I know i can be what i wanna

I Can Be What I Want To Be by Nas

i'll be where i want to be

boys and girls listen up, you can be anything in the world

in god we trust, an architect, doctor, maybe an actress

but nothin' comes easy it takes much practice,

like i met a woman who was becoming a star,

she was very beautiful leaving people in awe

singin' songs later on , but the younger version,

hung wit' the wrong person, got her stunger than irwin,

cocaine sniffi'n up drugs all in her nose,

could've died so young, now looks ugly and old,

no fun cuz now when she reaches for hugs

people hold thier 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 im'a tell you how,

put your hands in the air and take the vow

boys and girls listen again

this is for grown looking girls who's only ten,

the ones who watch videos and do what they see

as cute as can be, up in the clubs with fake i.ds,

careful 'fore you meet a man with h.i.v.

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're thinking he can give you wealth

but so young boys, you could use alot of help you know

ya 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 to men and do whatever they wish

if you believe you can achieve, then say it like this

before 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, asians 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 slaveships

egypt was the place that alexander the great went

he was in shock that in the mountains were black faces

shot off thier nose to impose what basically

still goes on today you see

if the truth is told the youth can grow,

they'll learn to survive, until they gain control

nobody says you have to be gangsters, 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 will sing she's my queen

"I Can" is a single by American rapper Nas from his sixth album, God's Son. It was released internationally February 11, 2003. Unlike the rest of the album, this does not have the Parental Advisory (or Explicit and other labeling on digital stores) label on the song, as it is aimed at children. The song peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Composition[edit]

Boasting production from Salaam Remi, the song samples Ludwig van Beethoven's "Für Elise" and the drum break from the Honey Drippers' "Impeach the President".[1]

The lyrics are positive encouraging kids to stay drug-free and to pursue their dreams, pointing to examples of powerful icons in the African-American community like Oprah Winfrey. Conversely, Nas raps about a friend who was moving up in the music scene, only to fall victim to a debilitating drug addiction that took her career and her looks.

Music video[edit]

The music video, directed by Chris Robinson, was shot in Los Angeles, and contains footage of Nas rapping while children stand around him. The video starts out with the music from the introduction of "Get Down," but it soon transitions into "I Can." As the video starts, a young girl plays Beethoven on a piano in a vacant lot. Later in the video, children are jumping on a mattress in the same lot. The video also contains footage of break dancing and famous Egyptian structures.

Reception[edit]

The single received positive reviews. Christian Hoard of Rolling Stone magazine labels "I Can" as "a silly stay-in-school ad attached to a Beethoven sample."[2] This comment may be attributed to the "singsongy" call and response chorus featuring the voices of young children.[3] Other reviewers appreciated "I Can" more: Jon Robinson of IGN.com claims that on his second single, "Nas delivers some of his most inspiring lyrics to date."[4]

"I Can" charted in 2003 at #12 in Billboard Hot 100, #7 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks, #6 on the Hot Rap Tracks and #58 on the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2003.[5] This is Nas's highest charting single as a lead artist to date.

In 2019, the song was used by French life insurance company AXA which dedicates to all people who want to be when they can pursue their dreams. Tennis player Serena Williams is featured in this advert.[citation needed]

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