Float

Written by Hodari B. Davis

CHORUS – All

I am the greatest on this earth

I got originality all in my verse

I must be the greatest on this earth

I got Muhammad Ali all in my verse

And 

(2x) I Float like a butterfly; Sting like a bee

The world says can't  -  I Can

The world says I won't, Ever be a man

Or a woman who deserves respect

I use my jab to keep the world in check

I’m known to rap and Prone to fight

Gonna stand for my people and be the light

I must be the greatest in this land

When you say I can't I know I can

Be all that I can be

Black and beautiful as the eye can see

CHORUS

 From poverty and slums to champion

From top of America, to the Nation

Teachers like Elijah and Malcolm X

In history I must be next

Teach like Malcolm, Fight like Ali

Persevere like Farakhan With the light in me

I am the greatest On this earth

I got originality all in my verse

And I move the crowds that move me

I move the slaves to be free

I move a face every time I place

My hand meant to heal Must first displace

So I talk about it while you read about it

I be about while you seem to doubt my possible

But when they carting my opponent to the hospital

Only then you will know

CHORUS 

(CALL AND RESPONSE)

I know I can (I know I can)

Be what I wanna be (Be what I wanna be)

If I work hard at it (If I work hard at it)

I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be)

Like Muhammed Ali It's the destiny

Of YGB to set our people free

Ain't no Vietcong eva call me a nigga

No Iranian eva called me a nigga

No Afghan eva called me a nigga

You recruitin' me to pull that trigga

You recruitin' me to pull that trigga

You recruitin' me to pull that 

CHORUS - ALL

I am the greatest on this earth

I got originality all in my verse

I must be the greatest on this earth

I got Muhammad Ali all in my verse

And  (3x) I Float like a butterfly; Sting like a bee

And I FLOAT!

PERFORMANCE

Facts:Muhammad Ali was an American professional boxer, activist, entertainer, poet, and philanthropist. Ali was the first fighter to win the world heavyweight championship title three timeshe successfully defended the title 19 timesHe used poetry and self-descriptive phrases to raise public interest in his fights before he became the champion

He told the world he was the greatest boxer of all time.  In 1967, Ali refused to join the U.S. Army and fight in the Vietnam War. When asked about being drafted, he said “I ain’t got no quarrel with them Viet Cong. No Viet Cong ever called me nigger.”For refusing to fight in the war, he was stripped of his first title and put in prison. There he changed his name from Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali after converting to Islam.

The Nation of Islam is an Islamic religous and political organization founded in the U.S. in 1930. The NOI believes in Black nationalism and focuses on the African diaspora. Elijah Muhammad was one of the leaders of the NOI and helped establish the Nation in Chicago.During World War II, he advised the Nations followers to avoid the draft and was charged with violating the Selective Service Act and was jailed from 1942-1946.He believed in racial unity and Black nationalism. His work called for establishing a separate nation for Black Americans and the adoption of Islam based on the word of Allah and the belief that Blacks are his chosen people.The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan is the current leader of the Nation of Islam He was originally the protege of Malcom X before his split from the NOIAfter Malcolm left, Farrakhan replaced him as the head minister of Harlem’s Temple No. & and as the National Representative of the Nation, becoming the second in command after Elijah MuhammadHe was a dynamic, charismatic leader with a powerful presence and speaking ability that appealed to the African American communityMalcolm XA popular custom in the NOI was to replace ones surname with an “X”This was done by followers who considered their family names to have originated from white slaveholders

Questions:

Who was Cassius Clay?

What is the Nation of Islam?

Who is The Honorable Elijah Muhammad?

Who is The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan?

Who is Malik el-Shabazz?

Vocabulary: Great, Originality, Verse, Jab, Prone, Poverty, Slums, Champion, The Nation of Islam, Perservere, Heal, Displace, Doubt, Destiny