Black History Month - February 18, 2025

Today, in honor of Black History Month I offer a song. 

For young Black children in the early 90s and 2000s this was an anthem. Very few rap songs encouraged children from our communities to pursue their wildest dreams, stay in school, and chase success. My dad would play this for me all the time. I hope you will share with your children as well. 

"I Can" was written by Nas, a sixteen-time Grammy nominee who won his first Grammy in 2021 for his 13th studio album, King's Disease. His career spans thirty-three years and helped pave the way for many of today's mainstream artists (including several artists outside of the rap genere). The lyrics of his most popular song, "I Can", are powerful because they shift a young Black child's ideas for their future into their own hands. This song makes anything attainable for children who have to battle a world that tells them there is something wrong with their Blackness. 

You can listen to "I Can" here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvVfgvHucRY

I'm also including lyrics below.

I know I can

Be what I wanna be

If I work hard at it

I'll be where I wanna be

I know I can (I know I can)

Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be)

If I work hard at it (If I work hard it)

I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be)

Be, b-boys and girls, listen up

You can be anything in the world, in God we trust

An architect, doctor, maybe an actress

But nothing comes easy, it takes much practice

Like, I met a woman who's becoming a star

She was very beautiful, leaving people in awe

Singing songs, Lena Horne, but the younger version

Hung with the wrong person, got her strung on that heroin

Cocaine, sniffing up drugs, all in her nose

Could've died, so young, now looks ugly and old

No fun 'cause when she reaches for hugs, people hold their breath

'Cause she smells of corrosion and death

Watch the company you keep and the crowd you bring

'Cause they came to do drugs and you came to sing

So if you gonna be the best, I'ma tell you how

Put your hands in the air, and take the vow

I know I can (I know I can)

Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be)

If I work hard at it (If I work hard it)

I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be)

I know I can (I know I can)

Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be)

If I work hard at it (If I work hard it)

I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be)

Be, b-boys and girls, listen again

This is for grown-looking girls who's only 10

The ones who watch videos and do what they see

As cute as can be, up in the club with fake ID

Careful, 'fore you meet a man with HIV

You can host the TV like Oprah Winfrey

Whatever you decide, be careful, some men be

Rapists, so act your age, don't pretend to be

Older than you are, give yourself time to grow

You thinking he can give you wealth, but so

Young boys, you can use a lot of help, you know

You thinking life's all about smoking weed and ice

You don't wanna be my age and can't read and write

Begging different women for a place to sleep at night

Smart boys turn to men and do whatever they wish

If you believe you can achieve, then say it like this

I know I can (I know I can)

Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be)

If I work hard at it (If I work hard it)

I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be)

Now, go

I know I can (I know I can)

Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be)

If I work hard at it (If I work hard it)

I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be)

Be, be-fore we came to this country

We were kings and queens, never porch monkeys

There was empires in Africa called Kush

Timbuktu, where every race came to get books

To learn from black teachers who taught Greeks and Romans

Asian, Arabs and gave them gold, when

Gold was converted to money it all changed

Money then became empowerment for Europeans

The Persian military invaded

They heard about the gold, the teachings, and everything sacred

Africa was almost robbed naked

Slavery was money, so they began making slave ships

Egypt was the place that Alexander the Great went

He was so shocked at the mountains with black faces

Shot up they nose to impose what basically

Still goes on today, you see?

If the truth is told, the youth can grow

They'll learn to survive until they gain control

Nobody says you have to be gangstas, hoes

Read more, learn more, change the globe

Ghetto children, do your thing

Hold your head up, little man, you're a king

Young Princess when you get your wedding ring

Your man is saying "She's my Queen"

I know I can (I know I can)

Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be)

If I work hard at it (If I work hard it)

I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be)

I know I can (I know I can)

Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be)

If I work hard at it (If I work hard it)

I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be)

Save the music, y'all

Save the music, y'all

Save the music, y'all

Save the music, y'all

Save the music


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