American Way

[Newscaster] "Recently there has been an emergence of socially Conscious and political rappers. It seems to be A new trend in the Hip-Hop world." [Repeats: x3] "Nas is a rebel to America" [Nas] Yeah, check it, uh Spot build-rocker, lil' papa killed Hoffa Beard lil' longer, feel strong and I'll 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 nothing is changing, uh We ain't got no choices who to choose Ten-years ago they were trying 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 as the hood as my councilman, uh [Chorus: Kelis] Yeah I think about this everyday, that's the American Way, shit Yeah I think about this everyday, that's the American Way, shit (Cause that's the American way) Yeah I think about this everyday, that's the American Way, shit Yeah I think about this everyday, that's the American Way [Nas] Up in the steam room chillin', exfoliating the skin It's rarely men conversatin' on ends, probably businessmen I sense good taste, and they watch us, the spots an expensive place Manhattan New York, I'm trying to keep steamin' It's good for the lungs, had plans for the evening This man leans in, his boys laughing Now I'm the spokesperson for Black men, this always happens Says, "Since all Black women care about is who got dough And all we do is call them either bitch or a Black hoe" I say first brother 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 Lewinksy or Donald Trump's pimping 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 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 shopping with my dime Catch you cowards the next time, the next rhyme, uh [Chorus] I don't care about the runaways I don't care about who's gay I don't care about dying of AIDS But I care if I got paid Who even cares about the president? I think they're making a mistake I don't care about the hurricane As long as my family's safe I don't care about the candidates They burnt this country to 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 (Nas: And ya don't stop, uh) Can we make a change You know it's not overnight Let's start the fight (Nas: Yeah) Yeah I think about this everyday, that's the American Way "Nas is a rebel to America!"