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Music Video

Michael Kiwanuka—"Rule the World (I Came from the City) [feat. Nasir Jones as Mr. Books]"
Watch Michael Kiwanuka—"Rule the World (I Came from the City) [feat. Nasir Jones as Mr. Books]" on YouTube

Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
Michael Kiwanuka
Michael Kiwanuka
Performer
Nasir Jones as Mr. Books
Nasir Jones as Mr. Books
Performer
Jamieson Shaw
Jamieson Shaw
Programming
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Michael Kiwanuka
Michael Kiwanuka
Composer
Nasir Jones as Mr. Books
Nasir Jones as Mr. Books
Composer
Dean Josiah Cover
Dean Josiah Cover
Composer
Brian Burton
Brian Burton
Composer
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Inflo
Inflo
Producer
Danger Mouse
Danger Mouse
Producer
Emile Haynie
Emile Haynie
Additional Producer
Elliott Wheeler
Elliott Wheeler
Additional Producer
Mark "Exit" Goodchild
Mark "Exit" Goodchild
Mixing Engineer
Gabriel Zardes
Gabriel Zardes
Assistant Engineer

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Do I have to rule the world?
Or will it conquer me?
Do I have to leave it now?
Or will it turn to me?
Do I have to lose my mind?
'Cause it's been wandering
Will they ever let me out?
I've been wondering
[Verse 2]
I came from the city, yeah
I came from the city, yeah
I came from the city, yeah
[Verse 3]
I came from the city, yeah
Got my name from the city, where?
The most dangerous city, let's take a trip back
Back into time
1977, it was maximum crime
The president neglected us, him and 6 masterminds
Six powerful men put New York through some drastic times
The rich and selfish ones feed off the welfare ones
And which borough suffered the worst, hmm?
Where I'm from
The Bronx
We had to rumble with rivals on the rubble
While buildings around us would crumble
Uh, I dream right but it seem like
Nothing find me but trouble
I see the light, it's right there at the end of the tunnel
Had to find my rope to pull me up
'Cause I needed some kind of hope to fill me up
Till I met one guy, took me under the wing
I coulda died if this man ain't intervene
He was an orphan, my savior
Free-spirited, no man braver
He was honored and gifted, his name was Shaolin Fantastic
The lady-killing romantic, can't forget the day we met
And this story recanted, but yo, my life began last year
Southmoore High School, that summer I saw her
Said to myself, she'll be my wife soon
[Verse 4]
Take me out of myself again
Help me lose control
Show me love, show me happiness
I can't do this on my own
Take me out of myself again
Help me lose control
Show me love, show me happiness
(Love me!) I can't do this on my own
Written by: Brian Burton, Dean Josiah, Michael Kiwanuka, Nasir Jones

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