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[00:16.18]Yeah
[00:18.21]I want all my niggas to come journey with me
[00:20.74]My name is Nas, and the year is 1973
[00:25.52]Beginning of me, therefore, I could see
[00:30.91]Through my belly button window, who I am...
[00:34.76]I existed in a womb, just like an abyss
[00:38.77]Came from behind the sun, my hands balled in a fist
[00:41.55]Punching on my moms stomach, kicking on her cervix
[00:44.51]Twitching cause I'm nervous, though my intended purpose
[00:47.37]Was to be born to reign, not in scorn or vain
[00:49.92]But to take on a name, my pops chose for me
[00:52.79]Bloodstream full of indo, developing eyes
[00:55.83]Nine-months process, infant size
[00:58.12]A prophet in his early stages, mother in her early thirties
[01:00.97]Was married to pops, wishing what she carried would drop
[01:03.69]I'm not worthy to come from a woman so pure, Ann Jones
[01:06.70]Flesh of her flesh, blood of her blood, her blood and bones
[01:09.51]Hearing prayers, she asking for my good health
[01:12.03]That I'd become a man and learn to make a way for myself
[01:14.52]Nervous she was, and her paranoia got in my blood
[01:17.40]Mixed with marijuana from my daddy's genes
[01:19.99]Lotta screams I'm hearin, it's crazy, both parents is scrappin'
[01:22.86]I'm not even a baby, a miscarriage could happen
[01:25.66]I shot my way out my mom dukes
[01:29.24]I shot my way out my mom dukes
[01:32.21]I shot my way out my mom dukes
[01:35.17]I shot my way out my mom dukes
[01:37.11]They must wanna keep me, 'cos four months pass, I'm still alive
[01:39.72]Guess I got what you call an Ill Will to survive
[01:42.24]When I look hard, the lights is killing my eyes
[01:44.84]I know when moms layin down, I get bored, start to get live
[01:48.21]Move side to side, hear loud music and vibe
[01:50.75]All black babies are born with rhythm, that's no lie
[01:53.38]Solar energize, mineralize food flowin through my mother's tube
[01:57.33]I'm covered in this thick layer of goo
[01:59.06]Month two was the least most comfortable
[02:01.35]My umbilical cord chokin me, but month three was closer, see
[02:04.59]Thats when pops took moms to see the doc at the clinic
[02:07.72]But I was saved, he changed his mind in the last minute
[02:10.46]Watching 'em yell, heard my moms voice well
[02:12.87]Feared fist fights, so terrified when we fell
[02:15.45]While they broke up furniture and smashed plates on the wall
[02:18.06]I wondered, "If I am born, will I be safe at all?"
[02:20.90]This place they call the world though my view was so large
[02:23.67]Couldn't wait to get up, grow up and take charge
[02:26.53]Month five, month six went by, hoping I'm born in July
[02:29.60]But the Lord already figured out a date and time
[02:32.57]September 14th, 73
[02:34.65]Get ready, world, doctor's in the front waiting for me
[02:37.32]Arms open cos they know when I drop, a lotta shit's gon' stop
[02:40.70]See how the goverment start retraining cops
[02:43.15]Month nine, I'm a week overdue, the labor induced
[02:46.01]Pops told my moms to push and take deep breaths too
[02:48.77]Said "Stay calm," holding her arm, I'm trying to hold on
[02:51.71]Surgical gloves touching my scalp, my head pops out
[02:54.46]Everything is blurry, my first breath screams out
[02:57.48]Tears pouring down my pops face, he's so proud
[02:59.99]Wanting to hold me, but I was so bloody
[03:02.47]They washed me off and he say, "At least a nigga ain't ugly"
[03:05.00]Placed me in his arms snugly, laid me on my mother
[03:07.93]Finally, I got to see who held me in her body, she loved me
[03:11.21]And yo, I plan to overthrow the devil
[03:13.21]And y'all bout to see this world in trouble, motherfuckers
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