Nas - N.I.G.G.E.R. (The Slave and the Master) lyrics

They say we N-I double-G-E-R, we are
Much more, still we choose to ignore
The obvious
Man this history don't acknowledge us
We were scholars long before colleges
They say we N-I double G-E-R, we are
Much more, but still we choose to ignore
The obvious, we are the slave and the master
What you looking for? You the
Question and the answer

We trust no black leaders
Use the stove to heat us
Powdered eggs and government cheeses
The calendars with Martin, JFK and Jesus
Gotta be fresh to go to
School with fly sneakers
Schools with outdated books
We are the forgotten
Summers, cooling off by the fire hydrant
Yeah I'm from the ghetto


Where old black women talk
About their sugar level it's not unusual
To see photos of dead homies funerals
Aluminum foil on TV antennas
Little TV sit on top the big TV
Eating TV dinners
Girls dye their hair with Kool-Aid
They gave us lemons, we made lemonade
But this nigga's paid, ancestry of slaves
Descendant of kings, it's necessary I - bling
Put rims on everything
Wear Timbs on every scene

They say we N-I double G-E-R, we are
Much more, still we choose to ignore
The obvious
Man this history don't acknowledge us
We were scholars long before colleges
They say we N-I double G-E-R, we are
Much more, but still we choose to ignore
The obvious, we are the slave and the master
What you looking for? You the
Question and the answer

Do I mean it like a slave master, nigga?
No I'm gangsta, gotta eat rappers
My abbreviation was young when
I caught the cases
That should mean the court
Could see my changes take off the bracelets
Savage when broke, smoke sour diesel
Need no Bowflex
My chest still cut up like a bag of dope
Thought patterns consist of boss matters
Spit Moses' lost commandments like a
Gross sandwich out my mouth
Toast to government cameras peeping us
Every week I must have my cars
Homes and phones squeaked for bugs
But this is what I was dreaming of
Between cutting hard coke with new
Razors slicing my fingers up
They used to string us up
We wanted everything
But the one bringing us cake
Be the snakes like the
Like the New Jack City wedding scene
No time for mistakes
Trying to get it like Medellin

They say we N-I double G-E-R, we are
Much more, still we choose to ignore
The obvious
Man this history don't acknowledge us
We were scholars long before colleges
They say we N-I double G-E-R, we are
Much more, but still we choose to ignore
The obvious, we are the slave and the master
What you looking for? You the
Question and the answer

My nig', what up my nig'? Yep!
People afraid of criticism
But I always put myself
In a sacrificial position
They been know I ain't just rapping for fame
I got my old homie's half-sister
Father asking for chains
Yep, I give the cash up
This paper don't matter
They see me from skinny to fatter
When I rap about war
They got a tendency to scatter
They ain't my backup no more
So now my enemies are at my front door
'Cause anytime we mention our condition
Our history or existence
They calling it reverse racism
Still to this day the streets
Torn - my brother Jung'
I'll always have a seat for
Him - not behind me, beside me
You'll always know where to find me
They say the close ones will hurt you
So let's keep a small circle
On the road to riches and diamond rings
In the land of the blind
The man with one eye is the king

They say we N-I double G-E-R, we are
Much more, still we choose to ignore
The obvious
Man this history don't acknowledge us
We were scholars long before colleges
They say we N-I double G-E-R, we are
Much more, but still we choose to ignore
The obvious, we are the slave and the master
What you looking for? You the
Question and the answer