[Intro] I'm a black man in a white world I'm a black man in a white world I'm a black man in a white world I'm a black man in a white world I'm a black man in a white world [Verse 1: Nas] I can see the saddest life, a savage life Snakes and thieves, every man has his price It's hell below, who will or won't sell his soul What's my goal? Go to jail or fail, hell no In the streets there's a few ways out cause face it Time is short, think fast while I resort To a life of crime and fast cash? Nah I'm destined to be king, stayin' on the right path [Hook: Michael Kiwanuka] I'm in love, I feel sad (I'm a black man in a white world) I found peace and I'm not there (I'm a black man in a white world) All my nights and all my days (I'm a black man in a white world) I've been tryna runaway (I'm a black man in a white world) [Verse 2: Nas] I'm left in a world oppressed How do I express My very own ghetto Gettysburg address My platform is a rap song Black man is politically attacked on the norm My life's survivin', at night I'm ridin' Smokin', hopin', dreamin', speedin' White lightenin' steamin', streets triflin' I keep writin', it gets deeper My brother's keeper are divided? I decided to keep risin', yeah [Hook: Michael Kiwanuka] I'm in love, I feel sad (I'm a black man in a white world)
I found peace and I'm not there (I'm a black man in a white world) All my nights and all my days (I'm a black man in a white world) I've been tryna runaway (I'm a black man in a white world) [Verse 3: Nas] New York, New York, the irrefutable The city if you make it out here it's beautiful And the streets can deceive you when times are hard And the pressure leaves your mind, body, and soul so scarred [Hook: Michael Kiwanuka] I'm in love, I feel sad (I'm a black man in a white world) I found peace and I'm not there (I'm a black man in a white world) All my nights and all my days (I'm a black man in a white world) I've been tryna runaway (I'm a black man in a white world) [Outro] (Let me out here) We need to wisen up We risin' up These times is rough (I'm a black man in a white world) For real (I'm a black man in a white world) For real (I'm a black man in a white world) Yeah (I'm a black man in a white world) Yeah (I'm a black man in a white world) Yeah (I'm a black man in a white world) Let's rise (I'm a black man in a white world) Yeah (I'm a black man in a white world) Come on let's rise (I'm a black man in a white world) Come on y'all (I'm a black man in a white world) Yeah (I'm a black man in a white world)