Life I wonder, will it take me under? I don't know 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 outta 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 ya clique up with diamond Roles Your people holding dough, no parole, no rubbers Go in 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 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) The way to 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 a iller path The Villa house is 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'd civilize every savage Give me one shot, I turn trife life to lavish Political prisoners set free, stress free No work release, purple M3's and jet skis Feel the wind breeze in West Indies I'd let Coretta Scott-King mayor the cities, and reverse fiends to Willies It sound foul, but every girl I meet'd go down-town I'd open every cell in Attica, send 'em to Africa! 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) 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 You love to hear the story how the thugs live in worry Ducked down in car seats, heat's mandatory Running from Jake, getting chased, hunger for papes These are the breaks, many mistakes go down outta 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'd push a Q45 Infinit' It wouldn't be no such thing as jealousies, or B Felony 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?! 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) 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 diamonds, 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!
Life I wonder, will it take me under? I don't know 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 outta 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 ya clique up with diamond Roles Your people holding dough, no parole, no rubbers Go in 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 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) The way to 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 a iller path The Villa house is 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'd civilize every savage Give me one shot, I turn trife life to lavish Political prisoners set free, stress free No work release, purple M3's and jet skis Feel the wind breeze in West Indies I'd let Coretta Scott-King mayor the cities, and reverse fiends to Willies It sound foul, but every girl I meet'd go down-town I'd open every cell in Attica, send 'em to Africa! 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) 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 You love to hear the story how the thugs live in worry Ducked down in car seats, heat's mandatory Running from Jake, getting chased, hunger for papes These are the breaks, many mistakes go down outta 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'd push a Q45 Infinit' It wouldn't be no such thing as jealousies, or B Felony 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?! 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) 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 diamonds, 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!
A faixa foi lançada em 4 de junho de 1996 como single de abertura do álbum *It Was Written* e contou com produção de Trackmasters, com aporte não creditado de Rashad Smith.
A música incorpora o beat de “Friends”, do Whodini, e o verso de Lauryn Hill interpola “Walk Right Up to the Sun”, da Delfonics.
O videoclipe, de alto orçamento, foi dirigido por Hype Williams e desenhado pelo artista visual Ron Norsworthy.
“If I Ruled the World” entrou no Billboard Hot 100 e atingiu o top 20 da Hot R&B Singles, além de entrar nas paradas top 10 em oito países.
O single foi a primeira indicação de Nas ao Grammy, na categoria Best Rap Solo Performance na 39ª edição dos Grammys.
Em junho de 2021, a canção recebeu certificado de platina pela RIAA, tornando‑se o primeiro single de Nas e o quarto de Lauryn Hill com esse marco.
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