I Am Not My Hair (feat. Akon) [Konvict Remix]

See, I can kinda recall little ways back

Small tryin' to ball, always been Black

And my hair, I tried it all, I even went flat

Had a gumdee curly top and all that crap, now

Was tryin' to be appreciated

Nappy headed brothers never had no ladies

Then I hit by the barber shop real quick

Had 'em give me little twists, and it drove 'em crazy

And then, I couldn't get no job

'Cause corporate wouldn't hire no dreadlocks

Then I thought about my dogs on the block

Kinda understand why they chose to steal and rob (Uh-huh)

Was it the hair that got me this far? (Uh-huh)

All these girls these cribs these cars (Uh-huh)

I hate to say it, but it seem so flawed

'Cause success didn't come till I cut it all off (Uh-huh)

Little girl with the press and curl

Age eight, I got a Jheri curl

Thirteen, then I got a relaxer

I was a source of so much laughter

Fifteen when it all broke off

Eighteen, then I went all natural

February 2002, I

Went on and did what I had to do, oh

Because it was time to change my life

To become the women that I am inside

Ninety-seven dreadlocks all gone

Looked in the mirror for the first time and saw that, hey

Hey, I am not my hair, I am not this skin

I am not your expectations, no, no

I am not my hair, I am not this skin

I am the soul that lives within

Good hair means curls and waves

Bad hair means you look like a slave

At the turn of the century

It's time for us to redefine who we be

You can shave it off like a South African beauty

Got it on lock like Bob Marley

You can rock it straight like Oprah Winfrey

If it's not what's on your head, it's what's underneath, and say hey

Hey, I am not my hair, I am not this skin

I am not your expectations, no

I am not my hair, I am not this skin

I am a soul that lives within

Who cares if you don't like that

With nothin' to lose, post it with a wave cap

And the cops wanna harass 'cause I got waves

Ain't seen nothin' like that in all my days (No)

Man, you gotta change all these feelings

Steady judging one another by their appearance

Yes, India, I feel ya, girl

Now, gon' 'head, talk to the rest of the world 'cause

(Whoa, whoa, whoa) Does the way I wear my hair make me a better person?

(Whoa, whoa, whoa) Does the way I wear my hair make me a better friend? No

(Whoa, whoa, whoa) Does the way I wear my hair determine my integrity?

(Whoa, whoa, whoa) I am expressing my creativity

Breast cancer and chemotherapy

Took away her crown and glory

She promised God if she was to survive

She would enjoy every day of her life, oh

On national television

Her diamond eyes are sparkling

Bald headed like a full moon shining

Singing out to the whole wide world like, hey

Hey, I am not my hair, I am not this skin

I am not your expectations, no

I am not my hair, I am not this skin

I am a soul that lives within

I am not my hair, I am not this skin

I am not your expectations, no