Tuesday

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)

VIDEO

Responses to "Frank Waln’s New Video Will Blow You Away"

  1. Anonymous says:

    Awesome, time has come too pass. I know the feeling and relate too this young mans WORDS. I am an Indian in England.

  2. Anonymous says:

    Wow! Amazing! Inspiring!

  3. Excellent!!

  4. This comment has been removed by the author.
  5. Anonymous says:

    <3 AWESOME <3 LOVE IT <3

  6. Anonymous says:

    Love it.. Song with spirit and soul in it..

  7. Unknown says:

    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!

  8. Anonymous says:

    Awesome!

  9. He is Amazing!!! :D Very Talented individual!!!!!

  10. Elisha says:

    Love It!

  11. Anonymous says:

    powerful :)

  12. Anonymous says:

    Excellent !

  13. Anonymous says:

    I love it ---- makes me wish for brown skin......

  14. Anonymous says:

    Love It!!!!! so moving and powerful.

  15. Anonymous says:

    been waiting for this for a long time. thank you Frank

  16. Anonymous says:

    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.

  17. Anonymous says:

    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...

  18. Anonymous says:

    Words from the Creator God, this young man is a messenger and brings hope and faith in the Native Reservations....

  19. Anonymous says:

    Great song--Thanks

  20. Unknown says:

    Enjoyed the video but the music definitely needs work.

  21. Anonymous says:

    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!

Write a comment

Stats

Archives

Pages