The World Is Yours
J. Dilla & Nas Lyrics

Whose world is this?
Questioning the ownership of the world

(The world is yours, the world is yours)
Acknowledging that we all have a share in the world

It's mine, it's mine, it's mine
Expressing individual ownership of the world

Whose world is this?
Reiterating the question on who the world belongs to

It's yours
Acknowledging the listeners' share in the world

It's mine, it's mine, it's mine
Continuing to express individual ownership of the world

Whose world is this?
Posing the question once more

(The world is yours, the world is yours)
Reinforcing the idea that we all have a share in the world

It's mine, it's mine, it's mine
Continuing to assert individual ownership of the world

I sip the Dom P, watching "Gandhi" 'til I'm charged
Drinking Dom Perignon and watching a movie about Gandhi for inspiration

Then writing in my book of rhymes, all the words past the margin
Continuously writing rhymes and overflowing beyond the constraints of the page

To hold the mic I'm throbbin', mechanical movement
Being excited to perform and having precise, automated movements

Understandable smooth shit that murderers move with
Describing his style as smooth and dangerous, like a murderer

The thief's theme: play me at night, they won't act right
His music has a criminal theme that affects people at night

The fiend of hip-hop has got me stuck like a crack pipe
He is obsessed with hip-hop like a drug addict is with crack

The mind activation, react like I'm facin' time like "Pappy" Mason,
Feeling intense pressure like a criminal facing prison time

With pens I'm embracin'
Using writing as a way to embrace and cope with life

Wipe the sweat off my dome, spit the phlegm on the streets
Physically releasing stress and negative energy

Suede Timb's on my feets makes my cipher complete
Wearing suede Timberland boots is important to complete his style

Whether cruising in a Sikh's cab, or Montero Jeep
Traveling in different ways, from a taxi to a Jeep

I can't call it, the beats make me falling asleep
The music is so good that it lulls him to sleep and he can't decide which is his favorite

I keep falling, but never falling six feet deep
Recognizing that he may face obstacles, but he will never truly fall

I'm out for presidents to represent me (say what?)
He wants to earn enough money to have politicians represent him

To my man Ill Will, God bless your life (it's yours!)
Giving a shout out to a friend who passed away and wishing him a good afterlife

To my peoples throughout Queens, God bless your life
Wishing the best for people who live in his neighborhood

I trip, we box up crazy bitches
Having to deal with difficult women

Aiming guns at all my baby pictures
Feeling the need to protect his past and his memories

Beef with housing police, release scriptures that's maybe Hitler's
Having hostility towards police, even comparing them to Hitler

Yet I'm the mild, money-getting style, rolling foul
Despite his conflicts, he has a calm demeanor and makes money in a dishonest or risky way

The versatile, honey-sticking wild golden child
Describing himself as flexible, attractive, and unpredictable

Dwelling in the Rotten Apple, you get tackled
Living in a rough neighborhood, facing obstacles similar to football players

Or caught by the devil's lasso, shit is a hassle
Feeling like he is being manipulated by evil forces

There's no days, for broke days we sell it: smoke pays
When you are broke, you must sell drugs to make money

While all the old folks pray to Jesus, soaking their sins in trays
People who are older resort to religion to cope with their past mistakes

Of holy water. Odds against Nas are slaughter
Using holy water as a metaphor for religion being powerless against his problems

Thinking a word best describing my life to name my daughter
Reflecting on his life and wanting to name his daughter after a word that describes it

My strength, my son, the star, will be my resurrection
Hoping his son will succeed and redeem him

Born in correction
His son will have a better start in life than he did

All the wrong shit I did, he'll lead a right direction
Wanting his son to learn from his mistakes and take a better path

"How you living?" Large, a broker charge - cards are mediocre
Asking how someone is doing, bragging about his own wealth, but also recognizing the limits of credit cards

You flipping coke or playing spit spades and strip poker?
Asking whether someone is dealing drugs or playing cards and sexual games

I'm the young city bandit, hold myself down single-handed
He is a young criminal who relies only on himself

For murder raps, I kick my thoughts alone, get remanded
Writing about violence can get him in trouble and put him in jail

Born alone, die alone, no crew to keep my crown or throne
He feels alone and unsupported, with no one to help him maintain his power

I'm deep by sound alone, caved inside, 1,000 miles from home
He is lost and vulnerable, with music as his only comfort

I need a new nigga for this black cloud to follow
He needs a new person to blame and suffer with

Cause while it's over me it's too dark to see tomorrow
He is so focused on his struggles that he can't see a hopeful future

Trying to maintain, I flip, fill the clip to the tip
Struggling to keep up and resorting to violence as a solution

Picturing my peeps, now the income make my heartbeat skip
Thinking of his friends and the money he makes gives him a sense of excitement

And I'm amped up, they locked the champ up, even my brain's in handcuffs
Feeling angry and trapped, both physically and mentally

Headed for Indiana, stabbing women like the Phantom
Escaping to another state and committing violent crimes like a famous murderer

The crew is lamping, Big Willie-style
His friends are relaxed and enjoying life, living like wealthy people

Check the chip-toothed smile, plus I profile wild
Proudly showing off his imperfect teeth and carefree attitude

Stash through the flock wools, burning dollars to light my stove
Hoarding drugs and using money as kindling to start a fire

Walk the blocks with a bop, checking dames, plus the games
Walking around his neighborhood with swagger, checking out women, and observing street activity

People play, bust the problems of the world today
Acknowledging the issues in the world and trying to escape them through activities and entertainment