This song is from the film Jodha Akbar.

When the Sufis sing this song the emperor himself gets up and joins them whilst the Sufis dance. He appears intoxicated in this Bhakti. There’s something about it, regardless of the faith that I follow; which makes me feel at peace, hopeful and divine.

If it helps I’ve pasted the lyrics below

This post is about a song which is sung by a hip pop artist. It’s inspirational, reflective, hopeful and empowering!

I think this song is inspirational. Often music is about love, sex, drugs, fighting etc. but it’s NOT about bettering yourself. This song focuses on the fact that children CAN. They CAN be whatever they want to be. It is sung by Nas which has the ‘cool factor’ and it’s hip pop which adds to its street cred.

Funny. You hear so much about the negative influences of music. Did this song get much coverage?

What do you think of it?

[Kids]
I know I can (I know I can)
Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be)
If I work hard at it (If I work hard it)
I’ll be where I wanna be (I’ll be where I wanna be)

[Nas]
Be, B-Boys and girls, listen up
You can be anything in the world, in God we trust
An architect, doctor, maybe an actress
But nothing comes easy it takes much practice
Like, I met a woman who’s becoming a star
She was very beautiful, leaving people in awe
Singing songs, Lina Horn, but the younger version
Hung with the wrong person
Gotta astrung when I heard when
Cocaine, sniffing up drugs, all in her nose
Coulda died, so young, no looks ugly and old
No fun cause when she reaches for hugs people hold they breath
Cause she smells of corrosion and death
Watch the company you keep and the crowd you bring
Cause they came to do drugs and you came to sing
So if you gonna be the best, I’ma tell you how

[Chorus - 2x (Nas and Kids)]
I know I can (I know I can)
Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be)
If I work hard at it (If I work hard it)
I’ll be where I wanna be (I’ll be where I wanna be)

[Nas]
Be, B-Boys and girls, listen again
This is for grown looking girls who’s only ten
The ones who watch videos and do what they see
As cute as can be, up in the club with fake ID
Careful, ‘fore you meet a man with HIV
You can host the TV like Oprah Winfrey
Whatever you decide, be careful, some men be
Rapists, so act your age, don’t pretend to be
Older than you are, give yourself time to grow
You thinking he can give you wealth, but so
Young boys, you can use a lot of help, you know
You thinkin life’s all about smokin weed and ice
You don’t wanna be my age and can’t read and right
Begging different women for a place to sleep at night
Smart boys turn to men and do whatever they wish
If you believe you can achieve, then say it like this

[Chorus]

Save the music y’all, save the music y’all
Save the music y’all, save the music y’all
Save the music

[Nas]
Be, be, ‘fore we came to this country
We were kings and queens, never porch monkeys
It was empires in Africa called Kush
Timbuktu, where every race came to get books
To learn from black teachers who taught Greeks and Romans
Asian Arabs and gave them gold when
Gold was converted to money it all changed
Money then became empowerment for Europeans
The Persian military invaded
They learned about the gold, the teachings and everything sacred
Africa was almost robbed naked
Slavery was money, so they began making slave ships
Egypt was the place that Alexander the Great went
He was so shocked at the mountains with black faces
Shot up they nose to impose what basically
Still goes on today, you see?
If the truth is told, the youth can grow
They learn to survive until they gain control
Nobody says you have to be gangstas, hoes
Read more learn more, change the globe
Ghetto children, do your thing
Hold your head up, little man, you’re a king
Young Prince thats when you get your wedding ring
Your man is saying “She’s my queen”

[Chorus]

I found this song really moving. Have you heard it? What do you think?

Lyrics: -

Some say tha Blacker tha berry
Tha sweeter tha juice
I say, tha darker tha flesh and tha deeper tha roots
I give a hollar to my sisters on welfare
Tupac cares, but don’t nobody else care
I know they like ta beat ya down a lot
And when ya come around tha block brothers clown a lot
But please don’t cry, dry ya eyes
Never let up
Forgive but don’t forget girl keep ya head up
And when he tells you you ain’t nothin
Don’t believe him
And if he can’t learn ta love ya, you should leave him
Cuz sister you don’t need him
I ain’t tryin ta gash up, but I just callem how I see ‘em
Ya know what makes me unhappy
When brothers make babies
And leave a young mother ta be a pappy
And since we all came from a woman
Got our name from a woman
And out game from a woman
I wonder why we take from our women
Why we rape our women
Do we hate our women ?
I think it’s time ta kill for our women
Time ta heal our women
Be real to our women
And if we don’t
We’ll have a race of babies
That hate tha ladies that make tha babies
And since a man can’t make one
He has no right ta tell a woman when and where ta create one
So will tha real men get up
I know your fed up ladies
But keep ya head up

Chorus
Eeewww child things are gonna get easier
Eeewww child things are gonna get brighter

Eeewww child things are gonna get easier
Eeewww child things are gonna get brighter

I remember Marvin Gay, usta sing ta me
He had me feelin like black was tha thing ta be
And suddenly tha ghetto didn’t seem so tuff
I thought we had it rough, we always had enough
I often huffed and puffed about my curfew and broke tha rules
Ran with tha local crew and had a smoke or two
And realize momma really paid tha price
She nearly gave her life, ta raise me right
And all I had ta give her was my pipe dreams
Of how i’d rock tha mic and make it to tha big screen
I’m tryin ta make a dollar out of fifteen cents
It’s hard ta be legit and still pay tha rent
And in tha end it seems i’m headin for tha penn
I try and find my friends, but they’re blowin in tha wind
Last night my buddy lost his whole family
It’s gonna take tha man in me
Ta conquer this insanity
It seems tha rain will never let up
I try ta Keep My Head Up and still keep from getting wet up
You know it’s funny when it rains it pours
They got money for wars, but can’t feed tha poor
Sad there ain’t no hope for tha youth and tha truth is
There ain’t no hope for tha future
And then they wonder why we crazy
I blame my mother, for turning my brother into a crack baby
We ain’t meant ta survive, cause it’s a setup
And even though ya fed up
Ya got ta Keep Ya Head Up

This track is so smooth, calming and hopeful. He sings about the fact he doesn’t want his partner to wonder about how he feels.

Oooooh…

It happened the moment, when you were revealed
‘Cause you were a dream that you should not have been
A fantasy real
You gave me this beating baby
This rhythm inside
And you made me feel good and feel nice and feel loved
Give me paradise

So shouldn’t I realize
You’re the highest of the high
If you don’t know, then I’ll say it
So don’t ever wonder

So tell me how long
How long it’s gonna take until you speak, babe
‘Cause I can’t live my life
Without you here by my side
Ooh…
You gave me the feelin’, feelin’ in my life

So shouldn’t I realize
You’re the highest of the high
If you don’t know, then I’ll say it
So don’t ever wonder

This mantra is one that Jains believe can assist in all situations. It’s been sung by Lata Mangeshkar. Her voice is amazing.

I saw this today and it was AMAZING!

A good mix of humour, real life & great music!

It briefly referred to the game street fighter too. Flash backs from the past LOL

Also I’ve not seen photography used in such a creative and effective way in the theatre before. Truly versatile.

The website itself is so creative. It’s interactive. The style definitely connects to the content of the production. I can’t ‘wow ‘it or the show enough! You’ve got to go and see it!

http://www.intothehoods.co.uk/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/INTO-THE-HOODS/8384078414?ref=mf

No need to be disappointed, it’s on for longer! Check this out