Nas - N.I.*.*.E.R. (The Slave and the Master) Lyrics

They say we N-I Double G-E-R
We are much more
Still we choose to ignore
The obvious
Man this history don't acknowledge us
We was scholars long before colleges
They say we N-I Double G-E-R
We are much more
But still we choose to ignore
The obvious
We are the slave and the master
What you looking for?
You the question and the answer

We trust no black leaders
Use the stove to heat us
Powder eggs and government cheeses
The calendar was Martin, JFK, & Jesus
Gotta be fresh
Go to school with fly sneakers
Schools with outdated books
We are the forgotten
Summers coolin' off by the fire hydrant
Yeah I'm from the ghetto
Where old black women talk about they sugar level
It's not unusual
To see photos of dead homies' funerals
Aluminum foil on t.v. antennas
Little TV sit on top the big TV eatin' TV dinners
Girls die they hair with kool-aid
They gave us lemons we made lemonade
But this nigga's paid
Ancestry of slaves
Descendant of Kings
It's necessary I
Bling
Puts rings on every thing
Where Timbs on every scene

They say we N-I Double G-E-R
We are much more
Still we choose to ignore
The obvious
Man this history don't acknowledge us
We was scholars long before colleges
They say we N-I Double G-E-R
We are much more
But still we choose to ignore
The obvious
We are the slave and the master
What you looking for?
You the question and the answer

Do I mean it like a slave master?
Nigger!
No!
I'm gangsta
Gotta eat rappers!
My abbreviation
Was young when I caught the cases
That should mean the court could see my changes
Take off the bracelets
Savage when broke
Smoke sour diesel
Need no Bo-flex
My chest still cut-up like a bag of dope
Thought patterns consist of boss matters
Spit Moses' "Lost Commandments"
Like a gross sandwich out my mouth
Toast to government cameras
Peepin' us every week
I must have my cars homes & phones
Squeaked for bugs
But this is what I was dreamin' of
Between cutting hard coke with new razors
Slicing my fingers up
They use to string us up
We wanted everything
But the one bringing us cake be the snakes
Like the
Like the New Jack City wedding scene
No time for mistakes trying to get it like 'marajuin'

They say we N-I Double G-E-R
We are much more
Still we choose to ignore
The obvious
Man this history don't acknowledge us
We was scholars long before colleges
They say we N-I Double G-E-R
We are much more
But still we choose to ignore
The obvious
We are the slave and the master
What you looking for?
You the question and the answer

What up my nig?

People afraid of criticism
But I always put myself in a sacrificial position!
They been know I ain't just rappin' for fame,
I got my old homie hashin' the father asking for change!
Yep! I'd give this cash up
This paper don't matter
They seen me from skinny to fatter
When I rap about war
They got the tendency to scatter
They ain't my backup no more
So now my enemies are at my front door
'Cause any time we mention
Our condition, our history or existence
They calling it reverse racism
Still till today the street's torn
My brother Jungle always have a seat for 'em
Not behind me, beside me
You'll always know where to find me
They say the close ones will hurt you
So let's keep a small circle
On the road to riches, and diamond rings
In the land of the blind
The man with one eye is the king

They say we N-I Double G-E-R
We are much more
Still we choose to ignore
The obvious
Man this history don't acknowledge us
We was scholars long before colleges
They say we N-I Double G-E-R
We are much more
But still we choose to ignore
The obvious
We are the slave and the master
What you looking for?
You the question and the answer