Welcome to a new series on Krip-Hop, Krip-Hop Break Down Lyrics, where will take a song from a disabled Hip-Hop/musician artist that put out a strong Krip-Hop politics/life storyline (Using Hip-Hop to display true stories about disability/Deaf situations but no overcoming inspirational bullshit) and we will apply our Krip-Hop political lens to explain what it means to our communities, Hip-Hop arena and how we can use these songs for a better tomorrow. These songs will be audio and written lyrics and a few words from the artists about the song. If artists have videos, then we'll add the video in place of the mp3.
First up is Toni Hickman of Houston, TX and her song, People Pleaser that is on her latest CD, Unbreakable, 2015. In this series we will always start out with the artist’s own feelings about their song then Krip-Hop Nation two cents, the original lyrics with the mp3 song or video.
Toni Hickman’s explain her song, People Pleaser of her latest CD, Unbreakable, 2015
When I wrote this song, I was thinking about how our world has all of these standards of what beauty is. We have all of these boxes that we should fit in in order to be what is considered perfect. Everyone is perfect in their own way, so the idea of a categorized perfection is an illusion. This song is simply saying you don’t have to be a part of the illusion. ~Toni Hickman
Krip-Hop Nation (KHN): Like Hip-Hop, Krip-Hop Nation is lacking woman Hip-Hop artists with disabilities when we began nine years ago. As we, Krip-Hop Nation approach our tenth anniversary next year, 2017, we are making little steps of finding and supporting disabled woman Hip-Hop artists. Krirp-Hop Nation ran across the CD, Cripple Pretty in 2012 by Toni Hickman. Her title of her album, Cripple Pretty blew Krip-Hop Nation away and there can be books upon books write about her title. So when Toni came out with Unbreakable once again my keyboard was on fire. Her 2015 CD can be a college course with a lot of homework. The song and video, People Pleaser has deep meaning and a teaching tool for our society and of course the Hip-Hop industry just on the note it’s by a woman Hip—Hop artist with a disability that put together a music video starring all people with disabilities telling us that we just need too be ourselvesThe first verse says it all.
You don’t have to change your ways/ for them to accept you child/ if you do let it be for you/make them respect you child/ you’re beautiful/ amazing/like a fire in disguise you are blazing/I hope you don’t let this world.. Put your fire your put your fire out.
KHN: In the music video of the song People Pleaser the first situation you see is a black beautiful woman sitting at a huge desk and a Black man comes in and sees her beauty and starts to flirt heavily everything is going well until she moves her wheelchair to get some papers then his expression change from flirting to shocking. This is some real shit unfortunately but to see sand hear it on a screen with a real disabled character hits home. Toni is giving her support and telling her it’s not her but society that needs to change. That is the first time I saw and hear a Hip-Hop song talking empowerment to other real disabled persons in a music video. This song is more than empowerment it’s reality there are many woman Hip-Hop artists however some are still hiding because what Toni sang:
From the way we dress to the way we process the images in our brain/ has an effect on the way we see ourselves/ even people make it hard for us to be ourselves/
KHN: With sexism and ableism running wield in Hip-Hop industry today and in our communities, Toni Hickman’s song and music video People Pleaser is a mirror on what can be and should be especially for youth with disabilities. Enough about me here is the lyrics & video of People Pleaser. Go to her website at http://www.tonihickman.com
LYRICS
You don’t have to change your ways/ for them to accept you child/ if you do let it be for you/make them respect you child/ you’re beautiful/ amazing/like a fire in disguise you are blazing/I hope you don’t let this world.. Put your fire your put your fire out.
Chorus: Go head and be great/ go head and do you/but no matter what you do, please don’t be a people pleaser.
People pleaser people pleaser people pleaser/people pleaser people pleaser people pleaser/people pleaser people pleaser people pleaser/please don’t be a people pleaser.
You don’t have to follow them/ just make them follow you/you don’t have to be a bad person/and trust your instincts too/ You’re beautiful/ amazing/ like a fire in disguise you are blazing/ I hope you don’t let this world.. Your fire put your fire out.
Chorus: Go head and be great/ go head and do you/but no matter what you do, please don’t be a people pleaser.
People pleaser people pleaser people pleaser/people pleaser people pleaser people pleaser/people pleaser people pleaser people pleaser/please don’t be a people pleaser.
See you’re beautiful/ amazing/like a fire in the disguise you are blazing..
Rap: From the way we dress to the way we process the images in our brain/ has an effect on the way we see ourselves/ even people make it hard for us to be ourselves/ But I’mma tell you be you/ be the best you don’t worry about fools/ let them choose their own path/ just believe in the light that you have and be Great!
And I hope you don’t let this world/put your fire put your fire out..
Chorus: Go head and be great/ go head and do you/but no matter what you do, please don’t be a people pleaser.
People pleaser people pleaser people pleaser/people pleaser people pleaser people pleaser/people pleaser people pleaser people pleaser/please don’t be a people pleaser.
___________________________________________________________________________
Video linkPeople Pleaser