Lyrics:

'i was born..' [big daddy kane] A black man from the motherland Speakin a language today most people don't understand Where no one could bother me Cause I had freedom, justice, and equality But then one day it was tooken away And I was shipped to the u.s.a. A young brother, made into a slave To harvest the midlands and clean the chittlins Given a new name, new religion No freedom to vote, not even to make a decision I saw my peoples, sold raped and took out The rest of that stuff that alex haley talks about They said I'm not from asia I'm from africa And all the blacks there now are just scavengers That's the way my mind was poisoned To believe that in america blacks are inferior A weak mind and a body of swine Only adds up to being - deaf dumb and blind Illiterate to who where what and why So I ask myself: who am i? 'i was born..' [big daddy kane] A native new yorker on the streets Known for rockin rhymes to real rough beats That I found in the attic, noisy with static A sound that made me, a hip-hop fanatic I made a few songs that sold ok Never top 20 or plenty airplay I came out hardcore, flexin cock diesel Saw a little cash, and pop goes the weasel I had to make that change and rearrange My whole rap format, no hardcore rap So now all the pop charts I rule Over new kids on the block and paula abdul, huh I thought I made it, then my song faded And none of the black stations ever have played it I tried to blame it on mtv And say, 'damn, they cold played me for young mc' But when you get down to it, I'm the real blame Because I wanted the fame Money is not only the root of all evil It's also the destruction of black people, so Conjunction junction, what's your function? Bein a scout, or sellin out? Look in the mirror at yourself, eye to eye And say: who am i? [gamilah shabazz] A solid change, have to rearrange this strange Feelin I'm feelin, so appealin I am having to deal with Time to forget the myth, of bein black and a woman Can't get ahead, walkin on a thread, a tightrope Can't cope, don't be a dope, have a little bit of hope Runnin your scope on affairs You have to be aware, don't flare up Let your cup runneth over I'm not irish, don't need a donut to fill up my dish Nor two mango wish to wish on a star, they're so far Anyway I'm thinkin about today, not tomorrow I'm not a follower of anyone My time has come, it's already here My message is clear Like the women of long ago, I am also here Also to show, I have the courage Have the strength, I'm for equal opportunity No matter the life, length of time Show me a sign, should I rely on a Subliminal message, should I question What would seem to be, life's told me? Yes indeed, so let me speak [big daddy kane] And that's comin from the daughter of malcolm x So black women put it in your texts So you can never let, opportunity pass you by Or even ask yourself, who am i?