American Way (feat. Kelis)

Political, "Recently there has been an emergence of
Socially conscious and political rappers
It seems to be a new trend in the Hip-Hop world"

Nas is a rebel to America
Nas is a rebel to America
Nas is a rebel to America

Yeah, check it, uh, spot build-rocker, lil' papa killed Hoffa
Beard lil' longer, feel strong enough stop ya
Drill sergeant, still thorough, wheelbarrows of distilled vodka
Get me real bonkers like Will Ferrell

On cat tranquilizer rap guys get bank
And think they messiahs, but they liars
Vote fo who now? You're red, white and blue
I'm American too, but I ain't with the President's crew

What you peddlin' and who you peddlin' to?
You ain't got the ghetto with you
Try'na lead my sheep to the slaughterhouse
Talkin' 'bout Rap the Vote, you ain't thought about

The black vote mean Nathan
Who you gonna elect, Satan or Satan?
In the hood, nothin' is changin', uh
We ain't got no choices

Who to choose, ten years ago they were tryin' to stop our voices
And end Hip-Hop, they some hypocrites
Condoleeza Rice, I don't really get this chick

Tell her if she ever really cared about poor schools
About poor children
Then she gotta prove
That she ain't just another coon Uncle Tom fool

Like these MC's, gotta give 'em the rules
Lie to the youth, Uncle Tom, you confused
Might as well give the Hip-Hop community a noose

Need a truce with the gangs and some food for the hungry
On Kerry nuts, he look at you like a monkey
You MC's on that old slavery path
The Bushs'll look at yo' ass and laugh

See, it's all about community, let's help ourselves
Cops brutalize us, get dealt with with shells
It's our turn, it's 'bout time we win
Need somebody from the hood as my councilman, uh

Yeah, I think about this everyday, that's the American way
Yeah, I think about this everyday, that's the American way
(That's the American way)
Yeah, I think about this everyday, that's the American way
Yeah, I think about this everyday, that's the American Way

Up in the steam room chillin', Ex foliating the skin
It's rarely men conversatin' on ends, probably businessmen
I sense good taste, and they watch us, the spot's an expensive place
Manhattan, New York, I'm try'na keep steamin', it's good for the lungs

Had plans for the evenin', this man leans in, his boy's laughin'
Now I'm the spokesperson for Black men
This always happens since all Black women care about is
Who got dough and all we do is call them either b- or a Black hoe

I say first brotha, you ain't gotta be that cold
Since you ignorant, I'ma show you how the facts go
The biggest example in scandal of history
Were Monica Lewinsky or Donald Trump's pimpin' spree

Most woman who love Jeevanji of Gucci
Are pretentious non-Black groupies or floozies
But who are we to blame, not the dames
It's a man-made game, in all essence, our woman the same

Beautiful creatures, Black girls birthed the earth
So they deserve to earn man's purse
Matter fact, I'm about to go shoppin' with my dime
Catch you cowards the next time, next rhyme, uh

Yeah, I think about this everyday, that's the American way
(That's the American way)
Yeah, I think about this everyday, that's the American way
('Cause that's the American way)

Yeah, I think about this everyday, that's the American way
(What up, K? That's the American way)
Yeah, I think about this everyday, that's the American way
(Ha, yeah)

I don't care about the runaways, I don't care about who's gay
I don't care about the dyin' of AIDS, but I care if I got paid
Who even cares about the President, I think we're makin' a mistake
I don't care about the hurricane as long as my baby's safe
I don't care about the candidates, they burnt this country into bits

Yeah, I think about this everyday, that's the American way
Can we make a change, you know it's not overnight
Let's start the fight
(And ya don't stop, uh)
Can we make a change, you know it's not overnight
Let's start the fight

Yeah, I think about this everyday, that's the American way
Nas is a rebel to America