I Am Not My Hair (feat. Akon)

See, I can kinda recall a lil' ways back

Small, tryin' to bawl, always been black

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

Had a lumpy curly top and all that crap, now

Just tryin' to be appreciated

Nappy headed brothers never had no ladies

And I hit the barber shop real quick

Had 'em give me lil' twist and it drove 'em crazy (crazy)

Then I couldn't get no job

'Cause corporate wouldn't hire no dreadlocks

Then I thought about my dogs from the block

Kinda understand why they chose to steal and rob

Was it the hair that got me this far

All these girls these cribs these cars?

I hate to say it but it seem so flawed

'Cause success didn't come till I cut it all off

Little girl with the press and curl

Age eight, I got a Jheri curl

Thirteen, and I got a relaxer

I was a source of so much laughter

At fifteen when it all broke off

Eighteen when I went all natural

February, 2002

I went on and did what I had to do

Because it was time to change my life

To become the woman that I am inside

Ninety-seven dreadlocks all gone

I 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 (hey)

I am not my hair

I am not this skin

I am the soul that lives within

Good hair means curls and waves (no)

Bad hair means you look like a slave (no)

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

Or get in 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 (hey)

I am not my hair

I am not this skin

I am the soul that lives within

Who cares if you don't like that?

With nothin' to lose, postin' with the wave cap

And the cops wanna harass 'cause I got waves

Ain't see nothin' like that in all my days

Man, you gotta change all these feelings

Instead of judging one another by their appearance

Yes, India, I feel ya, girl

Now go ahead, talk to the rest of the world 'cause

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? Oh

(Whoa, whoa, whoa)

Does the way I wear my hair determine my integrity?

(Whoa, whoa, whoa)

I am expressing my creativity

(Whoa, whoa, whoa)

Breast cancer and chemotherapy

Took away her crownin' 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 (hey)

I am not my hair

I am not this skin

I am not your expectations, no (hey)

I am not my hair

I am not this skin

I am the soul that lives within

Hey (hey)

I am not my hair

I am not this skin

I am not your expectations, no (hey)

I am not my hair

I am the soul that lives within