15 - Imagine This

"[Verse 1: Nas] "Imagine smoking weed in the street without cops harassing Imagine going to court with no trial Lifestyle cruising. Blue behind my 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— 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 rolls Your peoples 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!” [Hook: 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…]" [Verse 2: A.D. Carson] Yo, it’ll be paradise: Life, relaxing Black, Latino, and Anglo Saxon— Rainbow/PUSH with no Jesse Jackson You’ll wonder how it ever happened That rappin’—just spittin’ flows— No more entering through kitchen doors… Getting known for something other than the drama Facing racism—even though we got Obama We can still be honest Acknowledge and admonish Take ‘em all to task, ‘cause a promise is a promise Mommas would be mommas And daddies would present Children would be educated with practical lessons No arrested development; effort to empty prisons For better living—the type of place to raise kids in Open they eyes to the lies History’s told foul Teach ‘em the truth. Let ‘em know now So we can grow how Nature intended— Reading spaces between the sentences Show ‘em they own image—let ‘em know that ain’t they nemesis [Hook: 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.] [Bridge: Lauryn Hill] 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 [Hook: 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…]"