The World Is Yours
J Dilla and Nas Lyrics
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Whose world is this?
The world is yours, the world is yours
It's mine, it's mine, it's mine
Whose world is this?
(It's yours)
It's mine, it's mine, it's mine
Whose world is this?
It's mine, it's mine, it's mine
Whose world is this?
I sip the Dom P, watching "Gandhi" 'til I'm charged
Then writing in my book of rhymes, all the words past the margin
To hold the mic I'm throbbin', mechanical movement
Understandable smooth shit that murderers move with
The thief's theme, play me at night, they won't act right
The fiend of hip-hop has got me stuck like a crack pipe
The mind activation, react like I'm facin' time like
Pappy Mason, with pens I'm embracin'
Wipe the sweat off my dome, spit the phlegm on the streets
Suede Timb's on my feets makes my cipher complete
Whether crusing in a Sikh's cab, or Montero Jeep
I can't call it, the beats make me fallin' asleep
I keep falling, but never falling six feet deep
I'm out for presidents to represent me (say what?)
I'm out for presidents to represent me (say what?)
I'm out for dead presidents to represent me
Whose world is this?
The world is yours, the world is yours
It's mine, it's mine, it's mine
Whose world is this?
The world is yours, the world is yours
It's mine, it's mine, it's mine
Whose world is this?
(It's yours)
It's mine, it's mine, it's mine
Whose world is this?
The world is yours, the world is yours
It's mine, it's mine, it's mine
Whose world is this?
To my man Ill Will, God bless your life (it's yours)
To my peoples throughout Queens, God bless your life
I trip, we box up crazy bitches
Aiming guns in all my baby pictures
Beef with housing police, release scriptures that's maybe Hitler's
Yet I'm the mild, money-getting style, rolling foul
The versatile, honey-sticking wild golden child
Dwelling in the Rotten Apple, you get tackled
Or caught by the devil's lasso, shit is a hassle
There's no days, for broke days we sell it, smoke pays
While all the old folks pray to Jesus, soaking their sins in trays
Of holy water, odds against Nas are slaughter
Thinking a word best describing my life to name my daughter
My strength, my son, the star, will be my resurrection
Born in correction, all the wrong shit I did, he'll lead a right direction
How you living? Large, a broker charge, cards are mediocre
You're flipping coke or playing spit, spades and strip poker?
(It's yours)
It's mine, it's mine, it's mine
Whose world is this?
The world is yours, the world is yours
It's mine, it's mine, it's mine
Whose world is this?
(It's yours)
It's mine, it's mine, it's mine
Whose world is this?
Yo, the world is yours, the world is yours
It's mine, it's mine, it's mine
Whose world is this?
(It's yours)
Break it down
(It's yours)
(It's yours)
(It's yours)
(It's yours)
I'm the young city bandit, hold myself down single-handed
For murder raps, I kick my thoughts alone, get remanded
Born alone, die alone, no crew to keep my crown or throne
I'm deep by sound alone, caved inside, a thousand miles from home
I need a new nigga for this black cloud to follow
'Cause while it's over me it's too dark to see tomorrow
Trying to maintain, I flip, fill the clip to the tip
Picturing my peeps, now the income make my heartbeat skip
And I'm amped up, they locked the champ up, even my brain's in handcuffs
Headed for Indiana, stabbing women like the Phantom
The crew is lampin', Big Willie-style
Check the chip-toothed smile, plus I profile wild
Stash through the flock wools, burning dollars to light my stove
Walk the blocks with a bop, checking dames, plus the games
People play, bust the problems of the world today
(It's yours)
It's mine, it's mine, it's mine
Whose world is this?
The world is yours, the world is yours
It's mine, it's mine, it's mine
Whose world is this?
(It's yours)
It's mine, it's mine, it's mine
Whose world is this? (Yeah)
The world is yours, the world is yours
It's mine, it's mine, it's mine
Whose world is this?
(It's yours)
Break it down
Yeah, aight
To everybody in Queens, the foundation (it's yours)
The world is yours
To everybody uptown, yo, the world is yours (it's yours)
The world is yours
To everybody in Brooklyn
Y'all know the world is yours (it's yours)
The world is yours
Everybody in Mount Vernon, the world is yours (it's yours)
Long Island, yo, the world is yours (it's yours)
Staten Island, yeah, the world is yours (it's yours)
South Bronx, the world is yours (it's yours)
Aight
The song “The World Is Yours” by J Dilla and Nas is a lyrically complex track that touches on a range of themes including independence, ambition, success, and struggle. The first section of the song features Nas repeating the question "Whose world is this?," emphasizing the idea that the world is for the taking and belongs to those who have the ambition and drive to pursue their dreams and make their own mark on it. Nas paints a vivid picture of his own life, describing his routine of drinking Dom Pérignon and watching films until he's "charged up" enough to sit down and write his rhymes.
Throughout the song, Nas contrasts his own struggles with images of the high life, such as sipping champagne and cruising in a fancy car, but always reiterates that he is striving for more, he wants to be the representation of his generation. He declares that he's "out for presidents to represent me," emphasizing the importance of financial success and the power and influence that comes along with it. Yet he also acknowledges the difficulties he faces, such as police brutality, which reminds us that even if success is achievable within the confines of capitalism, the struggle for justice continues.
Overall, "The World Is Yours" is a song of empowerment, ambition, and carving out your own path in the world, regardless of the challenges you face.
Line by Line Meaning
Whose world is this?
Who has ownership over this world?
The world is yours, the world is yours
You have complete control of the world
It's mine, it's mine, it's mine
I have ownership over the world
I sip the Dom P, watching "Gandhi" 'til I'm charged
I drink champagne while watching "Gandhi" until I am emotionally charged
Then writing in my book of rhymes, all the words past the margin
I write my thoughts and lyrics that go beyond the normal boundaries in my notebook
To hold the mic I'm throbbin', mechanical movement
I am excited to hold the microphone and my movements are precise and mechanical
Understandable smooth shit that murderers move with
My music is smooth and understandable, something that even murderers can vibe with
The thief's theme, play me at night, they won't act right
My music is meant for those with a criminal mindset and when played at night, it can cause mischief
The fiend of hip-hop has got me stuck like a crack pipe
My love for hip-hop is like an addiction to drugs
The mind activation, react like I'm facin' time like
My mind is activated and ready to react as if I am facing time in jail
Pappy Mason, with pens I'm embracin'
Like Pappy Mason, I embrace the power of writing with my pen
Wipe the sweat off my dome, spit the phlegm on the streets
I wipe the sweat off my head and spit my phlegm on the streets
Suede Timb's on my feets makes my cipher complete
My Suede Timberland boots complete my outfit
Whether crusing in a Sikh's cab, or Montero Jeep
I can be cruising in a Sikh's cab or a Montero Jeep
I can't call it, the beats make me fallin' asleep
I can't explain the feeling but the beats make me sleepy
I keep falling, but never falling six feet deep
I keep taking risks but never ending up dead
I'm out for presidents to represent me (say what?)
I am pursuing wealth and power to represent me
To my man Ill Will, God bless your life (it's yours)
I bless the life of my friend, Ill Will
To my peoples throughout Queens, God bless your life
I bless the lives of my people in Queens
I trip, we box up crazy bitches
I stumble but we handle crazy women
Aiming guns in all my baby pictures
We point guns at all my childhood photos
Beef with housing police, release scriptures that's maybe Hitler's
I am in conflict with the police and respond with lyrics that may be controversial like Hitler's thoughts
Yet I'm the mild, money-getting style, rolling foul
Despite my aggression, I make money with a wild style
The versatile, honey-sticking wild golden child
I am versatile, smooth and charming
Dwelling in the Rotten Apple, you get tackled
Living in New York City can be difficult obstacle to overcome
Or caught by the devil's lasso, shit is a hassle
You can also be caught in a difficult situation like a devil's lasso
There's no days, for broke days we sell it, smoke pays
There are no days off, even on days without money we sell drugs and make a profit
While all the old folks pray to Jesus, soaking their sins in trays
While older people pray to God, I am selling drugs to those same people
Of holy water, odds against Nas are slaughter
Despite being against the odds, I will succeed and triumph
Thinking a word best describing my life to name my daughter
I am thinking of the best word to name my daughter that describes my life
My strength, my son, the star, will be my resurrection
My son will be my strength and my legacy
Born in correction, all the wrong shit I did, he'll lead a right direction
Despite my mistakes, my son will lead a better life direction
How you living? Large, a broker charge, cards are mediocre
How are you living? I am living large, with expensive tastes and making money
You're flipping coke or playing spit, spades and strip poker?
What are you doing with your life? Selling drugs or playing cards and risky games?
To everybody in Queens, the foundation (it's yours)
I recognize the people in Queens as the foundation of my success
The world is yours
The entire world is yours to conquer and overcome
To everybody uptown, yo, the world is yours (it's yours)
I acknowledge the people living uptown and the world being their playground
To everybody in Brooklyn
I recognize the people living in Brooklyn
Y'all know the world is yours (it's yours)
You all are aware that you have the power to conquer the world
Everybody in Mount Vernon, the world is yours (it's yours)
I recognize the people in Mount Vernon and their ability to take control of the world
Long Island, yo, the world is yours (it's yours)
The people of Long Island have the power to take control of the world
Staten Island, yeah, the world is yours (it's yours)
The people of Staten Island have the power to take control of the world
South Bronx, the world is yours (it's yours)
Even in the South Bronx, the people have the power to conquer the world
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: Nasir Jones, Peter O. Phillips
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@makristawilliams3951
Who’s here in 2024?
@Aditya_PS
here
@Leo_CK
Who's not here in 2024
@dgar1206
ill be here from now til infinity #90shiphopkid
@christopherharper9932
💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯
@devintaylor8702
Yeah real Hip Hop 😊
@cashscholar
R.I.P. to Legendary jazz musician Ahmad Jamal passed who away yesterday. This classic hip hop song wouldn’t be possible without the sample of Ahmad Jamal’s “I Love Music”
@bake30
May he forever rest in peace.
@richnikov_
Thank you for this gem of knowledge
@slowcuber_aze
May Allah grant him Jannat. His contribution to jazz was revolutionary