AN AFRO-JUJU MEGA-POEM OF DELAYED GRATIFICATION & UN-DENIED GRATITUDE

Songtext

BURG CITY RECORDS IN POETIC COLLABORATION WITH THE JB STUÐiOs PRESENTS; AN AFRO-JUJU MEGA-POEM OF DELAYED GRATIFICATION & UN-DENIED GRATITUDE NEW BENIN XOUL × AFRO-JUJU XOUND First we acknowledge GOD of Juju ad DI MAIN-DOMAIN Before di beat— GOD. Behind di beat— GOD. PROLOGUE — I acknowledge— what carried me, what challenged me, what corrected me, what protected me, what redirected me, what strengthened me, taught me and now fully transformed me. GOD's will found the willing before Dem Juju Xound started to fill Di wound behind Di scars of Dem xouls feeling Dis rhythm freely.. (Rich Ancient Bini Drums Beating Steadily & Heavily before Saxophone) From New Benin to New beginning From Beginning to becoming From becoming into believing. From believing into blooming, From blooming into Grooming, From Glooming to Grooving. From pain to poetry now paying me, from flame to fame now gaining me.. I — NEW BENIN, NEW BEGINNING GOD's love for Juju & Di Continuum awake with a new beginning— fresh feeling, back then for ward six we be believing, Street be stress-testing, beat slowly-becoming, the fame go do the unfolding, family here no-faking love forever be the leading, peace do the pleading, pressure readily hold Dem steady before Dem rising, choices choosing Dem wisely, poetry softly-protecting the voices expressing while channelling dreams through the morning-sun Dem stars we forever shining. Trader dey calculate, creator dey contemplate, buyer dey negotiate, Officers dey always ready to complicate. Money improve, memory move, every hustle carry something to prove. Street talk— quick thought, slick walk, Hand rough no mean hard work, Every corner carry a story; every story store a memory; every memory find a melody; every melody make a body move anytime BRXB start the groove. II — DI JUJU XOUND Di Juju Xound be grooming me— not merely dressing me, but addressing me. Celebrity Steve Not merely styling me, but redefining me. Juju's Guitar string— JB Larius slowly start to sing, swing, ring, Wave DC bring the thing within to the skin. Talking drum— talk, knock, lock, clock. Afro Bass— ground, pound, profound, make di whole room resound. Every note dey coach me. Every beat dey teach me. So when I say— Di Juju Xound be grooming me, I mean— di Xound dey train my ear, strain my fear, clear sleep for eyes, steer my gear, shape my presence, raise my essence. Without applause Dem say Juju no still rush di beginning. Juju no just pause before becoming. III — WAFFI ROOT Waffi— where heat meet grit, where street meet wit, where pressure press but spirit no quit. Rain fall— pain call— faith stand— mind tall. Morning grind— sharp mind. Afternoon heat— No bring defeat Evening strain—make sure no strings attached to the brain. inside all di pressure—within Proving slowly become improving. Improving become renewing. Renewing become rebuilding. Rebuilding become refining. Refining become reconnecting. Reconnecting become recreating. Old root feed new route. New route reveal old root. Memory make movement. Movement refresh the moment. Price rise— eyes realize. No be gra-gra— na grace. No be plenty-petty plan—na pace. No be for clout—na from studio class Dis BLUES BE BLOOMING ME slowly-sung but soft all-along, deep where di memory belong. BRXB prologue be gently blending me, emotionally extending me, opening places I never knew were waiting inside me. Where Juju sharpen— Blues deepen. Where di Xound tighten— Di xoul lightens Where BRXB be teaching timing— Blues be bridging di feelings. Afro-soul notes bend—make all di old wounds suffrey mend. Juju sharpen my language. Blues soften my edges. Afro seal my heritage BRXB show my village Grooming no break structure. Blooming make texture. From beginning we build craft. After becoming reveal every heart. Na from New Benin we start this movement. Delayed Gratification make us resilient But Na Gratitude carry us through every moment. DEEP AFRO SOUL says Go deeper— below di beat, beneath di heat, inside di heartbeat. Afro Soul ask— what remain when di crowd go? What remain when di lights low? What remain when di praise stop? What remain when nobody show up? Di Blues Answer— Our root absolute. The quiet truth. The hidden hurt. Unspoken hope un-mute The memory beneath melody. The prayer beneath praise. The person beneath performance. That na where di BRXB bloom. That na where di Juju Xound groove. Pain press— purpose persist. Struggle stress— spirit resist. GRATITUDE DEY GROOVE Thank You for di Blues. Thank You for di groove. Thank You for di road. Thank You for di root. Thank You for di lessons. Thank You for di corrections. Thank You for di protection. Thank You for di rejection that redirects. Thank You for di delay that unveiled di way. Thank You for di pressure when reveal di treasure. Thank You for di struggle when build di muscle. GOD STILL BE DI MAIN-DOMAIN AGAIN & AGAIN & AGAIN & AGAIN & AGAIN & AGAIN & AGAIN Di Continuum don too improve me.