I Am Not My Hair (Featuring Akon)

[00:09.65] See, I can kinda recall a lil' ways back
[00:11.78] Small, tryin' to ball, always been black
[00:14.14] And my hair, I tried it all I even went flat
[00:16.39] Had a lumpy curly top and all that crap, now
[00:19.41] Just tryin' to be appreciated
[00:21.57] Nappy headed brothers never had no ladies
[00:23.94] And I hit the barber shop real quick
[00:26.42] Had 'em give me lil' twist and it drove 'em crazy (crazy)
[00:29.43] Then I couldn't get no job
[00:31.25] 'Cause corporate wouldn't hire no dreadlocks
[00:33.77] Then I thought about my dogs from the block
[00:36.23] Kinda understand why they chose to steal and rob
[00:38.94] Was it the hair that got me this far
[00:41.16] All these girls these cribs these cars?
[00:43.77] I hate to say it but it seem so flawed
[00:45.83] 'Cause success didn't come till I cut it all off
[00:49.16] Little girl with the press and curl
[00:51.08] Age eight, I got a Jheri curl
[00:53.56] Thirteen, and I got a relaxer
[00:55.93] I was a source of so much laughter
[00:58.38] At fifteen when it all broke off
[01:00.90] Eighteen and went all natural
[01:03.33] February, 2002
[01:05.47] I went on and did what I had to do
[01:08.30] Because it was time to change my life
[01:10.20] To become the woman that I am inside
[01:13.09] Ninety-seven dreadlocks all gone
[01:15.23] I looked in the mirror for the first time and saw that
[01:17.98] Hey (hey)
[01:18.89] I am not my hair
[01:21.37] I am not this skin
[01:23.80] I am not your expectations, no (hey)
[01:28.68] I am not my hair
[01:31.13] I am not this skin
[01:33.57] I am the soul that lives within
[01:37.90] Good hair means curls and waves (no)
[01:39.96] Bad hair means you look like a slave (no)
[01:42.39] At the turn of the century
[01:44.39] It's time for us to redefine who we be
[01:47.15] You can shave it off like a South African beauty
[01:49.38] Or get in on lock like Bob Marley
[01:51.84] You can rock it straight like Oprah Winfrey
[01:54.30] If it's not what's on your head, it's what's underneath, and say
[01:57.13] Hey (hey)
[01:57.99] I am not my hair
[02:00.33] I am not this skin
[02:02.83] I am not your expectations, no (hey)
[02:07.76] I am not my hair
[02:10.15] I am not this skin
[02:12.62] I am the soul that lives within
[02:16.98] Who cares if you don't like that?
[02:18.66] With nothin' to lose, postin' with the wave cap
[02:21.00] And the cops wanna harass 'cause I got waves
[02:23.51] Ain't see nothin' like that in all my days
[02:26.02] Man, you gotta change all these feelings
[02:28.52] Steady judging one another by their appearance
[02:31.16] Yes, India, I feel ya, girl
[02:33.21] Now go ahead, talk to the rest of the world 'cause
[02:36.23] (Whoa, whoa, whoa)
[02:38.23] Does the way I wear my hair make me a better person?
[02:40.67] (Whoa, whoa, whoa)
[02:42.89] Does the way I wear my hair make me a better friend? Oh
[02:45.62] (Whoa, whoa, whoa)
[02:47.72] Does the way I wear my hair determine my integrity?
[02:50.46] (Whoa, whoa, whoa)
[02:52.77] I am expressing my creativity
[02:55.53] (Whoa, whoa, whoa)
[02:56.20] Breast cancer and chemotherapy
[02:57.99] Took away her crownin' glory
[03:00.44] She promised God if she was to survive
[03:02.58] She would enjoy every day of her life, oh
[03:05.57] On national television
[03:07.85] Her diamond eyes are sparkling
[03:10.58] Bald-headed like a full moon shining
[03:12.71] Singing out to the whole wide world like, hey
[03:15.81] Hey (hey)
[03:16.15] I am not my hair
[03:18.55] I am not this skin
[03:20.98] I am not your expectations, no (hey)
[03:25.85] I am not my hair
[03:28.31] I am not this skin
[03:30.77] I am the soul that lives within
[03:35.17] Hey (hey)
[03:35.70] I am not my hair
[03:38.14] I am not this skin
[03:40.52] I am not your expectations, no (hey)
[03:45.39] I am not my hair
[03:47.83] I am not this skin
[03:49.00] I am the soul that lives within