“Vibrating off love, not the frequency of fear.”
Today’s a good day
know it’s finna be sweet
I’m listening to Dom on Kennedy street
remembering the west coast where the energy’s sweet
I did my yoga this morning so my memory’s peaked
but anyway, off-grid shit, nothin to tweet
the city’s still filling up with those who dance off-beat
more than a hundred forty characters and all of em weak
they walk by, low eye, act like they can’t speak
they walk dogs–when I say that I don’t mean their feet
that’s cause they scared of their neighbors, them they don’t wanna meet
but anyway, this is third generation for me
my parents and my grandparents all from DC
so I feel like I notice things other folks can’t see
And like I represent things other folks can’t be
and I remember
all Black on the green line
and all the kids had jobs in the Summertime
say what you want about Barry, but he cared for the poor
and that ain’t who these new fools working for
I tell em, “That aint who these new fools workin for”
they tryna kick us all out and just build more stores
[HOOK]
but anyway, i could go on forever
bout all of the bull
that I’m tryna make better
or even about me and the twenty first letter
I feel like I know you
even though we ain’t together
live forever
ok, you gettin money
well I’m gettin piece of mind that you can’t take from me
so I feel I’m doing fine and as long as I love me
I follow my own signs and the world can’t judge me
pretty or ugly.
and now these speed cameras send me pictures in the mail
I hate this city sometimes, but oh well…
what can I do? pay the damned ticket
think it’s unconstitutional but I don’t picket
there’s other battles, other cages to rattle
they still lockin us up and tryna herd us like cattle
I talk about it cuz nobody else tattles
they takin juveniles to Iowa, sayin that’ll
teach em
but it won’t.
I swear on everything this system is a joke, not rehabilitation
and it’s not about hope
it’s about the corporations,
ten dollar soap
and ten dollars for ten minutes on the phone till you broke
where they recording every single word that you spoke
they probably ignoring every single word that I wrote
cause if I ain’t burn it down I was only blowin smoke
[HOOK]
Today’s a good day, no suits to meet
I’m walking, wishing on stars and kicking trash in the street
I’m passing liquor stores, churches, they both selling dreams
a Carry-Out on every corner, they don’t need triple beams
to kill us all
nah, they’ll do that with the wings (chicken)
a man selling Street Sense in a wheelchair sings
I give him a dollar, but I know that he wants change
and not the kind that jingles but the kind that’ll take the pain
the kind that Obama aint bring
I pray I’ll one day look back and say we all overcame
I came so far still a space remains
the finish line ain’t even in range, I maintain
focus, I hope this helps
I hope that we all ain’t only out for self
still I hope that you will never doubt yourself
know you can do anything you wanna do, yourself
and that’s real
will go on forever …bout all of the bull-shit I be tryna make better
or even about me and the 21st letter I feel like I know you eventhough we ain’t together
live forever
okay, you gettin money
well I’m getting peace of mind that you can’t take from me
so I feel I’m doing fine and as long as I love me
I follow my own signs and the world can’t judge me
And anyway, I’m just speaking from my heart
eventhough the industry is tryna keep us apart
eventhough my enemies be steadily throwing darts
I’mma make it to the end, man I said it from the start
so play your part
and your position
pen and paper’s like the pots when I’m cookin in the kitchen
if I serve it up hot, know the people gon listen
gon give it all I got, I’m the link that was missing
no more wishing
cause I’m here
vibratin off love
not the frequency of fear
I’mma keep it right there and watch the hate disappear
everyday is my year
get that sh*t clear.
“…and I know I, I know who I am. A QUEEN, yes QUEEN, I always will win when I love LOVE the skin that I’m in. Yes, I love LOVE the skin that I’m in!”
[Hook]
I love my selfie just how I am
No perm, no weave, no bleaching, no ma’am
I’m beautiful
Just the way that I am
So beautiful
Just the way that I am
I love my selfie just how I am
No perm, no weave, no bleaching, no ma’am
I’m beautiful
Just the way that I am
So beautiful
Just the way that I am
My hair defies gravity
it’s like I’m magic
they imitate me
they can’t stand it
how I do what I do
so proud to be me
you just be you
My shade–this shade–my shade is all mine
kissed by the sun
the light make me shine
I like to see myself every time
you see my beauty if you ain’t blind.
[Hook]
I love my selfie just how I am
No perm, no weave, no bleaching, no ma’am
I’m beautiful
Just the way that I am
So beautiful
Just the way that I am
Now why would I go dye my hair blond
my natural hue could never be wrong
And why would I go bleach out my skin when more strength comes from my melanin
And I know I, I know who I am: a queen, yes queen, I always will win
When I love love the skin that I’m in
Yes I love love the skin that I’m in
[Hook]
I love my selfie just how I am
No perm, no weave, no bleaching, no ma’am
I’m beautiful
Just the way that I am
So beautiful
Just the way that I am
If you love yourself
If you
if you
love yourself
if you love yourself
Say I love myself
I love myself
I love myself
If you love yourself
If you
if you
love yourself
if you love yourself
Say I love myself
I love myself
I love myself
[REPEAT HOOK]
Written and Produced by Tarica June
(C) Tarica June LLC 2017
“Do you remember how you look without your makeup on? or how your heart felt before your break-up…on life goes.”
[Verse 1]
Do you remember how you look without your makeup on?
or (meaning) how your heart felt before your break-up?
…on life goes.
The cover-up is worse than the crime.
Why we all use artificial light when we shine so bright
with the lights off?…
run so fast with the Nikes off…
throw away the keys, take the bikes off-road…
and roll to places we never show
take back everything we ever stole from ourselves and
stowed up on the higher shelves, hiding from our higher selves,
we’re wandering under wand-less spells,
it dwells in a place so deep where we speak with
no insecurities
no impurities
pure are these thoughts but they like dirty talk
words doing the dutty-wine, heads-spinnin
it’s fine.
we’ll find level-headedness gets nowhere
we’re all too busy not being beings to care
so we won’t let it go to our heads
let the head push it back down instead
we’re sippin on the same Kool-Aid we’ve bled
put on our best shoes just to be misled
it seems everybody’s singin bout ‘get bread’
but you don’t even see cuz of how it gets said
we’re sleeping on ourselves–we are our own beds
never live up to potential we were fed, we won’t let it go to our heads
[Verse 2]
I’m in a room full of people everybody’s looking down
conversation is nowhere to be found…
cuz everybody’s on their phone
might as well have just stayed home
why come out in public for what you could do alone?
and it’s tv’s everywhere,
what’s on we don’t care.
just stand there and mindlessly stare
buy a couple drinks to remind us we there
in a couple weeks you’ll find us, we there
back there–same spot–more Facebook friends
but less to depend on if ever Facebook ends
the topic that trends
is changing every second
wonder as we get connected, real connections are we wrecking
are we stepping closer to each other or moving apart?
seeing more light or making more dark?
you my Ace, but I don’t know your number by heart
I feel lonelier and dumber
but my phone’s so smart
with a lot of numbers in it
most of em wouldn’t call
pick me up from the airport
or catch me if I fall
so I guess that’s all
I guess that’s all
I won’t let it go to my head, let the head push it back down instead
am I sippin on the same Kool-Aid I’ve bled
puttin on my best shoes just to be misled
and if everybody’s singing bout ‘get bread’
will they listen to me when my words get said?
or am I sleeping on myself?–-maybe I’m my own bed
will I live up to potential I was fed…will I let it go to my head?
“I’m not working the middle; I am rocking all boats, they are clocking all quotes. Remember it, write it down, take a picture, stay woke.”
Guurrrl, tell me why your man’s saying I’m his favorite rapper, and you rap!
Damn, what part of the game is that?
the part where you quit, yes I’m on my own shit
thought I told you I was fly
to compete you try
I and I’s just better.
right now I’m shruggin my shoulders
like whatchu want me to do??
your career is just over
I’m over all of the pettiness, I’m just flyin above it
it concerned with none of the bullshit they covet
so..
hate it or love it, with 50 Cent and a dream
I’m taking The Game to places
your brain has never seen
I’m seen in different spaces, not anywhere in between
I’m not working the middle, the girl is so extreme,
I am rocking all boats, they are clocking all quotes
remember it, write it down, take picture, stay woke
no joke, though I rock like Chris
revolutionary, raised right fist
and it stays like this.
HOOK
I’m ballin out,
don’t choke on my smoke
breathe deep
like your last time takin a toke
keep takin me for a joke
I been tryna tell you
like Craig said,
“Aint nobody playing but you.”
you think she playin???
Aint nobody playin but you.
like Craig said,
“Aint nobody playing but you.”
you think she playin???
Aint nobody playin but you.
like Craig said,
“Aint nobody playing but you.”
D.C. and Pretty Girl County
where it is, soak it up like Bounty
you dont like it, you can get away from round me
if you’re lookin for me lately tho,
Petworth is where you found me
if you know you really hate me, then yo
don’t you dap or pound me
if you smilin in my face and then behind you talkin bout me
claimin that you a believer if you know you really doubt me
I repeat, get away from round me
I am on another level, all the queen goin ‘crown me’
yeah, that’s what they’re sounding as the corners I’m rounding
I’m my own foundation, I don’t need your grounding
size seven in the shoe
size two if we’re accounting
for the waist and in the face
brown skin, not a browning
and they all stay hounding
and them I be ignoring
unmoved like flooring
and that’s just cuz I’m focused,
not cause I don’t care
and yes this is my real hair–had to put that out there
since they ask me
repeat HOOK
You mustve sprayed RAID up in your roach
you soundin crazy right now Baby
check your approach
this ain’t a prank or a hoax
I been tryna tell you…
you smoke too much
ain’t nobody playin but you.
“…when you’re in prison we be feelin locked up too.”
Sometimes I think you men don’t even understand the things that you do
and that when you’re in prison we be feelin locked up too
we’re shackled by our emotions, devotion’s keeping us caged
outwardly actin ok
when actually enraged
cuz we’ve been sentenced to loneliness, restricted to silence
conflicted, feelin type responsible, so inside there’s violence
with indecision and blame
much revision, replaying
of the events leading up to the arrest and we’re saying
things like
if only I had kept him in the house that night
maybe he wouldn’t have gotten caught
and he’d be here in my life
and we be doin our best at puttin up a resistance
to the inevitable force of the time and the distance
like me for instance
I try to offer sanctuary
many letters, much money in your commissary
it’s scary cause we’re still being torn apart
though I still could never leave you,
that’s not in my heart
every weekend go to see you, subject to gettin searched
cause I feel as though I need you, that pain couldn’t be worse
visiting room, no privacy,
that shit hurts
so every single meeting is a gift as it’s a curse
I feel my heart is bleeding after beating, need a nurse
I’m nursin all these feelings, though I’m spilling them in spurts
never speak em till now, keep em zipped up in my purse
with my lips pursed up
and the kiss is like church
the pews full of regrets
this is good and as bad as it gets
the irony is gettin us mad as it sets in
you say “write” I say I will, real heavy
nothing but death can keep me from it, like Nettie
still I wish that I could toss this moment up like confetti
have it come down transformed to the day when you met me
would I do it all again? I don’t know–don’t upset me
you the only one in the world to ever get me
so I’m gonna stick it out with you, I know no other way
and I love you every minute
but resent you everyday
I say
I’m gonna stick it out with you I know no other way
and I love you every minute
but resent it everyday.
“I will be talkin bout the way they cuff and arrest us, how we tryna survive and all they do is distress us.”
[Verse 1]
I’m over hope
I’m over change
and other dope Obama slings
I’m over anger and disdain
just take this country out my name
I won’t be payin none its bills
cleaning none of its messes
or stimulating economy at the mall buying dresses
I will be talkin bout the way they
cuff and arrest us
how we tryna survive
and all they
do is distress us
American Dream deferred
oh yes it stinks
yes it festers
and yes
Sam sh*tted on us
while tellin the world He blessed us
and we stay fallin for it
thinkin we were some investors
reaping the benefits
of the blood of ancestors
but still
be slaving daily for the sons of their oppressors
and yet
we only barely be payin for them semesters
Man, Sallie Mae
is a pimp
if I see her, I’m gonna slap her
I’m tellin the truth for all of my peoples who may come after
this is
the type of truth that you shoulda heard from your pastor
the college system’s a racket that only ends in disaster
they wanna get you in debt
so they’ll be ownin you proper
and you’ll never be a threat
cause of everything they taught ya
makin thieves
and murderers
Bob said it first
in this Babylon System
blood is the thirst
of the Babylon System
[Hook]
Babylon System
it is a vampire empire
(repeated)
[Verse 2]
Lately I’ve been thinkin maybe I should board a plane
and journey to the places that started this whole thing
maybe start a small farm
grow beets, sugar cane
may squash,
maybe cabbage
even some plantain
maybe have a couple babies
a yard with a swing
walking distance to the water
where the big trees swing
with fish in my belly
the mission in Belly was the same
Motherland, Motherf*cker: the meaning of what I’m sayin
and I ain’tplayin
and I ain’tplayin with this
Babylon System
[Hook]
[Verse 3]
They wanna turn you into blinds
have you blocking out the light
They wanna take over your mind
So you never feel right
They wanna make you unkind
make you fuss
make you fight
take your trust
make you grind
so you never take flight
they wanna
own you
and control you
and dethrone you
and then clone you
and then patent that
and use the seeds to take over your habitat
and after that
they gonna act
like they originated it
put a logo on it
tell you they germinated it
when really knowin that’s some shit that they could never grow
they all up in your fields
reapin what they didnt sow
Man, this whole f*ckin system is a big freak show
I ain’tpayin for the ticket and I aintgon go with this
Babylon System
[HOOK]
“In a way I feel like I am flyin, to shoot me down they tryin; I be tryna dodge it, tryna outsmart they logic.”
Sometimes I feel me stepping out of this body
I feel like I should just probably
be making it or just
ending it all
and other times I feel like living forever
I feel like I could really make it
whatever I do I feel like I’ll be great
it’s
up and down
strong and weak
grounded in quicksand and concrete
I speak silently
love so violently
hands in my pockets, balled up into fists
I take em out sometimes, open em, and blow you a kiss
I wisk myself off to dreamland puffin a jay
I don’t smoke
but I feel at certain times of the day
like when the sunset’s orange, leaving the sky gray
the earth looks how I feel when it cooks that way
and in a way I feel like I am flying
to shoot me down they tryin
I be tryna dodge it
tryna outsmart they logic
find lodging in a strange land
comfort in shaking strange hands
and refuse the strangest demands
I emerge unscathed and
unbehaved
uncompromised
fuck what they say
always emerge unscathed
and
unbehaved
uncompromised fuck what they say
I’m uncompromised
ignoring what they say
uncompromised
I’mma make my own way
uncompromised
you can leave
you can stay
stand firm
don’t sway
everyday
all day
I’m uncompromised
ignoring what they say
uncompromised
I’mma make my own way
uncompromised
you can leave
you can stay
stand firm
don’t sway
everyday
all day
Sometimes I wish that I could just disappear
and end up on the other side
like instead of down here
cause everybody wanna go and fuck up your career before it starts
you tryna put it together
they sit and pick you apart
I’m like
pardon my dust I’m under construction
but still obstructin YOUR shine
so what the fuck we discussin?
this is my style and it’s mine
I’m signed to God
your labels can’t touch me
I go at my own pace
you can’t rush me
y’all mixed up like a slushie
fakin you got the solution
it’s more like a suspension
yeah, in chemistry class I paid attention
not to mention
that I’ve never gone with what the world says
leaning not unto your knowledge is the way I know the ledge
today they want you in red
tomorrow it’ll be blue
I’m over here in this yellow yellin “you do you!”
and none of what they said turns out to be true
I keep my headphones on now
you do you
I’m uncompromised.
“A crush only crushes its holder, it holds her hostage, it’s haunting, it’s heavy so much so it’s daunting, darting out of suggestion…”
[VERSE 1]
each day that I don’t tell him is a waste
a waste of truth
a waste of time
eventhough I save face
it’s not not worth it
cause a crush only crushes its holder
it holds her hostage
it’s haunting
it’s heavy
so much so it’s daunting
darting out of suggestion
shooting them down if they fly in my direction
answering no, with no matter what the question
keep the blankest expression
blanket response is that he could never want me
if he does
why won’t he confront me?
I wish that he would come and front me a few kisses I’ll give em back when I’m done with them
the glances are gangsta, they shootin, I’m tryna run with them
they come with ’em
bigger than the ones the cops use
I’m dying over here, I am so fuckin confused
I love you like a bandit
ducked down in flat shoes with sunglasses cant stand it at times I feel used from
space in my heart, no rent paid
hours and hours thinkin of you and no sense made
can’t buy a clue
let alone a vowel
unfortunately
I am spinning on this wheel
will you please come and get me
no YOU cause it’s no vowels, unfortunately
I am spinning on this wheel would you please come and get me…
[Repeat]
…no YOU cause it’s no vowels, unfortunately
I am spinning on this wheel would you please come and get me off…
[Talking:]
Now to anybody who’s never had a crush
this probably sounds like gibberish
But for anybody who has, this is like the gospel
right?
but to be more
direct
it’s like..
With each word that I don’t say I disappear
Cause I feel like I’m invisible whenever he is near
writing songs like these cause he’s never here
never look him in his eyes, paralyzed by fear
they need to take them things to my chest, press clear
maybe then I’ll snap out of it and I can be sheer
meaning more see-through
meaning more sincere
though I’ll never admit it,
he could get it like
yeah
yeah.
“All it takes is for them fools to see you with a dude sometimes, they’ll use that as an excuse to claim ‘he must be writin her rhymes’.”
Hello to the Game that won’t say my name
cause it don’t know it
Destiny is not an orphan
or adopted
I will show it
and bestow it
pon the people
who say “who?!”
when they mention me, pull
up a chair,
your darkest pen,
the sharpest Sharpie that’s ever been
and write this down
mark my words
nay sayers and ‘never heards’
will never phase me
not one bit
it’s inevitable,
made for this shit
just a matter of time fore they admit
though they manage to sign the opposite
of everything that I represent
stil I do my own thing
and I represent
to my own world, that’s where I went
stay camped out
in my own tent
just writing these rhymes
half the time to vent
truth-telling is how the other half gets spent
that’s despite the too-high percent
sleeping on my like they was bent
passed out at a party with a liquor-ish scent
not licorice candy
(you know what I meant)
I’m minty fresh to this game
real mint, not candy canes
or them green ice creams
know what i’msayin?
hold out your hand
shake mine,
it’s nice to meet you
probably want me on your team now that you see that I can beat you
but I probably won’t be down
just stay up in the underground
so solo is how I’m found
in DC when they see me around
all it takes is for them clowns
to
see you wit a dude sometimes
then
use that as an excuse to claim
‘he must be writin her rhymes’
ain’t nobody got time fodat
no sir
she is I and I am her
and that’s the entire clique
and it’s tight–solid as a brick
and I still feel like I roll thick
and I still feel like I mob sick
this is the healthiest hello
goodbye to the bullshit show
of the ass in the avatar
and no passion for who we are
I am passing them from afar
with no gas and just my guitar
so they asking me how I do
I’m like I wish that I knew too
it’s just been something inside
I couldn’t say if I tried
if I lied, I’d say you’re dope
but I don’t
and so I don’t
and the ‘you’ in that is you
if you felt a bit provoked
if you felt hip hop was broke
I guess I’m its only hope
I’mma fix it all up right
we can all sleep good tonight
goodnight.
overanalysis is paralysis
I write
and write
til my hands get callouses
enough paper that could fill up palaces
feeling like it’s finished:
that’s where the challenge is
I challenge myself to a duel
I’m on the drawbridge
everybody’s there
I saw the elderly
I saw kids
all crowded around tryna see what I’ll do next
just
tryna block em out, never think would they expect this
so exhausting
having the cake
wanting to make
the best frosting
so this time they’ll eat it up without coughing
offing
myself in the process
am I
am I making any progress?
yes
is the answer
but it comes slow
I second guess every line
lifelines in tow
and they say I’m bout to blow like the Ford Pinto
but that was ‘fore I was born
I aint get the memo
now they off the bandwagon
they hate the foot-dragging
lagging
they don’t see that fire-breathing dragon over there
just waiting to singe my hair,
swallow pieces of my rhymes and throw em up in the air
is this an unwarranted scare?
I don’t know.
But fa sho it’s a recurring nightmare
and I feel it creep in
every now
and every then
this is what I’m battlin
battlin
and my whole squad on that real shit
cause I’m my whole squad–that’s some real shit
and my whole squad on that real shit
cause I’m my whole squad–that’s some real shit
“…feels like musical chairs…it might not be a place to sit when the music ain’t there.”
VERSE 1
four-unit building with a water tank that everyone shares,
I can’t shower same time as the guy downstairs
this is my life…
feels like musical chairs
it might not be a place to sit when the music aint there
I know when paying my dues no expense should be spared
walk in the room, and everybody look at me weird
like where were you?
and I’m like ‘yo, I was at work’
studio time aint free; bill collectors is jerks
a student loan’s sky high–that’s the truth and it hurts
to see them funds move out when I know all the work
it took to make em
the way they take em’sbeserk
they want the graduate to end up in a button-up shirt
under
fluorescent lights, smile at folks you don’t like
laugh at jokes that ain’t funny
just to make that money
just to make ends meet
touching concrete,
never grass,
never sand,
no sunlight,
it can
wreak havoc on the spirit of a person
the first step’s recognition
the second is reversin
those effects
make life or make checks
the trade-off has got me so vexed
HOOK
and this is my life
feel like I never get it quite right
feel like I never get it quite right
and this is my life
feel like I never get it quite right
feel like I never get it quite right
grateful to just have insight, even if I never get it quite right
grateful to have breath in my pipes, even if I never get it quite right still I’m doin alright
VERSE 2
the best advice my momma ever gave me–can’t depend on no man
can’t depend on nobody
gotta make your own plan
so my nose was in the books, but my head was in the stars
I was writin papers at the same time I’m writin bars
I was sittin up in class lookin like I’m takin notes
when I’m really writin rhymes, tryna get some better quotes
better know
that I still will do better than the rest on the test
but that still do nothing for my stress
the success means nothin if it’s not what you’re wantin
all of the dreams become the demons that you’re confrontin
and all of it seems to be beginnin to just be shuttin you down
your motivation is shot
you dont be comin around
you feel like all that you’ve got that’s understandin the pound
of your heart when it knocks
is the words with the sounds
and it sounds so ludicrous when you say it out loud
your parents like “what is this?”
you wanted them to be proud
and education is real, but it got nothin on love
you gotta do what you feel, and put nothin else above
and step on out on that faith, give it all that it takes
sit back and reap the rewards? these are the highest of stakes…
HOOK
“Dear Hip Hop, Don’t Worry, I Got You.”
TARICA JUNE
