I'd encourage you to listen to the song and read through the lyrics before diving into the post.
Used to dream of leather jackets and black berets
Black fist raised wishin’ I was back in the day
With the courage of Tubman I’d be conductin’ a train
Bet I sit with Rosa
Bet I march with King
Bet I wouldn’t take nothin’ from the KKK
Bet I BPP
Bet I Stokley C
Bet I Bobby, bet I Huey
Bet I fight for we
Bet I need to snap back, reality check
I ain’t been to near one BLM protest
Yeah I post a lotta talk ‘cause I’m so upset
But it’s kinda complicated and I’m not the best
at time management I gotta lotta stuff to do
I can’t officially join but I support the crew
Too broke to donate, Ima pray for you
But the shirt so dope, Ima cop me two
Stop modelin’ y’all
We got work to do
All hands on deck
Get on board
‘Cause this ain’t politics anymore
We need
all hands on deck
Get on board
‘Cause this ain’t politics anymore
We need
all hands on deck
(Izzi Ray)
I’m an independent woman
And a fighter and a lover
And a singer and a writer and
A whole lotta other
All of the foremothers been runnin’ a marathon
Carried the flame far
Now they passin’ it on
Don’t forget how they died
Don’t forget how they lived
Don’t forget what they gave
Everybody that did what they do
You don’t gotta be a Martin Luther King
What if Sojourner never said a truthful thing
What if Frida never painted and Nina she never sang
What if everyone despised what they had to bring
To the table don’t you ever think it isn’t enough
‘Cause the party isn’t catered this joint is a potluck
You got to show up laced ready and set
No half-steppin’ ‘cause this battle gonna take
All hands on deck
All hands on deck
Get on board
‘Cause this ain’t politics anymore
We need
all hands on deck
Get on board
‘Cause this ain’t politics anymore
We need
all hands on deck
(Jackie Miclau)
What’s crackelin’ peeps
It’s young Jacquelyn, peace
To my squad, Rip city to Romanian streets
I’m the daughter of some immigrants
Tired of the ignorance
People are people and that should be the end of it
But I know it isn’t so I got to play
Woman of few words with a lot to say
Don’t speak
Just listen as I tap the keys
Cause every revolution need a symphony
Sumthin’ to march to while fightin’ the good fight
My fingers do the talkin’ I don’t ever need a mic
But since they gave it to me girl you know I gotta slay
High heel revolutionary faith all day
(Liz Vice)
Liz Vice checkin’ in on the mic
I’m a west coast kid
wit’ an east coast life
Moved to NY to find peace of mind
and maybe a nice guy unafraid of my shine
My ladies don’t hesitate
to be all that you was made
to be because you afraid
that you might intimidate a dude
I promise you
Your strength is beautiful
To all who really know the God
Who created you
Love to the haters
And the ity bity boys
Afraid to see the ladies
Makin joyful noise
We gave you all life
We hold half the sky
Too fly to be shy
Come dance wit’ me bruh
(Lucee)
L, U, C, Double E
J, A, Double Z
Used to be embarrassed that my hair so cuddly
Then I got woke and broke my hot comb
Now I’m rockin’ shows full blown afro
Finally I see the beauty in my own soul
Singin’ love songs for those with low hope
Rebel with a cause
Rebel with a guitar
Dominicana you don’t wanna step to my bars
But on the dance floor you can step to my bars
Bachata if ya gotta
Shout out to DR
L. Jazz bringin’ light and sass
I’m a brand new woman
with a broken past
But I know I been forgiven
so my hope is phat
for the future and the present
You can toast to that
14 - All Hands on Deck (FT Izzi Ray, Jackie Miclau, Liz Vice, & Lucee)
In hip hop, the song “All Hands On Deck” is what you call a cypher. A cypher is when a group of rappers stand in a circle, often with someone beatboxing, and each artist raps one after another, usually with no breaks between. The proverbial mic is passed seamlessly from one rapper to the next the way you would pass a baton in a relay race. Cyphers are often impromptu and happen at parties, on the street corner or at a park. When a studio recorded songs is called a cypher, that means there are a lot of rappers on the song, usually 4 or more, and sometimes no chorus in between verses, as is the case with the last 3 verses of “All Hands On Deck”. When I first got the idea to include a cypher, my mind immediately thought of all the friends I wanted to spit a verse on the song. I quickly realized, there were no women on my list. This reminded me of the sexism present in hip hop and myself. Despite the fact that women are avid supporters and listeners of the genre, there are very few women celebrated in any aspect of hip hop. There are not many successful women rappers, producers, or DJs. This reality has nothing to do with lack of interest or talent in those areas, but rather lack of opportunity. Hip hop is a boys club. Women are often excluded, exploited or tokenized in hip hop culture. As someone who grew up in hip hop culture, I do this subconsciously, instinctually. When I realized I was doing this, I wanted to go beyond the tokenism of inviting one woman to join the cypher, instead I decided to have a cypher in which all the featured rappers were women (aside from myself). Be it hip hop or any other space in culture that discriminates against women, we must admit there is a problem, move beyond tokenism, and be intentional about inclusion.
The song itself is about mobilizing the masses to participate in the doing of justice. When I was younger, I wished I could have participated in the world-changing demonstrations of the American Civil Rights Movement. Bittersweetly, my wish has been granted. Recent events have revealed that institutional racism and racial wounds in the U.S. are deep and festering. With increased awareness of police brutality due to technology, with incarceration rates of black Americans being grossly disproportionate, with the unexpected outcome of our latest presidential election, the nation is more divided than it has been in recent years. Though some progress has been made, we are fighting institutionalized racism and white supremacy just like so many justice-minded Americans before us. I realized, whatever I am doing now is exactly what I would’ve done in the 60’s, or during slavery. If I am not proactive about fighting injustice today, what makes me think I would have stood for justice when doing so was far more risky?
Used to dream of leather jackets and black berets
Black fist raised wishin’ I was back in the day
With the courage of Tubman I’d be conductin’ a train
I fantasized about my activism. If I was alive back then, I thought, “with the courage of Tubman I’d be conducting a train.” This is referring to The Underground Railroad, a network of homes, churches and secret places that assisted black American runaway slaves on their journey to freedom. The lead navigator of a particular escape mission was known as the conductor. A former slave herself, Harriet Tubman is the most famous and successful conductor of the Underground Railroad. As a black person, participating in the Underground Railroad was gambling with you very life, yet the arrogant part of me assumed I would definitely have been clever and courageous enough to be a conductor.
Bet I sit with Rosa
Bet I march with King
Bet I wouldn’t take nothin’ from the KKK
Bet I BPP
Bet I Stokley C
Bet I Bobby, bet I Huey
Bet I fight for we
My delusions continue as I liken my courage to that of the leaders of the Civil Rights Movement. I assume I would have had the fortitude of Rosa Parks to be defiant in the face of segregation laws which tried to make her give up her seat for a white passenger on a public bus. I also put myself shoulder to shoulder with Dr. Martin Luther King. Stokley C (C for Carmichael) was an outspoken black activist involved with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). Bobby Seale and Huey P. Newton were co-founders of the Black Panther Party (BPP), and of course, I consider them my would-have-been contemporaries as well. The Panthers were known for wearing black leather jackets and black berets. This is what I was referencing in the opening line of the song.
Bet I need to snap back, reality check
I ain’t been to near one BLM protest
Yeah I post a lotta talk ‘cause I’m so upset
But it’s kinda complicated and I’m not the best
at time management I gotta lotta stuff to do
I can’t officially join but I support the crew
Too broke to donate, Ima pray for you
But the shirt so dope, Ima cop me two
Stop modelin’ y’all
We got work to do
Halfway through my verse, I snap back from my daydream. Fact of the matter is, there are so many opportunities I’ve had to stand up for justice that I have not taken. I am a huge supporter of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement in theory, but to this day I have not attended one of their protests or participated in any of their demonstrations or programs. Though I post about my anger at injustice often on social media, my minimal actions do not seem to match my apparent zeal for the cause. I haven’t given much money to organizations fighting for justice either. I had all these realizations early in 2017 and wanted to do something about it. As a creative, I sought to do what I do best, for the cause. I have occasionally addressed these issues in my work, but I decided to be more intentional. The album “A Time Like This” is my most significant contribution to the fight for justice. There is not just a song or two, but the entire album is addressing different justice issues. It’s time for all of us to do more than tweet and wear BLM T-Shirts. “Stop modelin’ y’all, we got work to do.”
All hands on deck
Get on board
‘Cause this ain’t politics anymore
We need
all hands on deck
Get on board
‘Cause this ain’t politics anymore
We need
all hands on deck
(Izzi Ray)
I’m an independent woman
And a fighter and a lover
And a singer and a writer and
A whole lotta other
All of the foremothers been runnin’ a marathon
Carried the flame far
Now they passin’ it on
Don’t forget how they died
Don’t forget how they lived
Don’t forget what they gave
Everybody that did what they do
You don’t gotta be a Martin Luther King
What if Sojourner never said a truthful thing
What if Frida never painted and Nina she never sang
What if everyone despised what they had to bring
To the table don’t you ever think it isn’t enough
‘Cause the party isn’t catered this joint is a potluck
You got to show up laced ready and set
No half-steppin’ ‘cause this battle gonna take
All hands on deck
Izzi Ray is part of my creative family. She is a courageous singer/songwriter with strong convictions. Her album “Liminality” spoke boldly on faith, romance and feminism. Her sound is best described as soulful dark power pop with hints of rock and R&B. On “All Hands On Deck”, she delivers a smooth verse that summarizes the theme of the song as well as the whole album. Izzi’s verse emphasizes the importance of community in the fight for justice. Everyone has a part to play. She raps, “you don’t gotta be a Martin Luther King”. Although Dr. King played an incredibly important role, we do not need to aspire to be King-like figures ourselves. In fact, there were significant downsides to the structure of King’s leadership. Historically, many different justice movements had one thing in common, they were heavily dependent on the leadership of a select few male leaders. When too much power lies with a few individuals, this benefits the opposition. If opposers are able to discredit, discourage or assassinate a few select leaders, then the entire cause suffers greatly. That is precisely what happened with King, Malcolm X, Huey P Newton, and several other leaders and movements. Ella Baker was heavily involved with many organizations and leaders in the Civil Rights era, but she herself intentionally stayed out of the spotlight. She was not ashamed of her position, but sought rather to empower others, with little concern about being recognized for her leadership. She wisely explained,
"I have always felt it was a handicap for oppressed peoples to depend so largely upon a leader, because unfortunately in our culture, the charismatic leader usually becomes a leader because he has found a spot in the public limelight... The major job was getting people to understand that they had something within their power that they could use... You didn’t see me on television; you didn’t see news stories about me. The kind of role that I tried to play was to pick up pieces or put together pieces out of which I hoped organization might come. My theory is, strong people don’t need strong leaders.”
When the power of the movement comes from a community as a whole, you can’t simply destroy a few individuals and stop the movement. We need all hands on deck. Izzi goes on to list powerful women who all made significant contributions to the cause of justice in many different ways. It would be absurd for these women to consider themselves less important simply because they did not have quite the following or limelight of a leader like Dr. King. Izzi raps, “What if Sojourner never said a truthful thing? What if Frida never painted and Nina, she never sang? What if everyone despised what they had to bring?” Sojourner Truth was a former slave and travelling preacher/abolitionist, Frida Kahlo was an early 20th century Mexican painter who defied cultural standards of beauty in her personal style as well as her art. She lived with a sense of liberation uncommon to women in her day. Nina Simone was a singer turned activist who realized the power that music played in the fight for justice. She sang empowering songs like “Young Gifted and Black”. All of these women made significant contributions to the cause and each and every person can do likewise. The aim is not to be the singular hero who fixes everything, but an active member of the community. Izzi raps “What if everyone despised what they had to bring to the table? Don’t you ever think it isn’t enough, ‘cause the party isn’t catered, this joint is a potluck.” Just like a potluck picnic, no single person is responsible for feeding everyone. Potlucks only work if each person brings their best to the table. So it is with revolutionary activism.
All hands on deck
Get on board
‘Cause this ain’t politics anymore
We need
all hands on deck
Get on board
‘Cause this ain’t politics anymore
We need
all hands on deck
(Jackie Miclau)
What’s crackelin’ peeps
It’s young Jacquelyn, peace
To my squad, Rip city to Romanian streets
I’m the daughter of some immigrants
Tired of the ignorance
People are people and that should be the end of it
But I know it isn’t so I got to play
Woman of few words with a lot to say
Don’t speak
Just listen as I tap the keys
Cause every revolution need a symphony
Sumthin’ to march to while fightin’ the good fight
My fingers do the talkin’ I don’t ever need a mic
But since they gave it to me girl you know I gotta slay
High heel revolutionary faith all day
My homegirl Jackie Miclau is a creative collaborator and classically trained pianist who can get down in just about every genre. She played a solo on my blues album “No Ugly Babies”. At the end of the song “Po’ Boy Clean,” I keep yelling “Play that Jack!” As Jackie goes to town on the keys. She is usually quiet and soft spoken in social settings, but as the daughter of two Romanian immigrants, she has many thoughts and experiences concerning issues of justice, bicultural and bilingual living. Here colorful insights are usually expressed in wordless piano compositions. She is indeed a “woman of few words with a lot to say.” Many people assume standing up for justice always requires words. But Jackie proves that wrong. She brings what she has to offer through passionate and dramatic compositions that can convict and motivate you with the same strength of a thoughtfully prepared speech. Jackie raps “don’t speak, just listen as I tap the keys, ‘cause every revolution needs a symphony. Something to march to while fighting the good fight. My fingers do the talkin’ I don’t ever need a mic.” Jackie is also a fashionista with a zeal for high heels. She will be fighting injustice in style, “high heel revolutionary faith all day.”
(Liz Vice)
Liz Vice checkin’ in on the mic
I’m a west coast kid
wit’ an east coast life
Moved to NY to find peace of mind
and maybe a nice guy unafraid of my shine
My ladies don’t hesitate
to be all that you was made
to be because you afraid
that you might intimidate a dude
I promise you
Your strength is beautiful
To all who really know the God
Who created you
Love to the haters
And the ity bity boys
Afraid to see the ladies
Makin joyful noise
We gave you all life
We hold half the sky
Too fly to be shy
Come dance wit’ me bruh
Liz Vice is a dear friend and frequent creative collaborator. Like so many women, Liz is gifted with amazing talent and courage, but along the course of her life, sexist culture has taught her to hide her gifts, lest she be seen as arrogant, aggressive or controlling. Yet the same qualities in a man would be celebrated as confidence, power and leadership. Liz has become fed up with a culture that encourages women to shrink themselves in order to preserve the fragile egos of men. In her verse, Liz encourages women and girls to embrace all of who they are. “My ladies don’t hesitate, to be all that you was made, to be because you afraid that you might intimidate a dude.”
One of the reasons Liz felt the need to shrink herself, is a desire for a male partner. But she realized that she wouldn’t want to be with a man who was intimidated by her strength anyway, so why hide it? By living out all of who you are, you only repel small-minded men, not the ones worth your time. She raps “your strength is beautiful to all who really know the God who created you”. Anyone with a mature faith in God believes in the equality of women and celebrates their giftedness.
(Lucee)
L, U, C, Double E
J, A, Double Z
Used to be embarrassed that my hair so cuddly
Then I got woke and broke my hot comb
Now I’m rockin’ shows full blown afro
Finally I see the beauty in my own soul
Singin’ love songs for those with low hope
Rebel with a cause
Rebel with a guitar
Dominicana you don’t wanna step to my bars
But on the dance floor you can step to my bars
Bachata if ya gotta
Shout out to DR
L. Jazz bringin’ light and sass
I’m a brand new woman
with a broken past
But I know I been forgiven
so my hope is phat
for the future and the present
You can toast to that
Lucee is like a sister to me. We’ve had countless conversations full of tears as we’ve worked through insecurities about physical appearance as well as shame from past mistakes. In this verse she celebrates the personal growth. “Finally I see the beauty in my own soul”. The healing has allowed her to become a healer and sing “love songs for those with low hope.” In conversations with her, she will often say, “My music is not about me.” Actually, Lucee’s songs often are about her, written by her, about her personal experiences, however she recognizes that her gift of music is much bigger than her. Her songs might be inspired by her experiences but they will often relate to and encourage many. Lucee has accepted divine forgiveness and no longer feels shame from her past mistakes, but rather is a champion of hope. “I’m a brand new woman with a broken past. But I know I’ve been forgiven so my hope is phat for the future and the present you can toast to that.”
All hands on deck
Get on board
‘Cause this ain’t politics anymore
We need
all hands on deck
Get on board
‘Cause this ain’t politics anymore
We need
all hands on deck
Grace and Peace,
Micah
