Big Daddy Kane - Who Am I Lyrics
I was born..[big daddy kane]A black man from the motherlandSpeakin a language today most people dont understandWhere no one could bother meCause I had freedom, justice, and equalityBut then one day it was tooken awayAnd I was shipped to the u.s.a.A young brother, made into a slaveTo harvest the midlands and clean the chittlinsGiven a new name, new religionNo freedom to vote, not even to make a decisionI saw my peoples, sold raped and took outThe rest of that stuff that alex haley talks aboutThey said Im not from asia Im from africaAnd all the blacks there now are just scavengersThats the way my mind was poisonedTo believe that in america blacks are inferiorA weak mind and a body of swineOnly adds up to being - deaf dumb and blindIlliterate to who where what and whySo I ask myself: who am i?I was born..[big daddy kane]A native new yorker on the streetsKnown for rockin rhymes to real rough beatsThat I found in the attic, noisy with staticA sound that made me, a hip-hop fanaticI made a few songs that sold okNever top 20 or plenty airplayI came out hardcore, flexin ***** dieselSaw a little cash, and pop goes the weaselI had to make that change and rearrangeMy whole rap format, no hardcore rapSo now all the pop charts I ruleOver new kids on the block and paula abdul, huhI thought I made it, then my song fadedAnd none of the black stations ever have played itI tried to blame it on mtvAnd say, damn, they cold played me for young mcBut when you get down to it, Im the real blameBecause I wanted the fameMoney is not only the root of all evilIts also the destruction of black people, soConjunction junction, whats your function?Bein a scout, or sellin out?Look in the mirror at yourself, eye to eyeAnd say: who am i?[gamilah shabazz]A solid change, have to rearrange this strangeFeelin Im feelin, so appealinI am having to deal withTime to forget the myth, of bein black and a womanCant get ahead, walkin on a thread, a tightropeCant cope, dont be a dope, have a little bit of hopeRunnin your scope on affairsYou have to be aware, dont flare upLet your cup runneth overIm not irish, dont need a donut to fill up my dishNor two mango wish to wish on a star, theyre so farAnyway Im thinkin about today, not tomorrowIm not a follower of anyoneMy time has come, its already hereMy message is clearLike the women of long ago, I am also hereAlso to show, I have the courageHave the strength, Im for equal opportunityNo matter the life, length of timeShow me a sign, should I rely on aSubliminal message, should I questionWhat would seem to be, lifes told me?Yes indeed, so let me speak[big daddy kane]And thats comin from the daughter of malcolm xSo black women put it in your textsSo you can never let, opportunity pass you byOr even ask yourself, who am i?
