Outside Looking In

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Gabriel Teodros & SoulChef

Gabriel Teodros & SoulChef is a musical collaboration between hip-hop artist Gabriel Teodros and producer SoulChef. They create soulful and introspective music with thought-provoking and socially conscious lyrics. more »

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The "real Hip-Hop" is a popular myth 
Ideas have their power when they are not fixed 
Grace Lee Boggs knows what it is 
It goes purpose, people, places... 

My city blew up but I don't see myself 
Why? 
I still make music to free myself 
I exist 
Without your permission 
Foundational to the buildings you live in 
Laid over Black folks bones 
Historical omission 
The styles went mainstream 
But somehow it's different 
A poisonous mix of music and business 
These new pop stars used to watch us and mimic 
Younger rappers want to be them 
And don't get it 
It's like the new Hip-Hop is just attracting attention 
For the sake of attention 
If this is what we built, I don't want to be in it 
I'm not here to fit in 
Or to sell you an image 
My ability to write has made more than a living 
It has kept me alive through times when I didn't 
Think I'd survive the night 
Music gave me a vision 
Strength to overcome 
Even when no one listened 

I didn't see myself, why? I still made music to free myself 
Looked at the whole industry and didn't see myself
I still make music to free myself
And I'll do it even if it never feeds myself
I'll still make music to free myself
We're only someone, in relation to everyone else
We still make music to free ourselves

Everything we were ridiculed for then 
Somehow, one day, became a new trend 
How are we now on the outside looking in 
To something that wouldn't exist 
Without what we did 
I used to be proud 
But seen fame change friends 
These films about our scene 
I can't relate to them 
They just blah blah blah on about making it 
It's no different, they only think as capitalists 
As if only in an industry does culture exist 
Disconnected 
"Conscious" when the radio played that 
Those same rappers now do coke and sell crack 
Asian kids say the n-word and get a pat on their back 
Claiming "POC" and staying anti-Black 
My whole city doesn't seem to care that it's gotten wack 
I got love for a few 
Who clearly stay true 
Even when what you've made no longer includes you 

And you find strength in self 
To still make music to free yourself 
On the underground railroad escaping hell 
They were making music so they could free themselves 
Slavery got abolished now except for jails 
Private prisons and media giants fill cells 
Popular rap music brings us back to hell 
How do we make music now that can free ourselves 

I only want to make music to free myself 
How do we all make music to free ourselves 
I only want to make music to free myself 
How do we all make music to free ourselves 
I only want to make music to free myself 
How do we all make music to free ourselves

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