All the words pass the margin

"Thinking a word best describing my life,
to name my daughter my strength;
My son, the star, will be my resurrection;
Born in correction, all the wrong shit I did,
he'll lead a right direction."


An excerpt from my favorite song, "The World is Yours" by Nas. The first time I heard it, I was immediately struck by the fusion of the repeating piano riff in the background, his vivid canvas of New York City life, and his hopeful eye to the future. Contrary to the conventional rap approach of further degrading the community in which he lived, Nas exalted the different characters of his youth, giving them each a distinct identity, from "cruising in a Sikh's cab", to the "old folks pray[ing]" in his building. What struck me the most, though, was the way he looked to the future, disregarding the strife of street life and instead optimistically proclaiming that the world is yours, to whoever seeks it out.

The “The World is Yours” attitude was also a dominant theme in Al Pacino’s Scarface. Emigrating from Cuba with almost nothing, he manifested this principle and created a life for himself in Miami, complete with wife, friends, and booming business. I often liken his success to that of my family, who themselves came from Cuba but grew older to become successful lawyers, doctors, and realtors. But Montana, the mastermind behind a huge cocaine empire, was soon overtaken by greed and disregard. His life ends ironically in the same “The World is Yours” mindset that led to his downfall.



Nas' song struck such a chord with me that I chose to embrace his ideology and adopt it as my own. I have a mentality now that anything in this world is attainable so long as you will it so and work towards it. Yet learning from the ruinous self-indulgence of Scarface, I know that there are limits.

This blog, The World is Ours, is intended to connect people who share this mindset, and who are open to learning about enlightening stories.

"The World is Yours" is not bound by constraints set by race, salary, birthplace, or gender.
"The World is Yours" is not the past, nor is it the present.
"The World is Yours" is the future and it is what will happen because you willed it so.
"The World is Yours" is knowing that no matter where you came from and no matter who you were born, you can achieve what you want and change who you are.
"The World is Yours" is a lifestyle, a life-changer, a life-maker.