I Know I Can - Nas

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
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 becomin a star
She was very beautiful, leavi'n people in awe
Singin' songs, Leena Hawn
But the younger version hung with the wrong person

Got her strung on the sniffin' up drugs all in the nose
Could have died so young, now looks ugly and old
No fun 'cuz now when she reaches for hugs
People hold their breath 'cuz she smells of corrosion and death

Watch the company you keep and the crowd you bring
'Cuz 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 a bow

I know I can, I know I can
Be what I wanna be, be what I wanna be
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
I'll be where I wanna be, I'll be where I wanna be

Baby, boys and girls listen again
This is for grown lookin' girls who only 10
The ones who watch videos and do what they see
As cute as can be

Up in the club with fake ID's
Careful 'fore you meet a man with HIV
You can host a 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 thinkin' he can give you wealth

But so young boys you can use a lotta help you know
You thinkin' life's all about smokin' weed and ice
You don't wanna be my age and can't read and write
Beggin' different women for a place to sleep at night

Smart boys turn 'em in 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
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
I'll be where I wanna be, I'll be where I wanna be

Baby, 'fore we came to this country we were kings and queens
Never porch monkeys, there was empires and 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, savery was money
So they began makin' slave ships
Egypt was the place that Alexander the Great went
He was shocked at the mountains with black faces

Shot up their nose to impose what basically
Still goes on today you see
If the truth is told the youth can grow
Can learn to survive until they gain control

Nobody says you hafta be gangstas
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 sayin, "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
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
I'll be where I wanna be, I'll be where I wanna be

Save the music ya'll
Save the music ya'll
Save the music ya'll
Save the music ya'll
Save the music