Over time being a hip hop artist and poet that is now an author, I have worked in a lot of different areas and there are certain areas that face certain struggles and issues.
I wrote this track called “Safe” thinking about a lot of the young people I talk to in these areas especially heading home, I always hope they are safe. It’s mad because I might meet some of you only once but I do remember you and always hope you are safe and well.
Earlier on in the year before the lockdown, the national poetry day asked me to write something on the theme they had for 2020 which is “vision: see it like a poet” so wrote and recorded this at home.
I feel like if I had done this now after everything in the world had gone crazy it would be different but I still love this and stand by it!
I have done this with music, without music in primary schools, secondary schools, colleges, universities, corporate functions, festivals, prisons, stadiums, clubs, concerts, the streets and in every kind of situation. The aim is to go in and let your stories, your poetry, your bars and your art speak and hopefully connect in some vital way.
I have a limited time to win people who have probably never even heard of me over. I love it that I am not that known for this reason because when it goes well, it shows that it was only the words and the way I delivered them that connected and mattered. I have no real hype or “fame” to get the crowd going. It’s the thrill of the challenge to deliver that keeps things exciting.
Now I do actually do things WITH music that I made myself (I produce all my music) but when I do it without music to “help” the words connect and people respond to what I’m delivering, it’s a feeling unlike any other. This is what I do. Put me anywhere. I will bring it! I even come off the top of the dome and totally improvise because that’s what we emcees do!
Intro: We are sailing on a damned ship! (8) Through a sea of hatred we slip… (8)
V1: The captain on this vessel, (7) Is bigoted and hateful; (7) His age-old venom will nestle (8) In minds taught to be grateful. (7)
Bridge: What do we do now as the crew? (8) Is there a role for me and you? (8)
Chorus: Mutiny! Kick that captain out! (8) Mutiny! Against prestige shout! (8) We’ve let this run too many days- (8) It’s time we kicked this Caste away! (8)
V2: The best roles and best chances Strengthened the upper classes, Without even second glances, They stepped all o’er the masses.
Chorus
V3: They’ll talk foreign injustice- The horrors in distant lands. Yet will refuse to accept this: There’s Dalit blood on our hands.
Chorus
V4: Honour killing’s still a thing, Cause someone dares fall in love- And in their state love songs they sing- To one from a caste above!
Chorus
V5: If we turn our eyes away To the distant horizon, We fail Dalit comrades today, Trumped by this system wizened.
Chorus
V6: Leave Brahmin priv’lege behind- Support Dalit platforms; Let not more souls the system grind: Yield not to Tradition’s storm!
Chorus
V7: All crew members stand as one! Birth and jobs do not make us- We sail this ship but not for fun; United, naught can break us!
Chorus
Outro: Mutiny! Mutiny! (6) Only then, are we all free! (7) Mutiny! Mutiny! (6) Only then will justice be! (7)
