Iv. rememory

In this song I’m seeking to highlight themes consistent with Black people from Gen Y and Gen Z who I’ve been able to talk to. Themes of being open and upfront about feelings and emotions. Recognizing where we come from, but also a fearlessness in regards to all things, career wise, value wise, not holding onto certain unhealthy patterns that may have been inherited. A general sense of progressing forward and what that means. Caring for and showing love. “Promise you’ll sing about me, Promise you won’t forget me” is a recurring lyrical, melodic, and ideological theme that travels through this project. At this point in the project’s arc, in this context, to me it means advocating to include the voices of younger people, whereas earlier it may advocate for not forgetting where you come from and respecting your elders.

Sonically I wanted this to feel the most futuristic. Although that’s there, there are still different vocal samples and chord progressions that pay homage to the past.

C H O R U S
Promise you won’t forget me
Promise you’ll sing about me
Tell me you’re proud of me
I need some reassurance
I need belief and courage
I’m carrying all these burdens
So promise you

V E R S E 1
All I need is for someone to believe in me
I been having trouble receiving me
It must be a mix of PTSD
Covered in worry bout needing green
See I ain’t just worrried bout feeding me
I gotta represent for the family
I’m needing all this pressure to be released
See I don got dreams on dreams
I remember building the team
Tryna find a place in the world
It’s difficult you know what I mean?
Focusing on pushing it forward
Focusing on ways to endure
Making space to feel all the feels
Making space to really go heal
And really go hard
It’s all for the squad and Lawd
All I know

All I know is my inheritance strong
All I know is if we building the bond
Then even if we struggle still we go far
The city going through a change of the guard
City never seen the wave that we on
Similar to making moves on The Ave
But look at all the range and placed we got my Lawd
All I know

Time gon move and time gon change
And with every change some things still remain
My mama taught me bout community
And all the tax that come with opportunity
And how to write a eulogy for all that ruins me
All I know
All I know is that we lit lit lit
All I know is that we hold up

I know the system wasn’t built for us
I know that builds a stronger will for us
I know our story been erased from the ground
But never from spirit
My family lit anybody could get it
My hustle is strong big shout to the village
We building it up to give to the children
The work never finished I live this
All I know

C H O R U S
Promise you won’t forget me
Promise you’ll sing about me
Tell me you’re proud of me
I need some reassurance
I need belief and courage
Carrying all these burdens
So promise you won’t forget me
Promise you

V E R S E 2
Self determination gotta be strong
Self evaluation gotta be taught
All I know is how to really work hard
Do what I can and leave the rest up to God
Sometimes I think there’s too much I know
Like knowing why and where the money will flow
And why they still don’t open up all the doors
Oh Lawd all I know

Working towards some new solutions
If you feel it deep within then do sum (something)
There’s a movement happening
The truest tapping in to build a revolution
All I know is there’s lots of hope
All I know is that the culture is dope
All I know is that the message is clear the future is here
And baby all I know

C H O R U S
Promise you won’t forget me
Promise you
Promise you’ll sing about me
Tell me you’re proud of me
I need some reassurance
I need belief and courage
I been carrying all these burdens
Promise you
Promise you won’t forget me
Promise you

M I D - O U T R O
Every Black kid’s a star
It’s even better when you know who you are
To the kids
Keep going hard

V A M P
Promise you won’t forget me
Been a minute
Been a minute
I been waiting way too long
We been waiting way too long
Liberation
Elevation
We been waiting way too long
We been getting hate too strong
Promise you won’t forget me
Promise you

Oh I promise
Oh I promise
I been waiting
Celebration
Liberation
Hesitation
In a matrix

O U T R O
I gotta whole lotta Black Gold
I love a whole lotta Black souls
Even if I’m down I would never fold
Never doubt that we finna make it home