(feat. Kelis)

[Sample - Nas: "Political"]



[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."



[DJ scratches sample - Nas: "Nas is a rebel to America" 3X]



[Vers 1: 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 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 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

([Nas:] 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



[Verse 2: 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 try'na 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 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 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: Kelis singing]

Yeah I think about this everyday, that's the American Way, shit

([Nas:] That's the American way)

Yeah I think about this everyday, that's the American Way, shit

([Nas:] Cause that's the American way.  What up, K?)

Yeah I think about this everyday, that's the American Way, shit

([Nas:] That's the American way)

Yeah I think about this everyday, that's the American Way, shit

([Nas:] Ha, yeah)



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 ([Nas:] Uh)



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



[Sample - Nas: Nas is a rebel to America!]