I Shot My Way Out

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 I existed in a 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 a 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, as I 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 could agree on this, was here before But my mom saw her gynecologist, he dumped me off First they want me, then turn around and say they don't You got 120 days, do what y'all want But as for me, coming back, this be the last time Abort me, keep me or give me away, make up your minds 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 They must wanna keep me, 'cause four months passed, I'm still alive Guess I got what they call Ill Will to survive When I look hard, the lights is killing my eyes I know when mom's laying down, 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 mother's 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 That's 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, though my view was so large Couldn't wait to get out, and grow up and take charge Month five, month six went by, hoping I'm born in July But the Lord already figured out a date and time September 14th, '73 Get ready world, doctors in the front waiting for me Arms open 'cause they know when I drop, a lot of shit's gonna stop See how the government will start re-training cops Month nine, I'm a week overdue, the labor induced Pops told my moms "Push, and take deep breaths, too" "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 screamed 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 said "At least that nigga ain't ugly!" Placed me in his arms snugly, 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