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T.I.A.
K'naan Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I hope you got your passports, and vaccine shots.

I take rappers on a field trip any day
They never been opposite real clip anyway
I know where all the looters and the shooters stay
Welcome to the city we call Doomsday.

When niggas is just fried chicken like Tuesday
Oh you from the hood huh, who say?
My Nigerian niggas would call you Pussy
My Somali niggas are quick to grab the uzi

Around here we only bumping Fela Kuti
Tupac, or Bob Marley, Lucky Dube.
So we don't really give a fuck about your groupies
This Is Africa, Hooray.

T.I.A.
(Hooray)
T.I.A.
(Hooray)
T.I.A.
(Hooray)
It means, This Is Africa
(Hooray)

You don't know how hard it is here
The streets is tricky in these parts here
You don't know how hard this is here
The streets need this shit here

You don't know how hard it is here
The streets is tricky in these parts here
You don't know how hard this is here
The streets need this shit here

I walk rappers through the Killa woods any day
They never been opposite real goons anyway
I know all the tricky sticky icky alley ways
Welcome to the continent of Holidays (Africa)

Where Holidays quickly turn to hell days
Stars fall quicker than box of shell case
No Bill Gates, No PCs
Why you cats debating, acting and faking these days

I deliver what they need like milk crates
I learned from the deadly streets no regrets
And I wasn't ever looking for street cred
But these streets bred me to be street safe

It's no secret we know how to squeeze lead
But the Pre-set is not to have to squeeze it
Used to be at peace but now we using T-Shirts
And it reads RIP cause the peace dead

When I walk through the slums like (Nomane?)
Little children say K'naan (Bumaye ?)
The rap game just got itself a new day
This is Africa, Hooray.

T.I.A.
(Hooray)
T.I.A.
(Hooray)
T.I.A.
(Hooray)
It means, This Is Africa

You don't know how hard it is here
The streets is tricky in these parts here
You don't know how hard this is here
The streets need this shit here

You don't know how hard it is here
The streets is tricky in these parts here
You don't know how hard this is here
The streets need this shit here

Overall Meaning

In K'naan's song T.I.A., the rapper reflects on the challenges and realities of life in Africa. The song begins with him encouraging his listeners to prepare themselves for African reality by getting vaccinated and obtaining passports. K'naan expresses his frustration with rappers who claim to come from tough neighborhoods but have no real understanding of the challenges faced by those living in African poverty. He contrasts the reality of the African streets with what he sees as the superficiality and posturing of mainstream rap.


K'naan also speaks to the harshness of life in Africa, where even holidays can turn into days of extreme difficulty. The streets are not only tricky but can be deadly, especially for those who are not accustomed to them. He highlights the resilience of African people and how they have learned to survive and thrive despite the hardships. K'naan ultimately ends the song on a celebratory note, saying "This Is Africa, Hooray" and highlighting the rich cultural heritage of the continent.


Overall, T.I.A. is a powerful and insightful song that sheds light on the realities of life in Africa. K'naan's lyrics are raw and honest, painting a picture of a place where survival is a daily struggle but where there is also beauty, strength, and hope.


Line by Line Meaning

I hope you got your passports, and vaccine shots.
I hope you are prepared to come to Africa and have taken the necessary precautions to avoid disease.


I take rappers on a field trip any day
I can show these rappers what real life is like in Africa.


They never been opposite real clip anyway
These rappers have never experienced true violence like we have in Africa.


I know where all the looters and the shooters stay
I am familiar with the dangerous areas of my city where criminals reside.


Welcome to the city we call Doomsday.
This is a dangerous place where violence and chaos are common.


When niggas is just fried chicken like Tuesday
Here, people are easy targets like fried chicken on a Tuesday.


Oh you from the hood huh, who say?
Just because you are from a rough neighborhood, does not mean you understand the struggles of Africa.


My Nigerian niggas would call you Pussy
People from Nigeria, who have also faced hardships, would consider you weak.


My Somali niggas are quick to grab the uzi
Somali people, who have faced war and violence, are quick to arm themselves.


Around here we only bumping Fela Kuti
The music we listen to reflects our African culture and heritage.


Tupac, or Bob Marley, Lucky Dube.
We also appreciate and honor artists who stood up for social justice and equality.


So we don't really give a fuck about your groupies
We do not care about superficial things like fame or popularity.


This Is Africa, Hooray.
We embrace our African identity and are proud of our culture and heritage.


You don't know how hard it is here
You cannot fully understand the struggles and hardships we face in Africa.


The streets is tricky in these parts here
The streets are dangerous and unpredictable in this area.


The streets need this shit here
Our music and voices are needed in these trying times.


I walk rappers through the Killa woods any day
I can guide these rappers through dangerous areas, even though they have never experienced it before.


They never been opposite real goons anyway
These rappers have never faced true danger from violent criminals like we have.


I know all the tricky sticky icky alley ways
I am familiar with all the hidden and dangerous areas of my city.


Welcome to the continent of Holidays (Africa)
Africa is often viewed as a vacation destination, but it has many dark and dangerous aspects as well.


Where Holidays quickly turn to hell days
Vacations can easily turn into disasters in Africa due to the dangers present.


Stars fall quicker than box of shell case
Famous people can easily fall from grace and be forgotten in Africa.


No Bill Gates, No PCs
We do not have access to modern technology or wealth like in other parts of the world.


Why you cats debating, acting and faking these days
People in other parts of the world waste time with meaningless debates and posturing, while Africa struggles with real issues.


I deliver what they need like milk crates
I provide what people in Africa need, like basic necessities and a voice for their struggles.


I learned from the deadly streets no regrets
I have faced danger and hardship in Africa, but I have not let it defeat me.


And I wasn't ever looking for street cred
I am not doing this for fame or recognition, but to represent and advocate for Africa.


But these streets bred me to be street safe
Growing up in Africa has taught me how to survive and navigate dangerous situations.


It's no secret we know how to squeeze lead
We are familiar with violence and weaponry in Africa.


But the Pre-set is not to have to squeeze it
We do not want violence or conflict, but we are prepared for it.


Used to be at peace but now we using T-Shirts
We used to advocate for peace, but now we must wear shirts with the names of those who have died from violence.


And it reads RIP cause the peace dead
The shirts serve as a reminder that peace has been lost and we must continue to fight for justice.


When I walk through the slums like (Nomane?)
When I visit the poorest areas of my city.


Little children say K'naan (Bumaye ?)
Even children recognize and appreciate the impact of my music and voice.


The rap game just got itself a new day
My music and voice represent a new perspective and style in the rap industry.


This is Africa, Hooray.
Once again, we are proud of our African identity and culture.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRIAN WEST, KEINAN WARSAME, BOB MARLEY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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