“Runnin" was filmed in a South Seattle neighborhood. The Makka market, as well as the apartment complex featured in the video, will soon be broken down as part of the ongoing gentrification process - a process that has already affected much of South Seattle.
We chose to create the project in this location with the aim of preserving our culture through visuals before everything we know is gone.
This is our story.
Raised in a society where we are constantly mourning our past or being anxious of what the future holds, brings us to a point where we often forget the precious gift we are given: to be present.
(lyrics)
[chorus]
runnin'
in the city you can't move slow
nothin'
something that I can't live for
ridin'
will not see me cuz I got my tints low
timin'
moving silent gonna let me work show
[verse]
Momma been saying keep praying
I'm climbing a slippery slope
no matter the progress I make
I end up right back to the floor
(yeah yeah)
keep it moving 'til I'm reaching the top
I'm just tryna see some more
blessings
the L's that I took done taught
me lessons
now I'm older gotta play my role
be that model I ain't have before
but I'm no one you should look up to
I'm on the stage don't mean I'm above you
I'm just tryna give my people hope
in the land of the thieves who be scamming dreams
I'm just tryna let my people know
you nothing lesser than a king or queen
told my family 'bout to hit the road
continent hopping had to spin the globe
back in high school was a lost soul
was a no show now I'm doing shows
man I miss my brothers who no longer breathing
woulda said goodbye if I knew they was leaving
in a death match with my demons
I gotta live with a reason
(yeah yeah)
plotting and scheming
'til everybody is eating
(yeah yeah)
honest earning with my work
cuz money go fast when you cheating
(yeah yeah)
know that we come from the trenches
and had to swim out of the deep end
had to swim out of the deep end
[chorus]
runnin'
in the city you can't move slow
nothin'
something that I can't live for
ridin'
will not see me cuz I got my tints low
timin'
moving silent gonna let me work show
Writing/Performance: Essam
@masseone39
Audio Production: Noah x PettyPro
@pettypro
Visuals: Muzammil Siddiqee
@msiddiqee
