[Intro]
Yeah
I want all my niggas to come journey with me
My name is Nas
And the year is 1973
Beginning of me
Therefore I could see
Through my belly button window
Who I am...
[Verse 1]
I existed in the womb, just like an abyss
Came straight from spirit-land, my hands balled in a fist
Punching my mom's stomach, kicking on her cervix
Twitching 'cause I'm nervous, though my intended purpose
Was to be born to reign, not in scorn or vain
But to take on the name that my pops chose for me
Bloodstream full of indo, developing eyes
Looking out my belly button window, my father sighs
On his face he wears a frown
And I'm wondering if they even want me around
'Cause I'll go back to Spirit-Town
So I could rest longer before I come back down
The chute again, in the near future when
Mom and Pops can agree on this
Was here before but my moms saw her gynocologist
He dumped me off
First they want me, then turn around and they don't
You got 120 days, y'all do what you want
But as for me coming back this be my last time
Abort me, keep me, give me away, make up your minds
[Chorus: Sample]
"I shot my way out my mom dukes"
"I shot my way out my mom dukes"
"I shot my way out my mom dukes"
"I shot my way out my mom dukes"
[Verse 2]
Yo, hey must wanna keep me, 'cause four months past, I'm still alive
Guess I got what you call ill will to survive
When I look hard the lights is killing my eyes
I know when moms is laying down 'cause I get bored, start to get live
Move side to side hear loud music and vibe
All black babies are born with rhythm, that's no lie
Solar energize, mineralize food flowing through my mothers tube
I'm covered in this thick layer of goo
Month two was the least most comfortable
My umbilical cord choking me, but month three was closer, see
Thats when pops took moms to see the doc at the clinic
But I was saved, he changed his mind in the last minute
Watching 'em yell, heard my mom's voice well
Feared fist fights, so terrified when we fell
While they broke up furniture and smashed plates on the wall
I wondered, "If I am born, will I be safe at all?"
This place they call the world, through my view, was so large
Couldn't wait to get up, grow up and take charge
Month 5, month 6 went by, hoping I'm born in July
But the Lord already figured out a date and time
Septemeber 14th, '73
Get ready, world, doctor's in the front waiting for me
Arms open 'cause they know when I drop, a lot of shit's gonna stop
See how the goverment will start retraining cops
Month 9, I'm a week overdue, the labor induced
Pops told my moms push and take deep breaths, too
Said stay calm, holding her arm, I'm trying to hold on
Surgical gloves touching my scalp, my head pops out
Everything is blurry, my first breath screams out
Tears pouring down my pop's face, he's so proud
Wanted to hold me, but I was so bloody
They washed me off and he say, "At least that nigga ain't ugly"
Placed me in his arms, snuggly, laid me on my mother
Finally, I got to see who held me in her body
She loved me
And, yo, I plan to overthrow the devil
And y'all 'bout to see this world in trouble, motherfuckers
