Notes for Notes® is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing youth with completely FREE access to music instruments, instruction and recording studio environments so that music may become a profoundly positive experience in their lives.
Members of Off The Field Player's Wives Association (OFTPWA) spent Super Bowl Saturday at the Bay Area Notes for Notes studio. Heading the tour was OTF's own Shannon O'Toole. Shannon just brought a Notes for Notes to New Orleans where her husband, John Morton is the Saints' wide receivers coach. The NOLA location is projected to open in May of 2016.
Located in the Don Fisher Boys and Girls Club, the San Francisco Notes for Notes studio is packed with raw talent. OTF members were in awe (and in tears) as several talented young musicians shared their music.
Eighteen year old Mai'saan Delaney was kind enough to grant permission to share his lyrics. Mai'saan's message is empowering, his passion for his craft - inspiring.
Full Lyrics
Didn't grow up knowin it Didn't start off showing it Til I was in my teens my confidence just started growin then Neva had a lot, except this talent that I rock And Im proud it's what I got, so now you'll catch me out cheap ownin it The mindset that I have to Has saved me from getting grabbed Saved me from being ordinary cuz all that is a drag Following the sheep, I'd rather be up in a bag On the way to the coroners so they can find out what I had An old soul, Modern body, Futuristic state of mind Now I'm loving my truly altruistic way to rhyme my people becoming statistics settled in my mind So I tells it how I sees it, my music can heal the blind Hook I always knew I'd have a shot So why my brothas gettin shot I always knew I'd make it big So why my brothas Makin shivs I always knew I'd put in work So why my brothas in the dirt I always knew this what I'd be So why my brothas in the streets Verse 2 Now I'm paving the way Now I'm saving the game Hip hop been dead but now I'm creatin a change I've been going through the process in my mind for a while Forget the queen Ima move my pawns for while Worried for the youth cuz they spawn in denial Parents tripping try to listen to this song for awhile The deeper words inside can lead you to inner truth And once they do you'll join the revolution, we're waiting for you My brother losing hope, losin lives, and moving dope my brothas busting nines and getting dough to stay afloat But why you need to float if you flying higher then coach Get some hope I'd rather smoke my own beat then smoke a roach Your mind is why you are where you are Don't mean to be blunt but you just watching a star Don't mean to be mean but you just hobblin along With the other sheep wonderin where your conscious done gone
Hook
I always knew I'd have a shot So why my brothas gettin shot I always knew I'd make it big So why my brothas Makin shivs I always knew I'd put in work So why my brothas in the dirt I always knew this what I'd be So why my brothas in the streets
Verse 3 So what you think I need, so what you think i speak for We scared to chase our dreams, spooked, we just need to leap more Think outside the box, even if it means to make it crease mo We need to help each other before the system deletes hope I know I'm going out on a limb But then again My people getting out of a win Small wins But even then Take on them without no doubt in ya head That little wins gonna turn from small to really gargantuan Lyrical opposition For those who just wouldn't listen For those who thought they would stop us with women drugs and some riches Huh, you kidding My dreams is way bigga then that I'm living, without bein distracted by any that I'm Killin, negativity with keepin my mind intact My lines been fat, now tell me how where yo eyelids at In the Restin position or are they way peeled back My eyes been on the prize way before I even made this track Hook
I always knew I'd have a shot So why my brothas gettin shot I always knew I'd make it big So why my brothas Makin shivs I always knew I'd put in work So why my brothas in the dirt I always knew this what I'd be So why my brothas in the streets
To listen to Mai'saan's music directly go to https://soundcloud.com/v5ybi50uw14c.
To learn more about or donate to NOTES FOR NOTES log on to http://notesfornotes.org/
To Join Off The Filed Player's Wives Association logo on to http://offthefieldpwa.org/