If I Ruled the World

Kurtis Blow

About If I Ruled the World

"If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)" is a single by Nas featuring Lauryn Hill, released on June 4, 1996. Produced by Trackmasters, with some uncredited input by Rashad Smith, it is based on the 1985 hit of the same name by rapper Kurtis Blow and samples the beat of "Friends" by Whodini. The single was Nas's first Top 20 R&B hit, and was also nominated for a 1997 Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance. Lauryn Hill's verse interpolates the song "Walk Right Up To The Sun" by The Delfonics. The song's lyrics feature Nas discussing the various things he would do if he "ruled the world and everything in it". It is considered one of the greatest rap songs of all time by many publications. It was also ranked 88 on XXL's Best Songs of the 90's. "If I Ruled the World", bolstered by a high-budget music video directed by Hype Williams and designed by visual artist and designer Ron Norsworthy, became Nas's first single to gain mainstream notice. The single reached number 53 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 17 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart, and number 15 on the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks chart. 


53 
#1

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Yes yes y'all
The best y'all, yes yes y'all
Huh, huh, huh, huh, yes y'all

If I ruled the world, was king on the throne
I'd make peace in every culture, build the homeless a home
I'm not runnin', for Congress or the President
I'm just here, to tell the world, how my story went
You see, first it was a dream, I was livin' in Rome
And then I moved to London, bought a brand new home
And everywhere I went, I drew lots of attention
Like a stretch limousine, one of those new inventions
It took a few years 'fore the day had come
But I was ruler of the WORLD ranked number one
So I headed towards Washington to claim the crown
Let the whole world know that, the King was in town
As I, arrived, the crowd started to cheer
And then someone yelled out, "The King is here!"
So I headed toward stage, to make a speech
about the new style of living I was gonna teach, uh-huh

If I ruled the world
Huh-huh, huh-huh uh-huh uh-huh
I'd love all the girls, I love 'em love 'em baby!
Black diamonds and pearls, ooh yeah yeah
If I ruled the world

People started flowin' as they reached for my hand
I said, "Thank you for bringin' me to the Promised Land
But now I must go, say goodbye to everybody
Tonight I'll see you all at my Super Dinner Party"
And late that night, at my Super Dinner Party
I was dancin' to the beat and entertainin' La-Di-Da-Di
The music started endin', it was time for a speech
The crowd started sittin' as I rose from my feet
And this was once a dream, I explained to the crowd
But now, I rule the world, and I feel, so very proud
Excuse me please, for stoppin' this show
I just had to thank you all, huh, and me so
My first day in office, the King on the throne
I spent my first three hours on the telephone
You know with newsmen reporters, and votes too
I had so many calls, I didn't know what to do
You know out that office I continued to work
I signed so many papers, my fingers started to hurt
Then I shook off the pain, say this ain't no thing
'Cause there's nothin' in the world like bein' number one king!

If I ruled the world
Huh huh huh huh, huh-huh huh-huh
I'd love all the girls, I love 'em love 'em baby!
Black diamonds and pearls, ooh yeah yeah
If I ruled the world, whoa yeah
If I ruled the world

Now I rule the world and now, I'm on top
And I'm rollin' with folks that could never be stopped
And I'm here to let you know this is where I belong
And to you sucker emcees that sing my song
And it's a song that's strong about right and wrong
And I'm rock it to you baby baby all night long
And it's a song about love, and happiness
In a world of peace, and you know that's fresh
Now I'm the king, and I want you to know
That I'm the Master Blaster Rapper who's runnin' the show

And to all of you rappers in every country
You better stop what you're doin', and listen to me
'Cause we gotta stop war, and use unity
To fight crime and hunger and poverty
'Cause the African baby is dyin' overseas
While you sucker mission politicians bustin' out Z's
Huh, twenty million people all unemployed
While the rich man try to play Pretty Boy Floyd
While the working class just struggles hard
Try to make ends meet against all odds
While the poor man can't even deal with life
You know he tried to escape, and smoked the coke on the pipe

And it's time for a change, to a better way
'Cause the sun has gotta shine through the cloudy day
So listen up world, while I teach this class
And take heed to the message or we ain't gonna last
'Cause I know, the solution, is the contribution
Of woman and man to just join the revolution
That'll take your brain to a higher plane
And help you deal in a world that's gone insane
With the problems that I know we can stop
From the ruler of the world and the man on top
But the years went by, and time was up
And the ruler of the world had ran out of luck
And all the people at the time who said they were my friends
Didn't know me when my job had come to an end
They came up to my face, as happy as can be
He was running his mouth like, Muhammad Ali
So I shook his hand calmly as I headed to the door
On my way to the ghetto to treat once more

If I ruled the world
I'd love all the girls, I love 'em love 'em baby!
Black diamonds and pearls, ooh yeah yeah
If I ruled the world, yeah
If I ruled the world, if I ruled the world
I'd love all the girls, I'd love 'em love 'em baby!
Black diamonds and pearls, ooh yeah yeah, oh yeah yeah
If I ruled the world, whoa yeah
If I ruled the world, yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah, yeah yeah yeah
	
I'd love all the girls, you know I'd love 'em love 'em baby!
Diamonds and pearls, ooh yeah yeah, oh yeah yeah
If I ruled the world, yeah yeah yeah yeah baby baby
If I ruled the world, if I ruled the world
I'd love all the girls, yes you, you, you and you
Black diamonds and pearls, where those diamonds, where those pearls?
If I ruled the world
If I ruled the world
I'd love all the girls, I'd love 'em love 'em baby

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Kurtis Blow

Kurt Walker (born August 9, 1959), professionally known by his stage name Kurtis Blow, is an American rapper and record producer. He is the first commercially successful rapper and the first to sign with a major record label. "The Breaks", a single from his 1980 debut album, is the first certified gold record rap song. more »

1 fan

Written by: EVAN BOGART, EMANUEL KIRIAKOU, LINDY ROBBINS

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


2 facts about this song

Kurtis Blow Version
1. **Release Timeline:** Kurtis Blow's "If I Ruled the World" was released in the year 1985. It was a part of his album known as "America." 2. **Chart Performance:** The song ranked number 24 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard). 3. **Genre Classification:** The song fits into the genre of Old School Hip Hop. 4. **Cultural Impact:** The track was widely regarded as a mature hip-hop record, delivering socio-political messages. 5. **Sample Usage:** The instrumentals of Blow's version were sampled by numerous artists after its release. 6. **Featured Artists:** The song features song-writer, vocalist, and producer Bobbi Humphrey and David Reeves.
Nas Version
1. **Release Timeline:** Nas's version, also named "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)", was constituted in his second studio album "It Was Written" and was released in 1996. 2. **Renowned Collaborations:** The song included a collaboration with Lauryn Hill, an acclaimed singer, songwriter, and rapper. 3. **Chart Performance:** The Nas version reached number 53 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Hot Rap Singles chart. 4. **Genre Classification:** Nas's “If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)" falls under the category of East Coast hip-hop. 5. **Song Theme:** Nas expresses his desire for changing society for the better and points out prevalent issues. 6. **Accolades:** In 2008, the song was ranked number 47 by VH1 on their list of the 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop. 7. **Video Recognition:** The music video won a 1996 MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video.

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    "If I Ruled the World Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 18 Mar. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/14244453/Kurtis+Blow/If+I+Ruled+the+World>.

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