T.I.A.
K.NAAN Lyrics
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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
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
In K.NAAN's song T.I.A., the rapper is describing the harsh living conditions in Africa and highlighting the struggles that the people living there face on a daily basis. The song is essentially a call to action for people to recognize and appreciate the unique and difficult circumstances of those living in Africa.
K.NAAN starts off by mentioning passports and vaccine shots, which serves as a reminder that traveling to some areas of Africa can be dangerous due to diseases such as malaria. He then goes on to talk about how he takes other rappers on a "field trip" through the streets of Africa, showing them the gritty reality of the area. He notes that these rappers likely haven't experienced anything like what they see there, and that the people in those neighborhoods have had to develop a certain level of toughness just to survive.
Throughout the song, K.NAAN references various street names and landmarks in Africa, highlighting the fact that he knows the area well and understands the struggles that people face there. He also mentions some of the cultural icons that hold significant meaning in African culture, such as Fela Kuti and Bob Marley. The song is a powerful reminder that Africa is a complex and diverse continent, and those living there face unique challenges that many people in the Western world may not fully understand.
Line by Line Meaning
I hope you got your passports, and vaccine shots.
I hope you are prepared to experience the real Africa and have taken the necessary precautions.
I take rappers on a field trip any day
I can show rappers the rough reality of Africa at any time.
They never been opposite real clip anyway
These rappers have never been in a serious, dangerous situation before.
I know where all the looters and the shooters stay
I am familiar with the dangerous parts of town where criminals reside.
Welcome to the city we call Doomsday.
This city is full of danger and uncertainty.
When niggas is just fried chicken like Tuesday
When people are just as easy to defeat as fried chicken on a Tuesday.
Oh you from the hood huh, who say?
Don't claim to be from the hood unless you can back it up.
My Nigerian niggas would call you Pussy
My Nigerian friends would consider you weak.
My Somali niggas are quick to grab the uzi
My Somali friends are always ready for a fight and will use deadly force if necessary.
Around here we only bumping Fela Kuti
We only listen to African music icons like Fela Kuti who bring pride to our culture.
Tupac, or Bob Marley, Lucky Dube.
We also appreciate influential international artists who spread similar messages.
So we don't really give a fuck about your groupies
We don't care about people who only follow others for personal gain.
This Is Africa, Hooray.
We are proud of our culture and identity.
T.I.A.
This Is Africa.
(Hooray)
Celebrating our culture and identity.
You don't know how hard it is here
You cannot fathom the level of difficulty present in this environment.
The streets is tricky in these parts here
The streets are treacherous and deceitful in these areas.
The streets need this shit here
These streets need the honesty and awareness that I bring.
I walk rappers through the Killa woods any day
I can navigate rappers through the dangerous parts of town without fear.
They never been opposite real goons anyway
These rappers have never truly encountered dangerous gangsters.
I know all the tricky sticky icky alley ways
I am familiar with all the narrow and complicated alleyways in the city.
Welcome to the continent of Holidays (Africa)
Africa is often perceived as a vacation destination, but in reality it is not always peaceful and charming.
Where Holidays quickly turn to hell days
What is advertised as fun and exciting can quickly turn into a nightmare in Africa.
Stars fall quicker than box of shell case
Celebrities and icons can easily lose their fame and power in this unstable environment.
No Bill Gates, No PCs
We don't have access to the same resources that privileged areas do.
Why you cats debating, acting and faking these days
Why waste time arguing and pretending when we could be addressing the real issues at hand?
I deliver what they need like milk crates
I provide people with what they truly need, like a reliable source of nourishment.
I learned from the deadly streets no regrets
My experiences on these dangerous streets have taught me everything I know, and I have no regrets.
And I wasn't ever looking for street cred
I didn't seek respect or validation from those around me in order to prove myself.
But these streets bred me to be street safe
Surviving on these streets has taught me how to navigate them safely.
It's no secret we know how to squeeze lead
We know how to use guns and other weapons, and it's not a secret.
But the Pre-set is not to have to squeeze it
Our goal is to avoid having to resort to violence whenever possible.
Used to be at peace but now we using T-Shirts
We used to be able to live in peace, but now we have to wear shirts to commemorate the deaths caused by violence.
And it reads RIP cause the peace dead
The t-shirts show that peace is no longer present, replaced by the violence that took these lives.
When I walk through the slums like (Nomane?)
When I walk through challenging areas like the slums, I still have hope.
Little children say K'naan (Bumaye ?)
Even the youngest children in these areas recognize me as a source of inspiration and hope for their future.
The rap game just got itself a new day
My influence and message will revolutionize the rap game and inspire change.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRIAN WEST, KEINAN WARSAME, BOB MARLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@the204cool
Ten years later and this song is still banging
@KontinuallyAlteredTechniques
this comment here
@legitsports4808
12
@ell3655
13
@emilypatriciagarciacanals4588
This is one of the song from my childhood, my father introduced it to me along with Michele Jackson, it has been stuck in my head and just today he put it once again. I finally got the name of it again. I’m so happy
@og9459
Childhood memories for sure 😂♥️
@ricardozk
"I hope you got your passports and vaccine shots." hits different now.
@eastleighwonder1175
True
@drdread9896
Man
@7_nazzy
My goodness