Books a bout you (HisStory)

Setting off Black HisStory month with this video. This video was leaked many moons ago but the actual song was published on Nov 7, 2020 as part of my newest album titled Baby (Being a Black youth). The video is filmed in Seattle public library, Seattle Central Community College, and other places around the Town. I asked friends/fam to show up with kids, kid brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews or whoever. I also want to say R.I.P. for my sister Rahwa who doesn't appear in the video but she did show up to the shoot and she brought her nieces and nephew along, who do appear throughout the video. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 Also, shout out to all the friends and family who participated in making this video happen, including Patrick Richardson Wright & Kyle Johnson who filmed it. And special shout out to Larry Mizell for having the African medallion as a prop, and my Massive Monkees fam, @twixx_mm and @seansteady who was maybe 8 years old when he did that headspin in the video. The whole point of this song is to dig deep. The best story to know is your own story. Also, beware of where you dig for information because not all books are about you, so they really "bout you" and do more harm than good. . Every month is Black HisStory month. _________________________________________________________ Peep the full Baby album here on Bandcamp: https://onebelo.bandcamp.com/album/baby-being-a-black-youth Books a bout you (HisStory) here: https://onebelo.bandcamp.com/track/books-a-bout-you-hisstory-produced-by-eric-g-feat-dj-abilities _________________________________________________________________ lyrics Back when all the Light-Skinned dudes was gettin’ so much attention I was no competition I was so young and different The Pretty lil girls used to blow Bubbalicious No love for a black cat They’re so superstitious More like a black sheep wooly fro when you pick it Jerri Curl had a victim I could show you some pictures But still I had a little bit a confidence Alpha male dominance Bright smile Light brown eyes my accomplice Cruel jokes might distract'em from the compliments but I'm soo cool she attracted to the opposite I didn't know about the Power of Black people cuz Christopher Columbus was a textbook hero He was a textbook hero and We know I shoulda knew more about Malcolm but we only read a chapter and pictures of the Africans in National Geographic was makin’ me embarrased Other kids had laughter From savage to a slave Inferior to a Master My teacher didn't say it but from what I had gathered The Europeans had the biggest impact on world matters Money, Power, Respect! we heard about the characters All about the Franklins Not about the Bannekers I guess you could say The Benjamins like Kim and them Blond hair Blue eyes Nose Jobs Resemble them Really wish Mike could take it back to Ben again He said, “It didn't matter if Black or White, the skin you in" See I agree if you keep it in context But Jesus painted White gave my people the complex and still we’re eager for progress even though The Man shot King in the process Yo I'm older now maybe fourteen fifteen Started learning Black History from Emcee's Portier Cosby and Colon Powell were nice dudes But I relate more to Rakim and Ice Cube And other rappers had African medallions I didn't know the meaning but I knew I had to have one And so I grabbed one and put it It’s on like It’s like It’s like Black y’all I say it loud cuz I'm proud to be Dat y'all My People do great things and that's a fact y'all And we can do more than Rap and play basketball now check it I ain’t teaching y'all to hate White ‘cuz thinking one color’s better than another Yo that ain't right I'm just trynna shed some daylight Larry Bird had a J But Mike taught me how to take flight Now Black kids wanna pay mo' price To stay way mo’ fly but it's way mo' to life You can even ask the Asian kid who made Lo’s Nikes Workin in a sweatshop As the day go by Knowledge Will give you way more Power than say Austin Them textbooks you’re readin' in schools just take caution No offense to Mark Twain and all them Shakespeare plays today Remain awesome But what about Langston Hughes James Baldwin Alex Haley watered the Roots Became a forest And now I'm embarrassed to say I was embarrassed of them Africans Standing in a beautiful portrait They say “The Blacker the Berry the Sweeter the Juice” I had to Love my self So I could even love You You You You You You You You You You You ______________________________________________________________ credits from Baby (Being a black youth), released November 7, 2020 BEAT PRODUCTION: Eric G (Soul Council) ADDITIONAL SAMPLES: OneManArmy LYRICS: One Be Lo ADDITIONAL ADLIBS: Laura ‘Piece’ Kelly ADDITIONAL HARMONIES WRITTEN BY: One Be Lo, PERFORMED BY: Wes Restless SCRATCHES: DJ Abilities PRODUCED BY: OneManArmy RECORDED/MIXED by: Aaron Angus MASTERING by: D Sane VIDEO: Patrick Richardson Wright & Kyle Johnson