Sicangu Lakota hip hop artist Frank Waln—who’s also a Gates Millennium scholar—has an incredible new video out. The lyrics to his track AbOriginal reference his home on the Rosebud Reservation, Idle No More, and the plague of reappropriation.
Filmed on the Rosebud Reservation and in the American Indian Center of Chicago.
AB Original Lyrics
Pickup
Look at all around look around at the whole thing
If your skin is brown then you’re down for the old pain
Look at all around look around at the whole thing
If your skin is brown then you’re down for the old pain
Verse 1
Young boy I’m leaving home (all alone)
On the rez I grew up unknown (with my stone)
The world said I couldn’t be king (they disown)
But in the city I can see a throne
Feeling like/ the king of the dammed in a kingdom of sand
Building castles as my freedom expand
Just to watch them fall down as the tides roll in
I’ve never seen a storm come with idle wind
And so I’m Idle No More rap the plight of the poor
Cuz educated warriors are vital to war
And we battling oppression/ got me stressing
Wondering if I’ll ever learn my lesson
Cuz I can’t let me people go (oh no)
And I can’t let my weakness show (You’ll never know)
Even when I’m hopeless and I pitiful
I keep going knowing that I’m AB Original
Chorus A
I got this AB Original flow/ I got this AB Original soul
I got this pain that I can’t shake/ ties to my people I can’t break
Got this history in my blood/ got my tribe that shows me love
So when I rise/ you rise/ come on let’s rise like (Read More)
Filmed on the Rosebud Reservation and in the American Indian Center of Chicago.
AB Original Lyrics
Pickup
Look at all around look around at the whole thing
If your skin is brown then you’re down for the old pain
Look at all around look around at the whole thing
If your skin is brown then you’re down for the old pain
Verse 1
Young boy I’m leaving home (all alone)
On the rez I grew up unknown (with my stone)
The world said I couldn’t be king (they disown)
But in the city I can see a throne
Feeling like/ the king of the dammed in a kingdom of sand
Building castles as my freedom expand
Just to watch them fall down as the tides roll in
I’ve never seen a storm come with idle wind
And so I’m Idle No More rap the plight of the poor
Cuz educated warriors are vital to war
And we battling oppression/ got me stressing
Wondering if I’ll ever learn my lesson
Cuz I can’t let me people go (oh no)
And I can’t let my weakness show (You’ll never know)
Even when I’m hopeless and I pitiful
I keep going knowing that I’m AB Original
Chorus A
I got this AB Original flow/ I got this AB Original soul
I got this pain that I can’t shake/ ties to my people I can’t break
Got this history in my blood/ got my tribe that shows me love
So when I rise/ you rise/ come on let’s rise like (Read More)
VIDEO
Visit Twitter Page
Awesome, time has come too pass. I know the feeling and relate too this young mans WORDS. I am an Indian in England.
Wow! Amazing! Inspiring!
Excellent!!
<3 AWESOME <3 LOVE IT <3
Love it.. Song with spirit and soul in it..
very powerful! very proud of this young man, such talent, passion, integrity, great storyteller! thank you! to all who were involved in this project, Bravo!
Awesome!
He is Amazing!!! :D Very Talented individual!!!!!
Love It!
powerful :)
Excellent !
I love it ---- makes me wish for brown skin......
Love It!!!!! so moving and powerful.
been waiting for this for a long time. thank you Frank
Thx for providing the words to your song, sadly, I cannot hear hip-hop but your's is Inspirational, Authentic, hopeful and makes my heart smile.
Great roll model and very inspirational he reflects the reservation life and the hope and faith that he is a messenger for the Creator God...
Words from the Creator God, this young man is a messenger and brings hope and faith in the Native Reservations....
Great song--Thanks
Enjoyed the video but the music definitely needs work.
Oddly enough this video hit the net on my husbands birthday the year he went to join our people in spirit. He passed in his sleep. But would have loved this video! Thank you very much, you made me remember were my roots and commitment to our people should lay. Thank you again my brother!