Lyrics Break Down: Forest Whitiker

Lyrics Break Down - Forest Whitiker by Brother Ali

One of the main aspects of underground hip hop that has me so hooked is being able to really relate to so many of these lyrics that are out there. They are written by people with different backgrounds and up bringing than me, but yet I'm able to find aspects of their songs that grab my mind and heart. This is the first segment of a weekly piece I'm going to be doing. I'm going to give you the lyrics of a song, and then break it down to what it means to me.

The first song is one of my all time favorite songs by one of my favorite artists of all time. The song is Forest Whitiker, off of Brother Ali's Shadows on the Sun. It is one of the very first underground hip hop songs that really took a hold of me. First read over the lyrics.

Forest Whitiker - Brother Ali

And yo whatever comes up comes out
We don't put our hands over our mouth
And whatever comes up comes out
We don't put our hands over our mouth
Whatever comes up comes out
Please mister bass-man lay it on me

Ayo, Dependin on the day, and dependin on what I ate
I'm anywhere from 20 to 35 pounds over weight
I got red eyes and one of them's lazy
and they both squint when the sun shines so I get crazy
I'm albino man, I know I'm pink and pale
And I'm hairy as hell, everywhere but fingernails
I shave a cranium that ain't quite shaped right
Face tight, shiny, I stay up and write late nights
My wardrobe is jeans and faded shirts
A mixture of what I like, and what I wear to work
I'm not mean and got a neck full of razor bumps
I'm not the classic profile of what the ladies want
You might think I'm depressed as can be
But when I look in the mirror I see sexy ass me
And if that's somethin that you cant respect then that's peace
My life's better without you actually
To everyone out there, who's a little different
I say damn a magazine, these are gods fingerprints
You can call me ugly but cant take nothing from me
I am what I am doctor you ain't gotta love me

[Spoken]

If you would please turn in your bible
To beauty tips according to Forest Whitiker
In the third chapter of the third line
Brother Ali would you please read to the choir for me son

[Sung x3]

I'ma be all right, you ain't gotta be my friend tonight (you ain't gotta love me)
An I'ma be okay, you would probably bore me anyway (you ain't gotta love me)
Forest Whitiker y'all

This song really doesn't need an explanation because it speaks for itself. Since the whole point of this is to break down what it means to me, I guess lets get started.

I have listened to this song hundreds of times and it has helped me get through some dark days and stay happy in the best of moments. I have seen this song live about seven times now. Every time the crowd knows this song word for word.

I believe this is a song that anyone and everyone can relate to. No, we aren't all over weight albinos that are legally blind. That being said, it is still one of those songs that you can listen to and feel that it was written just for you. We all have imperfections and are self conscious. All of us are still great and beautiful in our own ways. We all have features about us we would like to change. I know would like to lose a few pounds off my belly and add some muscle to this skinny frame of mine. The majority of us level headed people know we aren't the classic profile of what the ladies want. And yes I've had my depressed days. But it is all about how you look at yourself in that mirror. It doesn't matter what other people think of you, its how you view yourself. Once you have that confidence in yourself, and say screw what anyone else thinks of you, you can break free and be yourself. Once I was able to get over my depressed days and be happy with myself, a whole new world opened for me. I've now been happily married for 15 months and I am the happiest I have ever been.  To me thats this song is all about. 

To sum it up, we all have our insecurities, but we are all great people. Just be yourself. The greatest feature we all contain is that uniqueness that makes us individuals. So when you look in that mirror, be sure you see "sexy ass me."

Well that's it for the first edition of Lyrics Breakdown. Next week - Guarantees - Atmosphere