This track is a movement, it is an opening, and it is all written by Black fathers for their children to feel more freedom in talking about their feelings, breaking gender molds and interrupting patterns of racism.
THE STORY
#100kMasks is inspired by the work of Ashanti Branch and the Ever Forward Club (as you can see in film, “The Mask You Live In”): “All young men have the desire to be fully alive – to be loved, respected, held in high regard, held to high expectations, held accountable for their actions and supported to help achieve their goals.” We wanted to create a song that reflected the pressure and emotional suppression that continues to cycle against black and brown boys and trans masculine children. How can we break this? The lyrics are written by black fathers - artists who are breaking that cycle in their families, allowing our children to feel, share their feelings, and be seen beyond the mask.
lyrics
VERSE 1:
You know I’m sorry I’ve been raised on a binary with a stance That says girls are delicate and soft and boys are hard with heavy hands
They’d say get over it
When I didn’t really understand
The knowledge passed undermanned
Misinformed disenganged
Not well planned
Wasn’t even aware I couldn’t stand it
I was told to rise above it
Really just cover it up meaning stay stranded
Man up with the branded
Wishes will be granted
Just put all your pain hurt and love into this bag man
Don’t worry that no one’s askin’ but assuming how you feel though
You and I both know you’re really not allowed to emote
Every emotion to be concealed
To be continued never revealed
Scratchin on broken wheels of steel
The Record is warped and not real
Oh man
We ain’t gotta do the bro dance
We above the bromance
We can feel what we can when we can how we can
Now we can now we knowin’
We runnin’ past cycles of history like jesse owens
Being mind blowin
CHORUS:
I’m wearing yesterday
Cuz somethings in the way
Some layers have to peel
So I can see what’s real
I wanna know how it feels
I wanna know how you feel
VERSE 2:
They say that boys shouldn't cry
You know that's just a lie
It's time to sideline them bad mind and rise
To be a man is something that you'll understand in your own time Please don't rush things'll be fine
To be aligned in yourself is most important
Your health is your wealth life provides an assortment of challenges
Find your balance and be still
Lift your family and community
cause this is how we build from the
Bottom to top top to the bottom
Can get caught in the negative cause problems we all got ‘em Still we flourish I wrote these rhymes nourished
You're heart with some strength love and courage
Don't be afraid you know the way they can't define you
God blessed you beautiful it's time to find you
You're living proof you got the truth wrapped up inside you Now it's time to let it shine through
CHORUS
credits
from The Love (GRAMMY®-nominated),
released August 8, 2019
CREDITS
Written by Tommy Shepherd (Felonious Music ASCAP), Yaw Opoku Agyeman (Agyeman Arenas Publishing BMI), Zumbi Zoom (S. Gaines for Ajna Blue Music ASCAP), Derrick Okoth (All Family No Friends/This All We Got Music BMI).
Produced by D.O. Speaks & Street Symphony. Vocals produced by Jeff Kolhede. Vocals: Tommy Shepherd, Yaw, Zumbi Zoom (Zion I), Ashanti Branch. Vocal Scratching: Tommy Shepherd. DJ: Wonway Posibul. Recorded at Zoo Labs, Oakland with engineers Jeff Kolhede and Kevin McCann and in artists’ studios in Oakland and Chicago.
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