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WESTSIDE

by Def Sound

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about

The concept for Westside is that is an urgent game of telephone calling out and calling into all male socialized folks to gather the gall to change when it comes to how we treat and regard women. It’s holding the complicity and nuance while standing up against the programming we were given and are often rewarded for. We're unpacking a lot of generational luggage on this one. Inspired by bell hooks’ books ‘The Will To Change’ and ‘All About Love’, Westside is a courageous offering. To go West is to go left. I made this in service to all the women I love and who have loved me. I made this because I believe we can change.

lyrics

Hook:
Westside
We are going westside
West west west west westside
Westside we are going westside
Coming from the south on the westside
x2

Verse1:
Some conversations be difficult
Some confrontations be spiritual
Calling in from the avenue
Talking to all my brothers
Who get defensive and feel accused

Couldn't be me I was more of a feminist
Wasn't beating on women
(also) Wasn't condemning it
Complicit w/ every homie I kick it w/
Thinking how I didn't participate but I didn't dip

Integrity means not being split at your soul's seams
Programming be so deep
Let go of them old tings
Screaming for Revolution but Loyal to patriarchy then none of us get free

Are you healing your harm Or just worried about being canceled?

Leading it by examples hoping that this gets sampled
And you pass it on to the homies
That pass it on to the homies
That pass it on to the..


Pre chorus:
Coming from the south-central
Imma take it west side
Imma take it west
Westside
I'm take it weeeest
Coming from the south to the westside
Imma take it west tttt
We are going west
Imma take it west

HOOK


Verse 2:
My ambitions as a writer
grew up hand on the Bible
Told my dad I ain't a preacher
Nah
But I wrote my own gospel ayeeee


Letting go of the toxic
Letting go of denial
Trauma was hand me down
Healing it in the now

Know that I got some faith in you
Know that this generational
Luggage that we unpackin compassionate as we practice bells hooks on the daily chapters
Doing the daily work no audience out here clapping

I believe in my brothers
I hope that I pushed a button
Hope that it push you forward
Hope that it push yo comfort


Aren't you done w/ the same?
Aren't you done w/ the shame?
Recycling all the pain, don't you know that you brave?

We need you this thing is urgent
We need you to grow the courage And practice change like an instrument
Hope this moment is medicine

credits

released November 10, 2023
Written by Emmanuel "Def Sound" Ricketts
Artwork Photo by Rio Nior
Song produced by Lightfoot
Mixed by Brandon Kilgour
Mastered by Kelly Hibbert

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about

Def Sound Los Angeles, California

Def Sound is an Afro-Caribbean transdisciplinary artist. born and based in South Central LA. Def is a non binary Grammy Award considered contemporary hip-hop artist, producer, published poet, and award winning academic. Def is currently teaching Hip Hop Critical Theory & Practice at the California Institute of the Arts. ... more

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