American Way Lyrics - Kelis

[Newscaster] 

"Recently there has been an emergence of socially 

Conscious and political rappers. It seems to be 

A new trend in the Hip-Hop world." 

[Repeats: x3] 

"Nas is a rebel to America" 

[Nas] 

Yeah, check it, uh 

Spot build-rocker, lil' papa killed Hoffa 

Beard lil' longer, feel strong and I'll stop ya 

Drill sergeant, still thorough, wheelbarrows of distilled vodka 

Get me real bonkers like Will Ferrell on cat tranquilizer 

Rap guys get bank and think they messiahs, but they liars 

Vote fo who now? You're red, white and blue? 

I'm American too, but I ain't with the president's crew 

What you peddlin' and who you peddlin' to? 

You ain't got the ghetto with you 

Try'na lead my sheep to the slaughterhouse 

Talkin 'bout +Rap the Vote+, you ain't thought about 

The black vote mean Nathan, who you gonna elect 

Satan or Satan? In the hood nothing is changing, uh 

We ain't got no choices who to choose 

Ten-years ago they were trying to stop our voices 

And end Hip-Hop, they some hypocrites 

Condoleeza Rice, I don't really get this chick 

Tell her if she ever really cared about poor schools 

About poor children, then she gotta prove that she 

Ain't just another coon Uncle Tom fool 

Like these MC's, gotta give 'em the rules 

Lie to the youth, Uncle Tom you confused 

Might as well give the Hip-Hop community a noose 

Need a truce with the gangs and some food for the hungry 

On Kerry nuts, he look at you like a monkey 

You MC's on that old slavery path 

The Bushs'll look at yo' ass and laugh 

See, it's all about community, let's help ourselves 

Cops brutalize us get dealt with with shells 

It's our turn, it's 'bout time we win 

Need somebody as the hood as my councilman, uh 

[Chorus: Kelis] 

Yeah I think about this everyday, that's the American Way, shit 

Yeah I think about this everyday, that's the American Way, shit 

(Cause that's the American way) 

Yeah I think about this everyday, that's the American Way, shit 

Yeah I think about this everyday, that's the American Way 

[Nas] 

Up in the steam room chillin', exfoliating the skin 

It's rarely men conversatin' on ends, probably businessmen 

I sense good taste, and they watch us, the spots an expensive place 

Manhattan New York, I'm trying to keep steamin' 

It's good for the lungs, had plans for the evening 

This man leans in, his boys laughing 

Now I'm the spokesperson for Black men, this always happens 

Says, "Since all Black women care about is who got dough 

And all we do is call them either bitch or a Black hoe" 

I say first brother you ain't gotta be that cold 

Since you ignorant, I'ma show you how the facts go 

The biggest example in scandal of history 

Were Monica Lewinksy or Donald Trump's pimping spree 

Most woman who love Jeevanji of Gucci 

Are pretentious non-Black groupies or floozies 

But who are we to blame, not the dames 

It's a man-made game, in essence our woman the same 

Beautiful creatures, Black girls birthed the earth 

So they deserve to earn man's purse 

Matter fact, I'm about to go shopping with my dime 

Catch you cowards the next time, the next rhyme, uh 

[Chorus] 

I don't care about the runaways 

I don't care about who's gay 

I don't care about dying of AIDS 

But I care if I got paid 

Who even cares about the president? 

I think they're making a mistake 

I don't care about the hurricane 

As long as my family's safe 

I don't care about the candidates 

They burnt this country to bits 

Yeah I think about this everyday, that's the American Way 

Can we make a change 

You know it's not overnight 

Let's start the fight (Nas: And ya don't stop, uh) 

Can we make a change 

You know it's not overnight 

Let's start the fight (Nas: Yeah) 

Yeah I think about this everyday, that's the American Way 

"Nas is a rebel to America!"