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COLORED

by Def Sound

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1.
I am Far from decoration; I'm vibration Translation A Movement Expand sacred That Few get A language In high cadence I'm watchful of my steps In the presence of High pavements Meaning, Taking nothing for granite Thee signal I got it clear Don't worry bout who don’t make it Show love to whoever's here X3 Show Love I am Zoe Leonard in 92 A poem trapped inside of you The rhythm written you vibing to When life feels as empty as buildings full of silent rooms Get in touch w/ what's guiding you What’s Goding you What’s driving you What’s prodding you Fear get it out of you This is prayers before the interview Right before they hire you Fuck that job I just hope that this inspires you Like.. [Entro] The present is just a present if you open it We could fill the whole room w/ our openness The present is just a present if you open it
2.
Opening Verse :: the streets where they grew us at mirrored scenes from MIRAMAX I wasn’t banging that I wasn’t banging gats this is not glorified I wasn’t interested this is pre-gentrified I was an instrument couldn’t be sensitive this my ANTITHESIS picture this living conditions This is Photosynthesis My memories photogenic this 12th ave and Jefferson that was my innocence that’s the beginning of this was my genesis surrounded by Dorsey and Crenshaw wrote what my pen saw wrote where I came from can’t take my skin off my skin isn’t a trend nah Nah this ain't for show fam Nah, this aint a spin off Nah this is what I’m born w/ birthed w/ a birthright reversing the verse like Nah this ain't my first life this feeling is good like raps at the GOOD LIFE this feeling is good like melanin in sunlight yea Closing Verse :: I grew up Seventh-day Adventist that means really really different that means Saturday I rested I guess if heaven’s got a ghetto tell me do it got a guest list are you sheep or you just Shepard? obedient or desperate because God knows the difference g I was filled w/ something they was shooting like they filming something I was selling candies I was 9 or something That’s a blue caddy didn’t see it coming all i seen was dumping all i see is dumping in one blink my instincts clutched my soul ducked and rolled in bushes till they skrted off blocka blocka tried to block it out I was Serge Ibaka every time I heard a bucket backing out (Backing out) heard back fire’s tried to play it off Like I didn’t jump like I wasn’t shook like they didn’t dump right in front of us how you know those ain't firecrackers dawg? you feel it in yo gut! Homies all had super soakers pretending I pulled the trigger pretending I wasn’t triggered fronting in front of mirrors pretending I’m pointing fingers years later I’m sipping poison daily we dodging prison 4 years on that unemployment living within the moment Power I spent my hours how I spent my hours? I’m living I’m living albums Ha You know me and thee squadron in a vacant condo, you know ? squattin now the dreds across my face move like drapes I see through all thee see through's I read through yea I see you I’m a seed too I need water word to mother earth we need fathers learning how to treat women before we have our daughters You know? try to treat her like she’s water treat her like she vital treat her w/ some honor treat her like she’s golden treat her like she matters treat her like you love her Treat her like she’s hours Treat her like she’s color treat her like she’s power treat her like she’s ours. ---
3.
CLEAR’s Verse : You feel like a Saturday You feel like I'm mattering You feel just like I just got home Took off my clothes My dumb smart phone on airplane mode And I feel like I'm getting old More wise than I've ever known I love to grow and glow in changes made from braveness I am ageless, so are you and it's good We're all we've ever needed and its good It's good to feel so spacious, such a mood The perfect time to kick back and relax And feel that and feel that, do you feel that Said it's such a mood It's such a mood Yea yea we did Yea yea we good [Hook] Can you be will you be My Saturday Such feel Like a real saturday spend the day in a daze W/ My saturday Can you be will you be My Saturday Such feel Like a real saturday spend the day in a daze W/ My saturday You’re such a saturday Def Verse: Just cleaned up thee house Walking on a cloud (all my life) gliding through The Shaw With the Windows down (all my days) Yeah the key is hella low but thee tree is loud (Loud af) Woke up this morning w/ Gratitude Blessed on Both of my attitude Do it for the love never for the leverage No i.c.e. in my city only beverage Fame won’t let em love me no I told loneliness to leave me lone activated like a charcoal mask hours lost up in your hourglass And it’s such a mood It’s such a mood (Yea Yea we did Yea Yea we good) [HOOK]
4.
Here’s what I know , I know that i’m destined I cannot be measured I been down like flat tires I’m still on a roll done w/ apprenticeships over percentages black and I’m brilliant Yea fine like comb don’t need to post to know that I’m whole We been conditioned to post to check on our pulse I know you see the glow like Indya Moore love and respect to to Indya moore I’m Drying my tears while I’m binge watching Pose Put some respect on your pronouns I see you are person love you like picture I see you as whole charged like yo crystals your value speaks volumes We’ve had Enough of the lesss yo let’s give them so more I’m more than I prophet I Fuck up all they optics I’m hacking the system You’re not alone black w/ the excellence always my preference Afro indigenous Living my messages updating your system cuz cuz yo shit is old dropping the bombs they thought i was Woj Black w/ the Rob yea they thought I was Whoa And I stopped making sense w/ this a long time ago But I i spit it unlimited drinking my water minding my business I see a mirror I don’t see foes highly intentional look what a pen can do I MIGOS the spirituals We aint dumb but thats how I go The energy possessed be on unlimited scroll We built the pyramids def getting militant How am I penning this? I been here before thats how I know I been here before [Closing Verse] yea bro thats how wild I am turn burning man into birmingham go on costra nostra on these culture vultures if ya’ll be dripping guess i’m an ocean Ok I super soaker super saiyen i’m just saying full disclosure oh my goodinness young and definitive ya’ll be so shook w/ it I’m wearing my confidence don’t i look good in it city on back just like my hoodie is If seeing our selves and freeing ourselves that’s what revision is When you’re ancestorie is hidden That’s what a prison nice and I’m decorated voice of a generation My soul is solar I don’t need a generator exchanging my innocence for an audience Heart on my sleeve I guess I’ll wear it if the trauma fits Ain’t no rules in this shit Stuck on a loop like a gif We getting slave master money cuz look how glorify whips It really don’t matter how much money you get or how impressive your lil following is Race isn’t real but how it oppressed you is Fam While all your fav artist canceled I’m eating plants bruh They shoot us w/ hands up in the mirror only time i’ve seen an answer.
5.
part (aye) : I been waiting on acceptance I been hating on my blessings been trying 2 see weakness as weapons blind art dealers be selling our perspectives to top bidder we swear we don’t respect em 5/5th’s compromised half way humanized swallowed truth vomit light they sliced the pie w/ a dirty knife then they deal you a part aye do a deal w/ you but only deal w/ you half way thats the art of thee deal but whats thee deal w/ my art? wait been trying just to try less been trying vibe less w/ w/ thee very vibeless been staying jah bless and far less jobless and hardship is hard shit and it really aint a contest tell me how you deal when you aint got a deal probably how you feel when you ran out of pills cops keep shooting like they ran out like we ran out of film __________________________ part (be) : I’m eating pizza no problems present I feeling destined I feeling extra I air conditioned I am a real one real black man making all white decisions I don’t wanna deal w/ thee guilt I don’t wanna deal w/ thee real I don’t wanna deal I just wanna deal but forreal I make a deal i make wanna deal that appeals that make a nigga feel w/ a house on a hill I got a grill I very ill I very boujee I baldwin hills I got thee acres I got mules I dotted line I dotted line I dotted line sign a deal w/ your job I dotted line sign a deal with your god I dotted line I dotted line I got a deal new I got a new deal installed where do I sign for deal with applause where do I sign where do I sign where do I sign just to deal w/ flaws where do I sign for a deal when I fall? let’s sign a deal let me hop on this call who got thee bill I know thee deal hop on this deal Some deals are shady some deals are shading beneath money tree’s that we swung from like daily tell me does my self work equal what my self worth really is myself pride really just myself curse tell me does their sell work? ummmm tell me does this cell work? ummmm because nobody is answering if America's a show I think it needs canceling I might need counseling tell me what thee real is tell me where thee deal at tell me where thee deal live deal behind thee deal is we don’t read thee fine print we just wanna sign it where do I sign where do sign get your life redesigned where do you sign get the life you decide I know thee deal thee deal with my deal I never had one and I know I need one coming where I come from and that really bothers me that be the deal and that really follows me I need a deal to build on my legacy I need a deal that helps me deal with jealousy i need a deal that makes me a better me i need a deal that allows for a family I need a deal but what am I promising? ---
6.
BORING PPL 05:59
[Hook] who’s dating who how much ya make photo’s of your food thats some boring news selfie stick your face allergic to thee fake did it for thee gram thats thee boring truth I be talking shit but I be boring too You know? less to say more to do Verse 1: boring ppl everywhere boring ppl everywhere i don’t care i don’t care boring ppl everywhere boring ppl w/ boring names write it on they underwear boring ppl be hella weird don’t say hello rather stare boring ppl are morning ppl boring ppl be snoring ppl boring ppl don’t make decisions boring ppl don’t own opinions my boring ass your boring ass Let's get together and be boring assess Boring ppl Hook: who’s dating who how much ya make photo’s of your food thats some boring news selfie stick your face allergic to thee fake did it for thee gram thats thee boring truth talking shit but I be boring too less to say more to do Verse 2 :: boring ppl hate this recordings boring ppl aren’t supportive Boring Ppl eating portage there’s never a shortage boring ppl w/ no perspective Boring Ppl I don't respect em boring can’t concentrate boring ppl are common place boring Ppl won’t like this Boring probably bite this Boring Ppl doing stand up Boring Ppl saying hands up Boring Ppl still paid the ticket Boring Ppl won't comprehend it Won't like your music Boring Ppl love gimmicks HOOK who’s dating who selfie stick your face did it for thee gram thats thee boring truth Verse 3 boring ppl don’t listen deeply Boring Ppl be hella greedy Boring selling cd's boring ppl love meetings boring ppl eat Quinoa Boring Ppl trying to link up boring ppl like to go to war I talk to boring ppl but i to keep it short Boring Ppl w/ no action Boring Ppl be so lackin Boring Ppl so old fashion Boring Ppl wear steve maddens Boring Ppl w/ no passion Boring take ten years to write one damn caption Keep boring ppl out your orbit Boring Ppl can't see ya aura They ride w/ you Kinda Sorta this song is boring It's hella pointless it’s not important why did it make on thee album? I don't know Tell me Do you like my outfit? (I don't know) Is your father Robert Townsend ? (I don't know) BONUS VERSE boring ppl so washed up boring ppl trying to rinse you boring ppl w/ less talent underpay and try to rent you boring ppl playing damn games boring ppl are so brand name boring ppl say thee same things in the same ways boring ppl driving mustangs boring ppl talking close up knowing damn that they breath stank boring ppl don’t brush teeth boring ppl like hate speech boring ppl hate forign ppl and I call them ppl Nazi’s boring ppl wanna change the subject boring ppl are afraid of substance boring ppl watch Game of Thrones boring ppl can’t take a joke boring ppl aint vulnerable boring ppl hate vegetables Low key boring ppl are incredible ---
7.
[Verse 1] Another body on my timeline fire burning up in my soul don’t let them gentrify your vibes black mirrors on all our phone I don’t know what to believe do you know what to believe we saging against thee machine tho but to fully believe in this American Dream then you gotta be fully that asleep tho [Verse 2] No more hold up’s can hold me best shooters this this year was steph curry and police this verse was just loading injustice is on some unlimited scrolling they watching us closely you spend you owing you spending not owning You got it then show me I got it I spend it I got it I spend it I put on for my city i don’t own my culture think I lost my signal dumbing down for dollars did you dim your wattage? did you do thee numbers? prison doors are open schools are steady closing lessor of two evils those aint really choices learn to rap or dribble sign for some course indebted to a college going through thee motion numbing your emotion what you mean emotion those aint really poppin plot it only thickens are you truly thinking? Jesus wasn’t Christian [Verse 3] Amiri Baraka Mumia Assatta Baldwin and Hurston and Garvey Yassin Hampton and Malcom Langston and Douglass Angela Davis AND ISHMAEL REED Odun and Oshun Shakur and Ali Morrison Butler don’t forget King give life through our speech live on through are bars your life is a a bar be light in these streets Nina Saul Aja Umi Tesla Angelou Giovanni Ester Carver Bobby Seale Prince Wheatley real ppl endangered species I know why thee caged boy sings Jim Crow out to clip wing low brow but it’s high key Can’t arrest an idea let your heart sing They could never stop me I’m about that Get Free I aint with misogyny I’m about that Free Ayyyye
8.
[verse 1] I keep it 100 w/ 5% tendencies everyday we be making black history channeling the energy of a Pac off the Hennessy my guy in my rap can’t no find lie it’s wrap that come w/ fries thats a gyros I’m idol you be rapping for some likes I be rapping for survival omg know your worth don’t compromise confidence go multiplied raw energy breathe empathy I aint having fun I’m having life pay homage game, blouses keep your playlists and your genres find me up where thee clouds is dropping songs dropping tonics Hiyaya iconic good karma drop jewels (Juelz) Santana whole time my mind on mañana Alvin Ailey with thee dance moves Gary Payton w/ thee trash talk Jim Carrey with thee Mask off snap through w/ the flash off since a younger adolescent never less than all my lessons black inner essence shining bioluminescent like… HOOK :: (keep going keep going) (keep going keep going) I been waiting on this I been working on this All my life All my life Verse 2 :: decolonized and I’m ancient I identify as I a sacred don’t minimize for the matrix unmemorize all thee cages I don’t need nominations to validate all of my greatness just venmo thee whole payment double disc deffery (oh kay) on my own settings (oh my) Live the bars Heal em all Spit a poem them in awe synagogue Ceilings off Meal it raw Dinner fork Dinner for Ayeeee (reversed) Hook outro ---
9.
[Verse i ] : Is it really too late? it aint safe like villain who wastes no time just shoots no blanks wont wait 4 thee hero 2 sayyyy wait till our very first date when time moved fast @ a very slow pace she makes me feel dumb in a really smart way she's the sun in a really cold place headstart in a really long race bookmarked on a really cool page or a really good line in a really bad play now thats a really cold game like trying 2 fit thee sky on a really small plane when it really is real then it really aint fake when you’re really in love means really insane [Hook] : fine i will leave so find what you need love so blind I can't see all i know is that you're ….. [Bridge Verse] : we can play house music @ my house stupid that's what she said me that's what she said me paint thee town red w/ me [Post Verse] : your my holiday your my right away your my right on time never 2 late nev never 2 late I don't know where you are tonight you feel 2 far tonight out of this world where a car can't ride I'll just wait here for you ..... [Hook//Outro .]
10.
[Verse 1] I wrote these lyrics in the dark scribbled on my sleeve meaning from the heart now I’m sitting in a park mentally in park I just every single part to be like that's my favorite part wipe the sleep from your third eye whispering good morning to your sunrise and we the sun dies we love like we bout to talk until our phones die this Sunday I’ll skydive and paint the sky tie dye on the first, try like tada oh your not impressed? that's a stupid magic trick when all you need is trust all you want is us But you don’t need a song you don’t need a poem you’d rather have it shown you’d rather have me home rather look you in the eye than be looking @ my phone from brainstorm to a typhoon way back like haiku back in high school me and you rendezvous in your iTunes my mind is a window and I just hope you climb through she was the drugs and the pharmacist blessings and sinus’ thee plus’ and the minus’ rewinding this reminding us but don forget just how fine you is girl you mess my grammar up even thee analyze thee analyst they mad at us count on me like an abacus time couldn’t measure the span of us I’m just trying 2 Lazarus thee last of us .... CHORUS: Baptize me in your vibe, please you're all I need and I can't breathe w/o ya you're my water my water my water............
11.
Just close your eyes and trust the vibe We’re getting free there’s a whole world you can’t see w/ eyes We’re getting free leave all your fears and doubts behind We’re getting free Connect w/ contact Love is the high We’re Getting Free knock down walls and let in the light We’re getting free put down phone lets look inside We’re getting Free

about

“Written over four years the COLORED project became so dense we felt the need to create a space for each movement,” says def.sound. “Disc 1ne taps into the idea of returning home, ancestry, and understanding your value. It’s a walk through a rose garden, thorns and all, and at the end, you still leave with a bouquet. In contrast, Disc 2wo represents where we are going next, without ignoring where we have been. We have to know what our chains are in order to break them. The second disc starts with a song called ‘Revolution’ and ends with ‘Fresh,’ a full-circle representation of the journey and transition between each part of the project.”

Inspired by Zora Neale Hurston’s 1928 groundbreaking essay, How It Feels to Be Colored Me, def.sound’s COLORED is a sonic tapestry of triumph, trauma, ancestry, and power. These cultural influences have helped shape def.’s vision for COLORED, engaging two artists in conversation, spanning time to form a dialogue on identity. Echoing Hurston’s language in service of establishing his own, COLORED is a living lexicon, letting listeners consider their own complexity and complexion. Being all at once timeless and unapologetically now -- the project is a meditation on the past that points forward to the future. Crafted with care to transport and awaken, the two-disc album is a proud and unapologetic product of Los Angeles. Rhythms and lyrics take listeners through def.’s LA, dropping pins from 12th Ave. and Jefferson to Leimert Park; from 54th St. Church to The Slauson Supermall. Moving, funny, thoughtful, and bold, the poetry and sounds of COLORED lives with listeners long after its final note plays.

credits

released July 23, 2019

Executive Produced by Hossien Lavashak for Mango Disco Records and def.sound for SOUTH CENTERED.

All songs mastered by Kelly Hibbert (almachrome.com)

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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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