Lyrics:

Nas
featuring Lauryn Hill

Intro: Nas (Lauryn Hill singing in the background)

Life
I wonder
Will it take me under
I don't know

Verse One: Nas

Imagine smoking weed in the street without cops harassing
Imagine going to court with no trial
Lifestyle cruising blue Bahama waters
No welfare supporters, more conscious of the way we raise our daughters
Days are shorter, nights are colder
Feeling like life is over, these snakes strike like a cobra
The world's hot, my son got knocked evidently
It's elementary, they want us all gone eventually
Trooping out of state for a plate of knowledge
If coke was cooked without the garbage we'd all have the top dollars
Imagine everybody flashing, fashion
Designer clothes, lacing your clique up with diamond Role's
Your people holding dough, no parole, no rubbers
Going raw imagine law with no undercovers
Just some thoughts for the mind
I take a glimpse into time, watch the blimp read 'The World is Mine'

Chorus: Lauryn Hill, Nas

If I ruled the world
Imagine that
I'd free all my sons
I love 'em, love 'em, baby
Black diamonds and pearls
Could it be, if you could be mine, we'd both shine
If I ruled the world
Still living for today, in these last days and times

Verse Two: Nas

Yo, it'll be, paradise life relaxing, black, Latino and Anglo-saxon
Armani exchange the Range
Cash, Lost Tribe of Shabazz, free at last
Brand new whips to crash then we laugh in the iller path
The Villa houses for the crew, how we do
Trees for breakfast, dime sexes and Benz stretches
So many years of depression make me vision
The better living, type of place to raise kids in
Opening eyes to the lies history's told foul
But I'm as wise as the old owl, plus the Gold Child
Seeing things like I was controlling, clique rolling
Tricking six digits on kicks and still holding
Trips to Paris, I civilized every savage
Gimme one shot I turn trife life to lavish
Political prisoner set free, stress free
No work release purple M3's and jet skis
Feel the wind breeze in West Indies
I make Coretta Scott-King mayor the cities and reverse fiends to Willie's
It sounds foul but every girl I meet will go down town
I'd open every cell in Attica send 'em to Africa

Chorus: Lauryn Hill, Nas

If I ruled the world
Imagine that
I'd free all my sons
I love 'em, love 'em, baby
Black diamonds and pearls
Could it be, if you could be mine, we'd both shine
If I ruled the world
Still livin for today, in these last days and times

And then we'll walk right up to the sun
Hand in hand
We'll walk right up to the sun
We won't land
We'll walk right up to the sun
Hand in hand
We'll walk right up to the sun
We won't land

Verse Three: Nas

You'd love to hear the story how the thugs live in worry
Duck down in car seats, heat's mandatory
Running from Jake, getting chased, hunger for papes
These are the breaks many mistakes go down out of state
Wait, I had to let it marinate we carry weight
Trying to get laced, flip the ace stack the safe
Millionaire plan to keep the gat with the cocked hammer
Making moves in Atlanta, back and forth scrambler
Cause you could have all the chips, be poor or rich
Still nobody want a nigga having shit
If I ruled the world and everything in it, sky's the limit
I push a Q-45 Infiniti
It wouldn't be no such thing as jealousies or B Felonies
Strictly living longevity to the destiny
I thought I'd never see but reality struck
Better find out before your time's out, what the fuck?

Chorus: Lauryn Hill, Nas

If I ruled the world
Imagine that
I'd free all my sons
I love 'em, love 'em, baby
Black diamonds and pearls
Could it be, if you could be mine, we'd both shine
If I ruled the world
Still livin for today, in these last days and times

If I ruled the world
(If I ruled, if I ruled)
Imagine that
I'd free all my sons
(If I ruled, if I ruled)
I love 'em, love 'em, baby
Black diamonds and pearls
(Black dimaonds, black diamonds)
Could it be, if you could be mine, we'd both shine
If I ruled the world
Still livin for today, in these last days and times

If I ruled the world
(If I ruled, if I ruled)
I'd free all my sons
(Black diamonds)
I love 'em, love 'em, baby
Black diamonds and pearls
(If I ruled)
If I ruled the world

If I ruled the world
I love 'em, love 'em, baby