1. |
Frontlines
03:12
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They got these fools closing schools and it can't be ignored
As if our future is a budget line we cannot afford
They got no money for schools, but they got funding for war,
They say the conversation's closed, I say we break down the door,
I say we stand up for our children join together and fight,
Cause you can see that on the surface what they're doing's not right,
They don't deserve this now their nervous that their answer's not right,
And are they gonna lose their school and teacher, yeah well they might,
Cause it's a messed up system as we race to a stop,
Blaming on the teachers, aiming firing shots,
Kids caught in the fire do their best on the tests,
Is this what they desired a class cultured in stress,
With no art, no music, no joy, no love,
The answer is E none of the above
Cause my people are strong with passion they're right here,
And we're saying stop this madness loud and clear,
Imagine all the money in test companies' pockets,
Where Ed reform equates to financial profits,
Where state ed mandates, and you can't stop it,
It's in private hands w/ no watch dogs to watch it,
It's mental warfare labeling students and schools,
Like we can't see what's going as if my people are fools,
What damage does it do, cause believe me kids know,
That they participate in failure in your eyes when they go
Do they participate in failure just for growing up poor?
And how is that reflected in their standardized score?
We're trying to open minds it seems they're closing the door,
And in places they're not safe to go to school anymore,
Reality is harsh I guess they're teaching that well,
It's not like they can't see it, they don't know, they can't tell,
it's not like I can't see it, I don't know, I can't tell,
It's Dudley, live from the Frontlines where I dwell.
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2. |
Stop This Madness
03:27
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Attention ladies and gentlemen, there's currently a battle going on in public schools across this nation between those in the business of education, those that legislate education, and those of us who agree that those political agendas and business schemes have no place in classrooms. Let the teachers teach, and stop this madness.
Chorus
Don't take it light,
Cause what they're doing's not right,
It's time to join in the fight,
Come on, Stop This Madness!
It's time that we act,
No more sitting back,
We've got to make an impact,
Come on, Stop This madness!
It's time to speak out,
no question or doubt,
If you're with me then shout,
Stop This Madness!t
We're holdin our ground,
this needs to change now,
so if you're down w/ the sound
stop this madness
I am a frontline passionate true student advocate,
dedicated educator that's not having this
habit w/ the testing turning states into some addicts quick,
resulting in a system growing more and more inadequate
out of touch and out of tune we under teach and over test,
while cutting funding in the very places that we should invest,
everyone including kids can't help from feeling over stressed,
So tell us how and why with kids in mind this system is what's best,
Through various methods they're squeezing the schools,
from unfunded mandates to tax cap rules,
And if we walk along the money trail,
There's profit to be made when we perceive that schools fail,
Ed reform is not philanthropy,
If it's not about what's best for kids how can it be?
they tried divide and conquer with the union vs community,
we're both saying stop this madness now in unity
Chorus
Don't take it light,
Cause what they're doing's not right,
It's time to join in the fight,
Come on, Stop This Madness!
It's time that we act,
No more sitting back,
We've got to make an impact,
Come on, Stop This madness!
It's time to speak out,
no question or doubt,
If you're with me then shout,
Stop This Madness!t
We're holdin our ground,
this needs to change now,
so if you're down w/ the sound
stop this madness
They're testing our kids to say the teacher's to blame,
It's more about that than the kids despite what they claim,
This system is so flawed, it's drowning in troubles,
thinking outside the box is now thinking in bubbles,
And thinking in bubbles limits artistic creation
Are we standardizing tests, or a whole generation,
And who owns the rights to this data collection,
And why is it right to make that selection,
Why are politicians who don't know education,
not putting kids first with their legislation,
Their stifling learning with this testing obsession,
Our kids deserve better absolutely, no question,
And now we're rushing to the common core,
With a warning to expect our kids to get a lower score,
So to the kids everywhere, let us remind you,
the tests are just that, they don't define you
Don't take it light,
Cause what they're doing's not right,
It's time to join in the fight,
Come on, Stop This Madness!
It's time that we act,
No more sitting back,
We've got to make an impact,
Come on, Stop This madness!
It's time to speak out,
no question or doubt,
If you're with me then shout,
Stop This Madness!t
We're holdin our ground,
this needs to change now,
so if you're down w/ the sound
stop this madness
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3. |
My People ft. Masai
04:09
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4. |
Grind ft. Sev Statik
03:32
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5. |
Highly Effective
03:46
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How dare you hurt the people that are trying to raise your kids (scratch that)
How dare you hurt the people that are trying to raise their kids
Cause your kids don't really go to public school at all,
It doesn't matter if you legislate their fall yes y'all,
Privatization, turn your head allow the profit,
You're claiming ed reform, We're on the frontlines yelling stop it,
From charter schools, to standard tests tied to evaluations,
Our children have to suffer cause of your manipulations,
They've got us cutting jobs and closing schools like that's ok,
We can't afford to get it right underlies what they say,
We can't afford to get it wrong shortchange a generation,
I'm still hoping for the change that never came to education,
A change came but more like a blame game w/ dead aim,
on teachers like they cause all the problems, that claim is so lame,
So what's your label worth when your premise is defective,
that's rhetorical just know I'm Highly Effective!
Walk w/ Me, Talk w/ me, Highly Effective
Thrive with me, strive to be, Highly Effective,
You can be, We can be, Highly Effective,
Don't wait on them define yourself Be Highly Effective,
I'm a Highly Effective self-fulfilling prophecy,
So I don't really need your labels plus there is no stopping me,
They've trapped us in a sick system, we're bound to rise above,
Our action stems from passion that's been rooted in love,
I'm a Proactive, Professional for Progress,
I am pro-student, pro-family, anti-your mess,
I am pro accountability, pro public education,
And I'm anti-funding cuts for schools,mis-guided legislation,
Our paradigms are not aligned, if profit is the bottom line,
Control the message and the mind, our country's falling far behind,
So schools keep getting undermined, and funding's getting reassigned,
to those that test and data mine, let me remind it's by design
What if we focused on the best interests of kids,
and listen to professionals who know what that is,
And we addressed poverty, like we know we should do,
Ooops I forgot, is that subject still taboo
I define myself, remind myself each day that I'm here,
so that my purpose and my mission is abundantly clear,
I want to spread love, inspire, while I open up minds,
I embrace this in my life you see it's more than just rhymes,
I am highly effective and I use it for good,
But that is not always the case now let it be understood,
These companies make profit from despicable acts,
And politicians prosper while distorting the facts
Divide and conquer is effective for controlling the masses,
I'd like to keep these influences out of our classes
I'd like to keep these influences away from our kids,
And if change comes from the inside than that is what this is,
If you're pointing out my faults I'll bet I already know,
Self reflection gives direction for the places I grow,
So throw your labels round if you really need to,
highly effective's who I am not just what I do
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6. |
Time
03:24
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I see you in my children so I know you live on,
And even though (you won't meet) your body's not here you'll never be gone,
I see you in me, when I look in the mirror,
I Take a moment to reflect it makes me feel even nearer,
I see your face, remember smells, and yes I hear your voice you too,
I do my best to try and make you proud I hope that I do,
There's really no replacement for the time that's now gone,
Enjoy the time as it's ticking that's the point of the song,
Time, time, time keeps on ticking ticking,
Time, time, time keeps on ticking ticking,
Time, time, time keeps on ticking ticking,
I appreciate the moments of my lifetime,
Time, time, time keeps on ticking ticking,
Time, time, time keeps on ticking ticking,
Time, time, time keeps on ticking ticking,
I appreciate the people in my lifeline,
I said I'd do it all again and you know I meant that,
and now we have two children it's still a statement of fact,
And as time keeps on ticking we adapt as we grow,
Sometimes I'd like to freeze the moments cause I'm loving them so,
We do our best to capture time in mega-pixels and movie files,
Take one nice shot and then one w/ goofy smiles,
Holiday, vacation, and birthday pics are nice alright,
But what about the fact that we're reading to you both every night?
Maybe that's not picture worthy but I know the value's there,
Wish that I could capture feelings so you know how much we care,
We try our best to raise you and enjoy every phase,
and I know some day we'll look back, like those were the days,
Oh yes, but I can wait for that, cause those days are my present time,
the present is a present I present to you this pleasant rhyme,
the hands of time keep creeping like a thief committing petit crime,
I slow it down the best I can by letting every moment shine
Time, time, time keeps on ticking ticking,
Time, time, time keeps on ticking ticking,
Time, time, time keeps on ticking ticking,
I appreciate the moments of my lifetime,
Time, time, time keeps on ticking ticking,
Time, time, time keeps on ticking ticking,
Time, time, time keeps on ticking ticking,
I appreciate the people in my lifeline,
It's been a while since you were in my class,
A sign reminding that life's moving fast,
Memories more distant but I know you know I tried my best,
Answered questions taught life lessons it's more than just passing tests,
More than math, science, writing, history and reading,
Self-confidence, believing, what ever you're needing,
I've seen mothers become grandmas, former students having babies,
boys turn to men and girls become ladies,
I've seen some grow up, do well, they've graduated,
Others fell flat, they've drifted, they've faded,
Some are caught up in the struggle, Did others rise above it?
Embrace the ups and downs, it's beautiful, love it,
It's life and its challenges, the pain of progress,
Time keeps on ticking don't get bogged down by stress,
When your time is up look back what did you do?
And what will stand out when you remember you?
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7. |
Interlude
02:00
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8. |
Sunrise
03:18
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9. |
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10. |
Spread Love
04:17
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11. |
Right Here
03:20
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I'm right here and readily rocking with you
Hold us back is something that they're not gonna do,
So please don't waste the time it's not possible to
We're a passionate, focused unstoppable crew,
And we're making this world what it is what you see,
Peace to artists who represent visually,
Peace to artists who shape the soundscapes that you hear,
Peace to all who create, I relate and that's clear.
Plus I focus on spreading love and inspiration,
While opening minds fighting for education,
See no point in waiting, the stakes are too high,
Keep creating I'm making this music that's why,
So support it you with it? let's get it, let's do it,
You facing a struggle?, embrace it, get through it,
Good people are here, good people got your back,
matter of fact where they at where they at where they at
I'm right with you beside you I grind and I fight,
plus I learn and reflect look inside when I write,
And I try to inspire provide some insight,
through the fire, the wire, each day and each night,
I'm right here with you building it's more than foundation,
Looking out for children, the next generation,
You see what they're facing, the mainstream embracing,
So many agree but too many complacent
So artists w/ substance get pushed to the side,
and the substandard nonsense gets pushed far and wide,
The Subconscious affected it can't be denied,
So I consciously call it out can't let it slide,
They manipulate minds through music and tv,
And the cycles continue perpetually,
Respect goes to those who expose what they see,
And I'm one of those, where you at who's w/ me?
This movements in motion been moving for years,
Like the waves in the ocean, sound .wavs for your ears,
Now respect the devotion, it's blood sweat and tears,
and it's not new promotion been at this for years,
With a team in a scene that still grows and expands,
with the emcees producers true dj's and bands,
with the bloggers, designers, beat boxers, and fans
It's Full documentation, DSLR cams,
And we're here with it, real with it, make in it true,
and you're hearing it, feeling it, sharing it too,
And you know what you heard in these words is the truth,
And it's not too absurd, show concern for the youth,
I try to inspire don't decide it's too late,
no longer aspire and just accept fate,
Now I told you before good could keep you from great,
Dig deep now let's grind where you at elevate
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12. |
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13. |
Believe
03:19
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14. |
Outro
01:28
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Dudley aka Origin Albany, New York
I'm currently offering the "Highly Effective" CD in a name your price format for digital sales. I've prioritized getting the message out there and continuing the conversations around doing better for children and each other. I believe that the album has monetary value and I'd prefer to let you pay what it's worth to you. Thank you. ... more
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