too
[02:48.87]Said "Stay calm," holding her arm, I'm trying to hold on
[02:51.62]Surgical gloves touching my scalp, my head pops out
[02:54.96]Everything is blurry, my first breath screams out
[02:57.50]Tears pouring down my pops face, he's so proud
[03:00.27]Wanting to hold me, but I was so bloody
[03:02.23]They washed me off and he say, "At least a nigga ain't ugly"
[03:05.16]Placed me in his arms snugly, laid me on my mother
[03:07.86]Finally, I got to see who held me in her body, she loved me
[03:11.31]And yo, I plan to overthrow the devil
[03:13.39]And y'all bout to see this world in trouble, motherfuckers
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