1. No Translation (produced by Mikey Fresh)
2. Concerning the Case of the Disappearance of the Homeless; An Open Letter to the Mayor of Denver (beat by Boonie Mayfield)
3. Still a Blessing (beat by Boonie Mayfield, featuring vocals by Amadeo Miera and Melissa Ivey)
4. Everyday (beat by DJ Icewater)
5. Everybody (beat by DJ Icewater)
6. WAY BEYOND (beat by Babah Fly)
EP Mixed and Mastered by DJ Icewater
“No Translation” recorded by Mikey Fresh at Soul City Studios
All other tracks recorded by Role Pley at Late Nite Studios
Cover art by Karma Leigh
A special thank you to those who have contributed time, artistry, energy, inspiration, thoughts, prayers, curses, sound, sight, voices, ears, roadblocks, bridges, intentions, trust, strength, alma, purpose. You know who you are.
2014: We go way beyond.
lyrics
Concerning the Case of the Disappearance of the Homeless; An Open Letter to the Mayor of Denver
Chorus:
I wanna talk to the mayor
cuz the governor
And the president feel outta my reach
(I hope that you ain’t outta my reach…)
I.
Dear Mr. Mayor, I’d like to write you to inform you
Of a situation I’ve encountered here in your city
See here in my city it’s getting really cold
I’m talking freezing toes, zero temperatures
And I’m concerned sir… about the homeless
If they ain’t disappeared seems there’s nowhere to go
I don’t know if you know, but I think that you do
That poor folk in your city are getting the iron boot
It seems it all started in the fall of Occupy
When You were elected to be Our Guy
I mean Our city, not the Big Money coming in
But Occupy was crushed, and then we saw a camping ban
Cleaning up downtown for business but erase the faces
Of characters who put Soul in historic places
Now fences wrap around Maestas Park and Sonny Lawson
Where poor people stay (Denver Rescue Mission)
Chorus
II.
Before the first frost I was shooting hoops, Curtis Park
With my ten year old sun, then the cops come
It was Saturday, it was broad day yes
They issued warnings… to everybody looking homeless
I mean just looking poor, can you imagine that?
Time to show your papers in Jim Crow land
I try be a man, explain this to my sun
Who loves Dr. King so he too got a Dream
I’m breaking down things, then the cops circle back
Enforcement roll in thicker, now they’re there to issue tickets
My heart is feeling sicker, it’s time to leave
My sun says “Dad, I will never be police”
III.
Denver Post, they write reports about the homeless
Prostitutes and drug dealers on them Park Ave corners
But Mr. Mayor, I have to write to inform you
I know some rich folks buying sex and drugs too
And me, I like sippin’ wine and eating good food
Don’t make a lot of money but I love to travel too
And now and then… I even dress like you
Once in a blue moon I rent me a really fancy suit
It’s true so this ain’t out of disrespect for you
But how bout policies that show respect for the poor
For the homeless, for the workers, as Denver’s rearranging
People disappearing—gentrification
IV.
Maybe I write to you sir cuz I’ve been cold between homes
But I got a car and friends and I made some ends
I’m close again to being in my own building
A new apartment, I’ll outfit it with some Goodwill
And I don’t write you as activist, nor an artist
Everybody know there ain’t no dough in being conscious
Those days long gone, and so is Civics
Those days of Occupy… something to remember
Diversity of Denver I don’t want to miss it
Poor folk, bi-racial couples, refugees and immigrants
Thank you for your prompt attention, Denver resident
Signed “Concerned Citizen”, Thank You for listening
Outro Chorus:
I wanna talk to the mayor
cuz the governor
and the president feel outta my reach
(sir I hope that you ain’t outta my reach)
(I really hope that you ain’t out of my reach)
I wanna talk to the mayor
you asked for my vote
and now I’ll take a moment to speak
(you asked for my vote, you gave me some hope)
(now I’ll take a moment to speak)
Outro:
There are times my sun when somebody needs to speak
and that speaker, it may be you
yes it may be you…
“Molina may be the only MC in Denver who has transcended being boxed into any particular facet of the scene.” – Denver Post
RVRB
“Things have changed, and every now and then, an artist puts their account of life’s changes into play, all over phat beats. Molina is that artist. A culturist who balances his revolutionary politics with his ability to rap like no other..." – Westword...more
