The World Is Yours

Nas

About The World Is Yours

"The World Is Yours" is a 1994 song by rapper Nas. It was the fourth single from his debut album Illmatic, released a month after the album. It is considered by music critics as one of the greatest hip-hop songs ever recorded; About.com ranked it seventh greatest rap song of all time. It reached #13 on the Hot Rap Singles chart in 1994. It contains a sample of Ahmad Jamal's 1970 song, "I Love Music". The song (including the title) and its accompanying video pay homage to the film Scarface. The song also references drug dealer/crime boss Howard "Pappy" Mason. The song also mentions the serial killer of the Texarkana Moonlight Murders, which went, and still are, unsolved. A remix of the song was produced by Q-Tip featuring similar but new lyrics; both it and the original were released by Columbia Records as singles, and promoted with music videos. Sprite has put the title of this song on its cans and bottles in summer 2015 in part of their "Obey Your Verse" summer campaign which had rap lyrics on their cans. 


Year:
1994
4:50
614 
#2

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Whose world is this?
(The world is yours, the world is yours)
It's mine, it's mine, it's mine
Whose world is this?
It's yours
It's mine, it's mine, it's mine
Whose world is this?
(The world is yours, the world is yours)
It's mine, it's mine, it's mine
Whose world is this?

I sip the Dom P, watching "Gandhi" 'til I'm charged
Then writing in my book of rhymes, all the words past the margin
To hold the mic I'm throbbin', mechanical movement
Understandable smooth shit that murderers move with
The thief's theme: play me at night, they won't act right
The fiend of hip-hop has got me stuck like a crack pipe
The mind activation, react like I'm facin' time like
"Pappy" Mason, with pens I'm embracin'
Wipe the sweat off my dome, spit the phlegm on the streets
Suede Timb's on my feets makes my cipher complete
Whether crusing in a Sikh's cab, or Montero Jeep
I can't call it, the beats make me falling asleep
I keep falling, but never falling six feet deep
I'm out for presidents to represent me (say what?)
I'm out for presidents to represent me (say what?)
I'm out for dead presidents to represent me

Whose world is this?
(The world is yours, the world is yours)
It's mine, it's mine, it's mine
Whose world is this?
It's yours
It's mine, it's mine, it's mine
Whose world is this?
(The world is yours, the world is yours)
It's mine, it's mine, it's mine
Whose world is this?

To my man Ill Will, God bless your life (it's yours!)
To my peoples throughout Queens, God bless your life
I trip, we box up crazy bitches
Aiming guns at all my baby pictures
Beef with housing police, release scriptures that's maybe Hitler's
Yet I'm the mild, money-getting style, rolling foul
The versatile, honey-sticking wild golden child
Dwelling in the Rotten Apple, you get tackled
Or caught by the devil's lasso, shit is a hassle
There's no days, for broke days we sell it: smoke pays
While all the old folks pray to Jesus, soaking their sins in trays
Of holy water. Odds against Nas are slaughter
Thinking a word best describing my life to name my daughter
My strength, my son, the star, will be my resurrection
Born in correction. All the wrong shit I did, he'll lead a right direction
"How you living?" Large, a broker charge - cards are mediocre
You flipping coke or playing spit spades and strip poker?

Whose world is this?
(The world is yours, the world is yours)
It's mine, it's mine, it's mine
Whose world is this?
It's yours
It's mine, it's mine, it's mine
Whose world is this?
(The world is yours, the world is yours)
It's mine, it's mine, it's mine
Whose world is this?

I'm the young city bandit, hold myself down single-handed
For murder raps, I kick my thoughts alone, get remanded
Born alone, die alone, no crew to keep my crown or throne
I'm deep by sound alone, caved inside, 1,000 miles from home
I need a new nigga for this black cloud to follow
Cause while it's over me it's too dark to see tomorrow
Trying to maintain, I flip, fill the clip to the tip
Picturing my peeps, now the income make my heartbeat skip
And I'm amped up, they locked the champ up, even my brain's in handcuffs
Headed for Indiana, stabbing women like the Phantom
The crew is lamping, Big Willie-style
Check the chip-toothed smile, plus I profile wild
Stash through the flock wools, burning dollars to light my stove
Walk the blocks with a bop, checking dames, plus the games
People play, bust the problems of the world today

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Nas

Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones ( /nɑːˈsɪər/; born September 14, 1973), better known mononymously as Nas ( /ˈnɑːz/), is an American rapper and actor. He is also the son of jazz musician Olu Dara. Nas has released eight consecutive platinum and multi-platinum albums since 1994, four of which topped the Billboard charts upon release and has sold over thirteen-million records in the United States alone. Nas was also part of the hip hop supergroup The Firm, which released one album under Dr. Dre's record label Aftermath. Aside from rapping, Nas is also an occasional actor and has appeared in feature films such as Hype Williams' directorial debut Belly, Ticker and In Too Deep and the television show Hawaii Five-0. more »

4 fans

Written by: Nasir Jones, Peter O. Phillips

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


12 facts about this song

Release Information
"The World Is Yours" is a single from Nas's debut album, "Illmatic," which was released in 1994.
Considered a Classic
The song is often dubbed as a classic in hip-hop culture, and the album "Illmatic" is frequently rated as one of the greatest rap albums of all time.
Sampled Beats
"The World Is Yours" features beats sampled from "I Love Music" by Ahmad Jamal, showcasing Nas's knack for combining elements of traditional jazz with hip-hop.
Produced by Pete Rock
"The World Is Yours" was produced by Pete Rock, a significant figure in the East Coast hip-hop scene in the 90s.
Inspirational Theme
The song carries an inspirational theme, aimed to motivate the listeners to follow their dreams regardless of the obstacles they face in life.
Ranked Highly
"The World Is Yours" was ranked #13 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip-Hop.
Tribute
The song's hook "Whose world is this? - The world is yours" was referenced as a tribute in many other songs by various artists, most notably by Jay-Z in his song "Dead Presidents II."
Political Meaning
Nas uses the phrase "The World Is Yours" as not only a sign of personal ambition, but also a commentary on societal issues and global inequality.
Pop Culture Influence
The song title, "The World Is Yours," was taken from a blimp in the 1983 movie "Scarface." Both the movie and the song have had significant impact on pop culture and hip-hop.
Reinterpretation
The song was later reinterpreted by Nas and Amy Winehouse for the 2011 collaboration "Like Smoke."
Video Game Appearance
"The World Is Yours" was included in the soundtrack of the 2004 video game, NBA Street Vol. 2.
Soundtrack Selection
The song was also featured in the soundtrack for the TV show "Euphoria" in 2019, showcasing its enduring appeal.

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