How a single song changed my life. Mos Def - Umi Says

[Ed MOTHERFUCKING G]

This is a real story. About a song that hits me every time I hear it.

Umi says came out when I was a senior in hs.

As a young man, you are very lost at this point in your life. I was no exception. I knew I had this college thing at Eastern Michigan about to pop off, I knew I had a good family and was blessed but man, I had no fukkin idea what I was doing. I just knew to try and do my best.

I had a great relationship with my grandmother who would always tell me to just do my best. She once said if I was a bank robber, be the best bank robber I could be.

But man I had no self confidence, and was confused as shyt. Some of you even knew me on boards then 2000/01. At the same time I almost died in my sleep so I was facing my own mortality, and there are a lot of lines that spoke to me.

sometimes a song comes out and its FOR YOU. It hits you, and its like damn, I hope hip hop. Umi says, was that song for me.

I don't wanna write this down
I wanna tell you how I feel right now
I don't wanna take no time to write this down
I wanna tell you how I feel right now, hey (World premiere)

Tomorrow may never come
For you or me, life is not promised
Tomorrow may never show up
For you and me, this life is not promised

• ---for a 17 year old whos parents had just had heart attacks and who also died...this is really profound.

I ain't no perfect man
I'm trying to do, the best that I can
With what it is I have
I ain't no perfect man
I'm trying to do, the best that I can
With what it is I have

• Like a ton of bricks brehs

Put my heart and soul into this song
I hope you feel me
From where I am, to wherever you are
I mean that sincerely
Tomorrow may never come
For you and me, life is not promised
Tomorrow may never appear
You better hold this very moment very close to you
Very close to you, so close to you
So close to you, don't be afraid, to let it shine

• Every moment counts

My Umi said shine your light on the world
Shine your light for the world to see
My Abi said shine your light on the world
Shine your light for the world to see

Sometimes I get discouraged
I look around and, things are so weak
People are so weak
Sometimes, sometimes I feel like crying
Sometimes my heart gets heavy
Sometimes I just want to leave and fly away (Like a dove
Sometimes I don't know what to do with myself
Passion takes over me
I feel like a man, going insane, losing my brain
Trying to maintain, doing my thang
Put my heart and soul into this y'all
I hope you feel me where I am, to wherever you are
Sometimes I don't want to be bothered
Sometimes I just want a quiet life, with
Me and my babies, me and my lady
Sometimes I don't want to get into no war
Sometimes I don't wanna be a soldier
Sometimes I just wanna be a man, but

• 

My dreamers said shine your light on the world
Shine your light for the world to see
My elders said shine your light on the world
Shine your light for the world to see

I want black people to be free, to be free, to be free
All my people to be free, to be free, to be free

That's all that matters to me

Black people unite and let's all get down
Gotta have what
Gotta have that love
Peace and understanding
One God, one light
One man, one voice, one mic
Black people unite come on and do it right
Black people unite come on and do it right
Black people unite come on and get down
Gotta have what
Love, peace and understanding
One God, one voice, one life
One man, gon' shine my light
Black people unite, now hop up and do it right
Black people unite, now come on and do it right
Yeah baby that's what I like
Yeah baby that's what I like
Yeah baby that's what I like...
[Black people, my people....]





It's a phenomenal song. I love hip-hop

 

[vino]

I love this song man. I use to blast this song in the morning when I got up to go to school.

 

[Deltron]

Classic song...powerful story.

 

[Eye Cue DA COLI GAWD]

You're such a terrible poster that the only thing that can change your life for good is suicide

 

[ℒℴѵℯJay ELECTUA]

I love it and feel blessed when i hear a song and it is speaking to me at that specific time when you need a message.
I have that in films too..was watching a shaw bros classic (heroes of the east) and one particular scene was giving me advice about a business deal and also relationship advice..just brilliant!

 

[Amestafuu (Emeritus)]

I used to play that non stop. Could jam it around my folks too... Great record.

 

[AAKing23]

I got songs that make me feel like that too, Music brehs

 

[CHICAGOrilla]

Breh I was a toddler when I heard this prolly like 5 or 6 and when my mom would play it shyt had me like

so grateful I wasn't raised by no goofy thot

 

[-Quikness-]

classic song. classic album.

 

[Ed MOTHERFUCKING G]

I got songs that make me feel like that too, Music brehs

Some just get you every time man...this is one for me.

I always think about how important rap was at that time to me. I lost my mind trying to get the Reflection Eternal Album...I skipped school to get supreme clientele.

I'll never have that again

 

[Soon]

You're such a terrible poster that the only thing that can change your life for good is suicide

Wow.

But...I love how songs never improves people's character, only their self-esteem.

 

[DoubleClutch]

All I know is this song had had the goat music video and jordan campaign.

 

[smitty22]

All I know is this song had had the goat music video and jordan campaign.

Good post Ed

 

[Ohene]

I want black people to be free

 

[Soon]

I want black people to be free

Won't happen the way things are going.

As usual...all we have are low lives with motivational songs in their hearts.