Nas - I Can

This is an untypical song for Nas. His usual stuff is quintessential hip hop. I’m sure he’ll make a few more appearances on this blog. I like this song for that reason, though. It’s not his typical fare. Even though some of the lyrics are dark, it’s a very inspiration song. Or who knows, I didn’t grow up in a seedy neighborhood, maybe it all feels false. But hey, I like to think that it is. The story goes that before his mother died, she asked Nas to write this type of song for children, so here it is. 

Nobody says you have to be gangstas, hoes
Read more, learn more, change the globe
Ghetto children, do your thing
Hold your head up, little man, you’re a king

This was a single from God’s Son, which was a very personal album for Nas. Despite the distraction of the feud with Jay-Z, this album has some winners on it (Made you Look and Warrior Song stand out for me).