Nas — I Can

[Hook: Children's Choir] 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) [Verse 1] 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 now 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 [Chorus] 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) [Verse 2] 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 [Chorus] 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) [Verse 3] 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 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" [Chorus] 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) [Outro] Save the music, y'all Save the music, y'all Save the music, y'all Save the music, y'all Save the music [Produced by Salaam Remi]