Shine On
Nas Lyrics

Everybody wants heaven but nobody wants dead
People desire success and rewards, but do not want to put in the work, commitment or sacrifice it requires to attain it.

Everybody wants diamonds without the bloodshed
People desire to have the luxury and beauty of diamonds, but they neglect or are ignorant of the immoral and unethical practices that are used to extract them.

They wanna shine on 'em, shine on 'em, shine on 'em, shine on 'em
People desire to be noticed, recognized and celebrated by others for their success, wealth or beauty.

They dug me out the soil in the mines of the motherland
The artist is a diamond that was forcefully and unjustly extracted from the soil and mines of Africa by colonizers and exploiters for their own profit.

Now I'm misplaced, one hand to another hand
The diamond is treated as a commodity that is traded across different hands, countries and markets, without regard for its origin, value or human impact.

Illegal smugglin', people strugglin'
The illicit and unregulated trade of diamonds fuels corruption, violence and poverty among the people who are involved in the mining, transportation or sale of them.

Wish they could just throw me back in the mud again
The diamond and the people who have been affected by its extraction and trade wish that they could reverse history and prevent it from happening, as it has led to pain, suffering and exploitation.

Yeah, guess that's how we got here
The artist acknowledges the historical and social context that has led to the current status quo regarding the extraction and trade of diamonds, and the role of colonialism, slavery and oppression in this process.

Slave trade then the diamond trade
The artist highlights the connection between the transatlantic slave trade, which enabled European countries to exploit Africa and its resources, and the diamond trade, which perpetuates inequalities and injustices in the continent.

Every child's afraid when His mother and father get sprayed
The artist alludes to the violence and conflict that are prevalent in countries where diamonds are extracted or smuggled, and the devastating impact it has on families and children who are caught in the crossfire.

Forced in the army, young killer brigade
The singer refers to the conscription and recruitment of young people, often against their will, into armed groups that fight over control of diamond mines, which perpetuates cycles of violence, trauma and exploitation.

Gets a new name then he give his nose glue
The artist describes the process of child soldiers being given new identities and drugs to numb their pain, so that they become more obedient, fearless and addicted to violence.

Til' his mind can't take what he's gon' through
The singer underscores the long-term psychological effects that child soldiers and other people affected by conflict diamonds may experience, such as PTSD, depression, anxiety and addiction.

Lookin' in that dirt for that ice so blue
The singer paints a vivid image of the harsh and dangerous conditions that diamond miners have to work in, often risking their lives and health in order to find small and valuable diamonds in the soil and rocks.

Then the Royal Family, the ice goes to
The singer points at the complicity of powerful and wealthy actors, such as the British Royal Family, in promoting the diamond industry and profiting from it, while ignoring or downplaying its human cost and environmental impact.

And this thing has to change, feelin' half-ashamed
The artist expresses a sense of urgency and responsibility to change the way diamonds are extracted, traded and valued, and to prevent further harm and injustice caused by the industry.

As I rap with my platinum chain when you shop for a gift for me
The artist acknowledges the irony and hypocrisy of being a successful rapper who wears expensive jewelry, such as a platinum chain, which, like diamonds, may have been extracted or traded through unethical means.

You think about the misery, the same way we made apartheid history
The singer invites the listener to reflect on the impact and legacy of apartheid in South Africa, and how it was eventually abolished through collective action, awareness and advocacy.

We can do the same thing to the conflict ice
The singer encourages the listener to recognize that the issue of conflict diamonds is not inevitable or impossible to solve, and that it requires collective effort, education and activism to change the status quo.

But everybody wanna shine, right?
The artist asks a rhetorical question that implies that the desire to be noticed, appreciated and validated by others may outweigh the desire to do what is right, fair and ethical, especially when it comes to the diamond industry.

My VVS glimmers on my chest
The artist describes the high-quality and expensive diamonds that are embedded on their chest, which may be seen as a symbol of status, wealth and beauty.

200 thou' encrusted watch on my wrist
The artist describes the luxurious and expensive watch that they wear, which is adorned with diamonds and may be used as a display of wealth, success and taste.

I wonder how people starve to death
The singer expresses a sense of curiosity and disbelief that there are people in the world who suffer from hunger and poverty, despite the abundance of resources and wealth that some individuals possess.

When God bless the land that lacks the harvest
The artist questions the way in which divine providence or natural resources are used or misused to create inequality and suffering in the world, and how the distribution of wealth and resources is often unfair and arbitrary.

The stone's equality, but they homes are poverty
The singer draws attention to the paradoxical fact that diamonds, which are seen as precious and rare stones, do not actually bring equality, justice or prosperity to the people who are most affected by their extraction and trade.

And the whole world ignores the robbery
The singer criticizes the lack of attention, action or accountability that the diamond industry and its human rights violations receive from the media, governments and society at large, despite the scale and severity of the issue.

Bought my girl pretty rocks when she's mad at me
The singer confesses that they have bought diamonds for their partner as a way of apologizing or showing affection, even though they are aware of the negative implications and impact of the diamond industry.

Tear-drop shaped, uh, perfect clarity
The artist describes the type of diamond that they have bought, which has a tear-drop shape and is of high quality and clarity, and which may be seen as a romantic or sentimental gesture, as well as a display of wealth and taste.

It shocks, so many are killed annually
The artist expresses shock and disbelief that so many people are killed or harmed every year as a result of the diamond industry, and that there is still so much apathy, ignorance or denial about the issue.

'Cause of greed, lust, and pure vanity
The singer attributes the root causes of the issue of conflict diamonds to the human qualities of greed, lust and vanity, which drive people to exploit, oppress and harm others in order to satisfy their desires or interests.

Stop talkin' and do somethin' about it
The singer calls for action and urges the listener to take concrete steps to address the issue of conflict diamonds, rather than just talking or complaining about it, as it requires collective effort, education and advocacy to make a change.