[align=left]Artist: Garnett Silk
Title: Complaint [/align]
Love Rastafari...
If you do wrong they complain
Even if you call the father's name it's the same
What they want us to do
Don't they know this is nothing new
Why won't they do what they want
And let me do my thing they should be thankful
There's lights of hope are still shining, shining

Let Jah rise and the heathen scatter
Have to give thanks and praises no matter
Even if the flames is getting hotter & hotter
Every one should know I don't believe in a rumor
Children arise from sleep & slumber
Don't come to bow, come to conquer
Strictly love why you envy your brother
Don't let them re-arrange you in a different manner


Why should I change to gain acceptance
Can't tell a next man how to wear his pants
Lift up the name of Jah in abundance
Every single thing we do, we are liable
To get a sentence
But we won't be like a flea just like how the more we see
The less you hear we speak
My brother don't you be like a stubborn sheep

Blessed are he when men shall revile you
And persecute you, say all manner of evil
Against you falsely, for Jah sake
Rejoice I say and be exceedingly glad
For great is your reward
For so persecute they the prophets before you and me

I loved the entire album... but this song got me because of two lines in particular that I highlighted

Africa Dream Lyrics



(talking)
If you can talk you can sing
If you can walk you can dance
That's an old proverb from Zimbabwe
You know what I mean
If you can talk you can sing
If you can walk you can dance
Yeah, and the trumpet is blown
Yeah, alright, C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon
Alright, Wooh!

(talking)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, uh, one more time
Yo, anybody can tell you how it is
What we putting down right here is how it is and how it could be
Reflection Eternal for real
And with that-

These cats is no match
Plus they lack a certain knack for rapping
Chasing but they never catch the wagon
Like rerunning what's hap'ning
Since back when
They had potty issues and snotty tissues, we been rockin'
Think you poppin' next year nobody will miss you
My thoughts is too advanced for the artists on these labels
They come sweeter than sabal and softer than mashed potatoes
I tried to told you the rhymes run over emcees like Land Rovers
Took 'em back in time like Sankofa, Sankofa

We stand over the Atlantic, looking broad like a man's shoulders
The fire is trapped in a belly, ready to pop like canned soda
We outlasting, from middle passage
Touched down in New York
Cincinnatay! Big Ohio status what you thought
Money it's classic these *******s try to treat us like cattle
So life has been a constant battle, battle
Rising above the crabs in the barrel
Way too used to living in death's shadow
We stay on point like the best arrow, arrow
We hit the target accurate
Star shit, back it up
When we hit town, y'all niggas pack it up
That's how we get down, straight smash it up
Like a whip, hydroplaning
Hydro on the brain and maintaining
Game changing into subtle shit, we remain blatant
Yo, got to tell you to your face
You get replaced in this game, by Kweli
Place the face with the name
These cats drink champagne and toast to death and pain
Like slaves on a ship talking about who got the flyest chain

(talking)
Yo, we the reflection of our ancestors
We'd like to thank you for the building blocks you left us
Cause your spirit possessed us
Yo, you blessed us
Thank you very much (7x)

Yo, we the reflection of our ancestors
We'd like to thank you for the building blocks you left us
Cause your spirit possessed us
Yo, you blessed us
Thank you very much
God bless you (7x)

Artist: Bob Marley and Wailers


Song: Redemption Song




Old pirates yes they rob I
Sold I to the merchant ships
Minutes after they took I from the
Bottom less pit
But my hand was made strong
By the hand of the almighty
We forward in this generation triumphantly
All I ever had is songs of freedom
Won't you help to sing these songs of freedom
Cause all I ever had redemption songs, redemption songs

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery
None but ourselves can free our minds
Have no fear for atomic energy
Cause none of them can stop the time
How long shall they kill our prophets
While we stand aside and look
Some say it's just a part of it
We've got to fulfill the book

Won't you help to sing, these songs of freedom
Cause all I ever had, redemption songs, redemption songs, redemption songs

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery
None but ourselves can free our minds
Have no fear for atomic energy
Cause none of them can stop the time
How long shall they kill our prophets
While we stand aside and look
Yes some say it's just part of it
We've got to fulfill the book

Won't you help to sing, these songs of freedom
Cause all I ever had, redemption songs
All I ever had, redemption songs
These songs of freedom, songs of freedom

I love the words in this song and its always dedicated to my husband to reflect an essence of our unity





Artist: India Arie


Song: The Truth




Spoken : let me tell you why I love him

Chorus:
Cause he is the truth
Said he is so real
And I love the way that he makes me feel
And if I am a reflection of him then I must be fly cause
He’s light it shines so bright I wouldn’t lie

I remember the very first day I saw him
I found myself immediately intrigued by him
It’s almost like I knew this man from another life
Like back then maybe I was his husband maybe he was my wife
And even,the things I don’t like about him are fine with me
Cause it’s not hard for me to understand him cause he’s so much like me
And it’s truly my pleasure to share his company
And I know that it’s god’s gift to breathe
The air he breathes

Chorus:
Cause he’s the truth
Said he is so real
And I love the way that he makes me feel
And if I am a reflection if him then I must be fly cause
His light it shines so bright I wouldn’t lie (no)

How can the same man that makes me so mad
Do you know what he did-(spoken)
Turn right around and kiss me so soft
Girl so you know what he did-(spoken)
If he ever left me I wouldn’t even be sad no
Cause there’s a blessing in every lesson
And I’m glad that I knew him at all

Chrous:
Cause he is the truth
Said he is so real
And I love the way that he makes me feel
And if I am a reflection of him then I must be fly cause
His light it shines so bright

I love the way he speaks
I love the way he thinks
I love the way that he treats his mama
I love that gap in between his teeth
I love him in every way that a woman can love a man
From personal to universal but most of all
It’s unconditional

You know what I’m taking about-(spoken)
That’s the way I feel
And I always will-(spoken)

There ain’t no substitute for the truth
Either it is or isn’t
Cause he is the truth
You see the truth it needs no proof
Either it is or it isn’t
Cause he is the truth
Now you know the truth by the way it feels
And if I am a reflection of him then I must be fly
Cause he is yes he is
I wonder does he know -echoes-

This song/rap is so powerful and I swear it should be on the school curiculum and taught as part of sex education and for many people should be their national athem .......no joke. I did some voluntary work in a clinic once and for every young singleyouth that came in seeking information on pregnancy this tune always came to my mind.







Artist: Common Lyrics


Song: Retrospect For Lif (feat. Lauryn Hill) Lyrics




Yo, we gotta start respectin life more y'all
You look at your brother man you gotta see yourself
Gotta see the God within him
Brothers gettin changed real quick over nothin
We losin too many of ours
Gotta recreate y'all
Yo, check it

Knowin you the best part of life, do I have the right to take yours
Cause I created you, irresponsibly
Subconciously knowin the act I was a part of
The start of somethin, I'm not ready to bring into the world
Had myself believin I was sterile
I look into mother's stomach, wonder if you are a boy or a girl
Turnin this woman's womb into a tomb
But she and I agree, a seed we don't need
You would've been much more than a mouth to feed
But someone, I woulda fed this information I read
to someone, my life for you I woulda had to leave
Instead I lead you to death
I'm sorry for takin your first breath, first step, and first cry
But I wasn't prepared mentally nor financially
Havin a child shouldn't have to bring out the man in me
Plus I wanted you to be raised within a family
I don't wanna, go through the drama of havin a baby's momma
Weekend visits and buyin J's ain't gon' make me a father
For a while bearing a child is somethin I never wanted to do
For me to live forever I can only do that through you
Nerve I got to talk about them niggaz with a gun
Must have really thought I was God to take the life of my son
I could have sacrificed goin out
To think my homies who did it I used to joke about, from now on
I'ma use self control instead of birth control
Cause t'ree hunderd 'n' fi'teen dolla's ain't worth your soul
t'ree hunderd 'n' fi'teen dolla's ain't worth your soul
t'ree hunderd 'n' fi'teen dolla's ain't worth it

[Lauryn Hill (two layers of vocals, same words)]
I, never dreamed you'd leave, in summer
You said you would be here when it rained
[Common] Yo
Why didn't you stay

Seeing you as a present and a gift in itself
You had our child in you, I probably never feel what you felt
But you dealt with it like the strong black woman you are
Through our trials and tribulations, child's elimination
An intergration of thoughts I feel about the situation
Back and forth my feelings was pacin
Happy deep down but not joyed enough to have it
But even that's a lie in less than two weeks, we was back at it
Is this unprotected love or safe to say it's lust
Bustin, more than the sweat in somebody you trust
Or is it that we don't trust each other enough
And believe, havin this child'll make us have to stay together
Girl I want you in my life cause you have made it better
Thinkin we all in love cause we can spend a day together
We talkin spendin the rest of our lives
It's too many black women that can say they mothers
but can't say that they wives
I wouldn't chose any other to mother my understanding
But I want our Parenthood to come from Planning
It's so much in my life that's undone
We gotta see eye to eye, about family, before we can become one
If you had decided to have it the situation I wouldn't run from
But I'm walkin, findin myself in my God
So I can, discipline my son with my writin
Not have a judge tellin me how and when to raise my seed
Though his death was at our greed, with no one else to blame
I had a book of Afrikan names, case our minds changed
You say your period hasn't came, and lately I've been sleepy
So quit smokin the weed and the beadies and let's have this boy

[Lauryn Hill]
I, never dreamed you'd leave in summer
You said you would be here when it rained
You said you would be here when it rained
Ohh I, never dreamed you'd leave in summer
Now the situation's made things change
Things change
Why, didn't you stay
Why didn't you stay...
I, never dreamed you'd leave, in summer
In summer
You said you would be here when, it rained
When it rained, it rained
Ohhhohh I, never dreamed, you'd leave in summer
You said you wouldn't leave
Now the situation's made things change
Things change, why didn't you stay?
Stay, stay stay stay stay stay stay
Mmmmm, stayyy
Uh-uh
Ohh why didn't you stay

When DM was young and strugging to stay on straight and narrow. "If you can keep your head when all around you are losing theirs" is a Rudyard Kipling quote but this tune was a bit more explainatory...

Doggpound Daz's verse on I don't wanna dream about gettin paid

Working la tryin to get paid tha right way
But somehow the right way dont pay
Im comin home late every night gotta struggle an fight
Wit tha baseheads on tha late night hype
Tryin to creep in tha house through tha cut
For what
So I wont be seen by none of the homies
But
Tha homie nate dogg spots me
And say yo whats happenin?
Ohyou dont know me no more,an pass me tha satin
I said ah naw it aint like that g
Im trying to go straight and have a j-o-b
You need to quit that faggot ass job
Thats what he said
Showed me his grip and took some satin to tha head
Damn that nigga had at least two gs
And he was clockin it wit so much ease
I told him I was gone so Im headin in tha house
Everybody knocked out
So Im locked out
I go back to tha front where my homies is hangin at
They offer me a cabby sack so I can start slangin dat
They say you aint a hustler I say dont doubt it
Hold dat thought and Ill think about it
B'cos....



MY mum loved Tracey Chapman and always used to play her around the house as I was growing up. Yeah I liked "fast car" but I particularly remember this one...
Talking bout a revolution

Don't you know you're talking about a revolution
It sounds like a whisper
Don't you know they're talking about a revolution
It sounds like a whisper

While they're standing in the welfare lines
Crying at the doorsteps of those armies of salvation
Wasting time in unemployment lines
Sitting around waiting for a promotion

Don't you know you're talking about a revolution
It sounds like a whisper

Poor people are gonna rise up
And get their share
Poor people are gonna rise up
And take what's theirs

Don't you know you better run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run
Oh I said you better run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run

Finally the tables are starting to turn
Talking about a revolution
Finally the tables are starting to turn
Talking about a revolution oh no
Talking about a revolution oh no



And this one from Tracey too. She was talking about America but in my house this song was about Azania (family there).. Across the lines

Across the lines
Who would dare to go
Under the bridge
Over the tracks
That separates whites from blacks

Choose sides
Or run for your life
Tonight the riots begin
On the back streets of america
They kill the dream of america

Little black girl gets assaulted
Ain’t no reason why
Newspaper prints the story
And racist tempers fly
Next day it starts a riot
Knives and guns are drawn
Two black boys get killed
One white boy goes blind

Little black girl gets assaulted
Don’t no one know her name
Lots of people hurt and angry
She’s the one to blame



I love Jill Scott and I especiallylike when people do more with their voices than simply wailing about love lol. This song Rasool was deep

His name was Rasool/ Carmel complected boy from the 22/ Rough on the outside/ But inside he was cool/
Rasool was a king/ But also a fool/
Back on the block again with the same crew/
Tariq from the west side / Little John form the avenue /
Always seen 'em bout a quarter to two/ Shaking hands with everybody/
But at the same time sharing the blues/ And ooh he passed it on /
Shaking hands till what was in his pockets was gone/
He’d be outside in the cold with his bubble goose on / But inside /
Somehow I knew he wasn’t warm/ Around 10:30 on that dreary night/
His boyz said they were hungry and
wanted to get a bite/ Now they didn’t send a runner/
Rasool knew it wasn’t right / But he stayed anyway tryin' to get the chain he liked /
And oh how the shots rang in the streets/ Hittin' everybody in the surrounding vicinity / Children of children /
One young father to be / And Rasool lay dead on my north Philly Street /
At fifteen years old/ It was the first death I’d seen / But in years to come there'd be many many brothers slained/ Tryin' to win at the game/But the game ain’t designed for no kind of winning /
And oh this is a friend of Rasool/ Begging you to think about what you do and who you call your crew/
The very choices you make/ May make a Rasool out of you/
Now you don’t want that do you?/ You don't want that do you....

Reminds me of Nonchalant around 95 who had a raptune 5 0 clock in the morning which was good too.

@dm

dont forget that when RPF were going to liberate Rwanda from genocide it was TRACY CHAPMAN's (talking about the revolution)who they played as their theme song after all day of fightig

First up, is Earth Song by Rufus and Chaka Khan. The whole Ask Rufus cd is fire, but this moves me in particular for some reason.

Earth Song-written by Chaka Khan,Tony Maiden and Traude Sapik

Sun...
How can I thank you
You’ve warmed my heart and soul
You’ve made my body brown and smooth
Washed away the cold
Moon...
You’ve made a dreamer out of me
I can see, and I think I can feel it when you
Change your face
Please forgive me if I turn away
I’m just a sleeper
I know that you watch my dreams
You’re my heavenly keeper

Heavenly keeper
Heavenly keeper
Just a sleeper
Heavenly keeper, oh ¨c

Stars...
What a mystical woman that you made me
I’ve seen of times before the human race
As long as I’m breathing
As long as I can move
I’ll be strong
Cause I know you’ve always been in the place
Please forgive me if I turn away
I’m just a sleeper
I know that you watch my dreams
You’re my heavenly keeper

Heavenly keeper
Heavenly keeper
Just a sleeper
Heavenly keeper

Never, never, never, never
(repeat)

Next up is Zimababwe, by Bob Marley. He wrote this specifically about Zimbabwe's liberation, but I think it's applicable to Black struggles, worldwide.

Every man gotta right
To decide his own destiny
And in this judgment
There is no partiality
So arm in arms, with arms
We will fight this little struggle
'Cause that's the only way
We can overcome our little trouble

Brother you're right, you're right
You're right, you're right, you're so right
We gonna fight, we'll have to fight
We gonna fight, fight for our rights

Natty dread it ina Zimbabwe
Set it up ina Zimbabwe
Mash it up ina Zimbabwe
Africans a liberate Zimbabwe

No more internal power struggle
We come together, to overcome
The little trouble
Soon we will find out
Who is the real revolutionary
'Cause I don't want my people
To be contrary

Brothers you're right, you're right
You're right, you're right, you're so right

We'll have to fight, we gonna fight
We'll have to fight, fighting for our rights

Mash it up ina Zimbabwe
Natty trash it ina Zimbabwe
I and I a liberate Zimbabwe

Brother you're right, you're right
You're right, you're right, you're so right

We gonna fight, we'll have to fight
We gonna fight, fighting for our rights

To divide and rule
Could only tear us apart
In everyman chest
There beats a heart
So soon we'll find out
Who is the real revolutionaries
And I don't want my people
To be tricked by mercenaries

Brother you're right, you're right
You're right, you're right, you're so right
We gonna fight, we'll have to fight
We gonna fight, fighting for our rights

Natty trash it ina Zimbabwe
Mash it up ina Zimbabwe
Set it up ina Zimbabwe
Africans a liberate Zimbabwe
Africans a liberate Zimbabwe
Natty dub it ina Zimbabwe
Set it up ina Zimbabwe
Africans a liberate Zimbabwe
Every man got a right
To decide his own destiny