Nas - I Know I Can lyrics

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 d** 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 d**h Watch the company you keep and the crowd you bring 'Cuz they came to do d** 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