As We Enter – English Lyrics

• By: Nas, Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the groundbreaking collaboration of Nas and Damian Marley in "As We Enter," a unique blend of hip-hop and reggae that bridges cultures and explores the rich heritage of Africa. Discover how this track ignited a global conversation and learn the Swahili lyrics that add depth to its powerful message.

[English]

(sirens wailing) (bouncy music)

(upbeat music)

♪ As we enter ♪

♪ Come let we take you on to dig this adventure ♪

♪ Must be dementia ♪

♪ That you ever thought you could touch our credentials ♪

♪ What's the initials ♪

♪ Q-B Jamrock the lyrical officials ♪

♪ Send out the order, laws, and the rituals ♪

♪ Burn candles, say prayers, paint murals ♪

♪ It is truth we big news we hood heroes ♪

♪ Put ass to anchor, we come to conquer ♪

♪ I not badman, we not play Willy Wonka ♪

♪ And I got the guns ♪ ♪ I got the ganja ♪

♪ And we could blaze it up on your block if you want to ♪

♪ Or haze it up stash-box in a Hummer ♪

♪ Or you could run up and get done up ♪

♪ Or get something that you want none of ♪

♪ Unlimited amount you collect from us ♪

♪ Direct from us, street intellectuals ♪

♪ And I'm shrewd about decimals and my man'll speak Patois ♪

♪ And I can speak rap star, y'all feel me ♪

♪ Even if it's in Swahili or body Ghani ♪

♪ Masuri Sana, switch up the language and move to Ghana ♪

♪ Salute and honor, real revolution rhymers ♪

♪ Rhythm piranhas, like two Obamas, unfold the drama ♪

♪ Word is out, hysteria you heard about ♪

♪ Nas and Jr. Gong came to turn it out ♪

♪ Body the verses till they scream "murder" out ♪

♪ The kings is back time to return the crown ♪

♪ Who want it, tuck your chain, we're due coming ♪

♪ Renegades that'll peel you back like new hundreds ♪

♪ Bet your jewels on it you don't want to lose on it ♪

♪ Either move on or move on it ♪

♪♪♪

♪ Queens to Kingston gunshot we use and govern the kingdom ♪

♪ Rise up to (censored) I can see the fear up in your eyes ♪

♪ Realize you can die any instant ♪

♪ And I can hear the sound of your voice ♪

♪ When you must lose your life like mice in the kitchen ♪

♪ Snitching, I can see him (censored) on his-self ♪

♪ And he wetting up his thighs and he trying to resist it ♪

♪ Switching ♪

♪ I can smell him digging up (censored) like a fly ♪

♪ Come around, and keep persisting ♪

♪ That's how you end up in a hit list ♪

♪ In a bad man business ♪

♪ No evidence ♪

♪ Crime scene, fingerprint-less ♪

♪ Flow effortless ♪

♪ Casual like the weekends ♪

♪ No pressure when ♪

♪ We're comfy and decent ♪

♪ We set this off beasting ♪

♪ Hunting season ♪

♪ And, frankly speaking ♪

♪ Word is out, hysteria you heard about ♪

♪ Nas and Jr. Gong came to turn it out ♪

♪ Body the verses till they scream "murder" out ♪

♪ The kings is back time to return the crown ♪

♪ Who want it, tuck your chain, we're due coming ♪

♪ Renegades that'll peel you back like new hundreds ♪

♪ Bet your jewels on it you don't want to lose on it ♪

♪ Either move on or move on it ♪

♪ Word is out, hysteria you heard about ♪

♪ Nas and Jr. Gong came to turn it out ♪

♪ Body the verses till they scream "murder" out ♪

♪ The kings is back time to return the crown ♪

♪ Who want it, tuck your chain, we're due coming ♪

♪ Renegades that'll peel you back like new hundreds ♪

♪ Bet your jewels on it you don't want to lose on it ♪

♪ Either move on or move on it ♪

(upbeat music continues)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
enter /ˈentər/ A2	verb - to come or go into
adventure /ədˈventʃər/ B1	noun - an unusual and exciting, typically hazardous, experience or activity
touch /tʌtʃ/ A1	verb - to come into or be in contact with something
burn /bɜːrn/ A1	verb - to be damaged or destroyed by fire
truth /truːθ/ A2	noun - the quality or state of being true
conquer /ˈkɒŋkər/ B2	verb - overcome and take control of (a place or person) by use of military force
guns /ɡʌnz/ A2	noun - a weapon incorporating a metal tube from which bullets, shells, or other missiles are fired by explosive force, typically making a characteristic loud noise
collect /kəˈlekt/ B1	verb - bring or gather together
street /striːt/ A1	noun - a public road in a city or town adjective - relating to ordinary people and their everyday concerns
speak /spiːk/ A1	verb - say something in order to convey information or express a feeling.
revolution /ˌrevəˈluːʃn/ B2	noun - a forcible overthrow of a government or social order, in favor of a new system
drama /ˈdrɑːmə/ B1	noun - an exciting, emotional, or unexpected series of events or set of circumstances
hysteria /hɪˈstɪəriə/ C1	noun - exaggerated or uncontrollable emotion or excitement, especially among a group of people.
murder /ˈmɜːrdər/ B1	noun - the unlawful premeditated killing of one human being by another
rise /raɪz/ A2	verb - to get up from a lying, sitting, or kneeling position
fear /fɪər/ A2	noun - an unpleasant emotion caused by the perception of danger, real or imagined
die /daɪ/ A1	verb - to stop living
smell /smel/ A1	verb - perceive or detect the odor of (something)

Key Grammar Structures

• Must be dementia

  ➔ Modal verb with 'must' used to express certainty or strong assumption

  ➔ 'Must' indicates a strong assumption or conclusion about the situation

• We come to conquer

  ➔ Use of 'to' + base verb to indicate purpose or intention

  ➔ 'To conquer' expresses the purpose or goal of the action

• And I got the guns

  ➔ Use of 'got' as an informal form of 'have' to indicate possession

  ➔ 'Got' here means 'have' in an informal context to show possession of 'the guns'

• Either move on or move on it

  ➔ Use of 'either...or...' to present a binary choice

  ➔ 'Either' introduces one of two options, and 'or' connects the alternatives

• Word is out, hysteria you heard about

  ➔ Use of 'Word is out' to express that information is spreading or known

  ➔ 'Word is out' indicates that news or information has become known by many

• Tell me, y'all feel me

  ➔ Use of 'y'all' as a contraction of 'you all' for informal plural address

  ➔ 'Y'all' is an informal contraction used to address or refer to a group of people collectively

• Bodies the verses till they scream 'murder' out

  ➔ Use of 'till' as a conjunction meaning 'until'

  ➔ 'Till' functions as a conjunction indicating the time up to which an action occurs