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It's A Mixtape

by Denise Chaila

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1.
061 03:14
narolane You came here to the 061, so we’ll show you how to get, How to get things done Came to the 061, we’ll show you how to have, How to have some fun You came to the 061, came to the 06, 061 You came to the 061 We’ll show you how to get, how to get things done You came to the 061 We’ll show you how to get, how to get things done You came to the 061 We’ll show you how to have, how to have some fun Came to the 061 You came to the 06, 061, you came to the 061 We’ll show you how to get, how to get things done I am not a queen I’m a Prince Make a scene and dip for months I don’t leave any prints I am not a queen I’m a king No picket fence, but I’ll picket if you keep me out the ring I am not chasing a ring Wasn’t be groomed for a groom, there’s no man I live to impress I am not explaining myself Keep it bespoke before I ever say yes to a dress 5’2 but somehow still the bigger man Cut to the chase don’t need a middleman Dream my heart out pepper Ann pepper Ann I do this because I can I’m not paying any attention to the fakeness I’m not giving any advice that I’m not taking I’m not wasting anymore time I’m staying patient Bringing all my energy back to keep it sacred Sometimes to heal a bone you’ve gotta break it I am the result of love for generations Dream you back to life, call it a grave shift Trying to keep it understated Say perchance you misunderstand Who the heck that I think I am? You shoulda called me the gyaldem sugar Up jump the boogie and I cool with my gang You came here to the 061, so we’ll show you how to get, How to get things done Came to the 061, we’ll show you how to have, How to have some fun You came to the 061, came to the 06, 061 You came to the 061, we’ll show you how to get, How to get things done You came to the 061, we’ll show you how to get, How to get things done You’ll get to the 061, we’ll show you how to have, How to have some fun You came to the 061, you came to the 06, 061 You came to the 061, we’ll show you how to get, How to get History made, your children’s children’s children will learn about me I don’t even post And I’m all on your socials, paper and your tv I’m here to stay, if you hate it you should write to your local MP Cause your local MC Writes constitutions in WAVS and MP3s You should call me “daddy” at this point I could diss you and make it a ted talk Get a book deal for bars that I wrote in the notes on my phone Make it look like a walk In the park Gladys Knight and I light up the dark Noah fence but this is the arc of the covenant Coveted This is the future beloved Call me Éire and weed all the Aryans out of your area Clearing the air for you They say it’s humerus, I got a uterus, call it hysteria Find it hilarious that I have barely begun my career Already gave them the fear of God, Odd I just said that I wanted to bar What you afraid that I’ll say with the time that I’ve got? You’re Dom, but you can’t control yourself? You’re a Don, but you don’t know yourself? You’re a boss but you can’t share the wealth? With all due disrespect I know that I’m fine and got bars I know I got brain and got heart That part I know I don’t have to try hard: You came here to the 061, so we’ll show you how to get, How to get things done Came to the 061, we’ll show you how to have, How to have some fun You came to the 061, came to the 06, 061 You came to the 061, we’ll show you how to get, How to get things done 061 061 How to have, how to have some fun 061 061 How to get, how to get things
2.
Might Be 03:26
Narolane! Narolane! If I came to play then I came to win. Caster Semenya, run my mouth again. So active they called me an activist But you’ve barely seen the half of it. Second coming of Dionysus, Olympus just might fall for this. Queen Medb taught me what ambition is so I know how to deal with the bull so Coole how I raise hell. Call me a maverick. These man are looking like Porky Pig “Yabbadee yabbadee yabbadee” Can’t stand that I’m gorgeous black and Irish— Man. Choke on it. What they say to Ali? Bomaye? Boomerang through the noise Feeling so Strange Boy; “please come and make my day.” Don’t do scenes we make movies. Vision stays Universal. If you try to son me? I just might get paternal. We make ballads to twerk to, Keep some kings in my circle, If my confidence hurts you? I hope you took it personal. You are not like me Ha, unlikely I just sip my tea High and mighty I just upped my fee Game is not free “She thinks she’s that heat” Well, I might be. You are not like me Ha, unlikely I just sip my tea High and mighty I just upped my fee Game is not free “She thinks she’s that heat” Well, I might be. I don’t have the privilege of mediocrity Or some foolishness, I’m married to my excellence so I just don’t have time for veiled threats. My responsibility is to remind you of the futility of ever trying me; Just cause I’m nice don’t mean that I’m not designed to rain hell on anything that comes for My people My family My dreams, my purpose, my history, My genome— I’m unlikely to be that sweet don’t push me baby, I’ve given you warning. I came here to rap, and everything else? Is getting so boring. I make it look good when I entertain but I’m not performing. Said I was a king, cause I’ll bury your rules leave in mourning. Treat it like a calling. I don’t do moments— do momentum, When you come into my mentions Bet this gives you hypertension. Stream my music babe, you’re welcome. You are not like me Ha, unlikely I just sip my tea High and mighty I just upped my fee Game is not free “She thinks she’s that heat” Well, I might be. You are not like me Ha, unlikely I just sip my tea High and mighty I just upped my fee Game is not free “She thinks she’s that heat” Well, I might be. You are not like me Ha, unlikely I just sip my tea High and mighty I just upped my fee Game is not free “She thinks she’s that heat” Yeah, I might be. You are not like me Ha, unlikely I just sip my tea High and mighty I just upped my fee Game is not free “She thinks she’s that heat” Well, I might be.
3.
I am beautiful. And that is the least interesting thing about me. I like myself! I LIKE myself! I LIKE MYSELF! I am in charge of my own body. I know the difference between respect and authority. Giving you respect doesn’t mean I have to do what you say. I am allowed to be angry. I am allowed to be angry. I am not ashamed of passion. My anger shows me what I need to protect. My dreams are important. My dreams are important. Dreaming is not a waste of time. I have permission to be confident. I am not perfect, and I have permission to like who I am right now. I am pro black before I am anti anything. I will never let anyone shut me up because they are uncomfortable the truth. I will not be insecure because you are not comfortable with my confidence. My vulnerability is a privilege. My sensitivity is beautiful. All of my heart is worthy. Nobody else has the right to tell my story
4.
You can’t take my energy You can take my energy You can’t take my energy You can take my, take my, take You can’t take my energy You can take my energy You can’t take my energy You can take my, take my, take Hear the call but don’t phone it in For crones or for omens We’re riding out here like Rohan Diogenes but got hope; “behold a man” Or Artemis me, I’m only fowl when I’m floating Freedom is potent, the future’s in focus Hear the call but don’t phone it in For crones or for omens We’re riding out here like Rohan Diogenes but got hope; “behold a man” Or Artemis me, I’m only fowl when I’m floating Freedom is potent, the future’s in focus You can’t take my energy You can’t take my energy You can’t take my energy You can take my, take my, take You can’t take my energy You can’t take my energy You can’t take my energy You can take my, take my, take Flesh it out Save a little a little time Can’t let them take my eyes off this Bottom line Keep it by my side, Rolling out my best life Flesh it out Save a little a little time Can’t let them take my eyes off this Bottom line Keep it by my side, Rolling out my best life Make out this storm, and return to the shore where we departed Holding onto faith, letting go of the past coz it’s distorted Taking it back everything you’ve stolen while I was starting out It was all by design, I’ve got the pencil now And you, you can’t take my energy You can’t take my energy You can take my energy You can’t take my energy You can take my, take my, take You can’t take my energy You can take my energy You can’t take my energy You can take my, take my, take Hear the call but don’t phone it in For crones or for omens We’re riding out here like Rohan Diogenes but got hope; “behold a man” Or Artemis me, I’m only fowl when I’m floating Freedom is potent, the future’s in focus I know exactly who I am. And because I know who I am, I know who you are. I am the child of the soil and of the sun. I am the continuation of a song of faith and power that my people have never stopped singing. I am just one voice. So even if I quit tomorrow this will never end. Even if I pause tomorrow, baby there will be another one and another and another one for eternity until this work is finished. And if we do not sing and speak and march and dance and love, then even the rocks will cry out “justice”. So whether they have nurtured me by blood or by their vision, I know the path has been paved for us by everyone who has ever taken a risk for their righteousness, is holy. So I lay my heart at the feet of: Toni Morrison, Of Maya Angelou, Of ODB, James Baldwin, Gladys Bentley, Maurice White, Aretha Franklin, Audre Lorde, Kenneth Kaunda, Patrice Lumumba, Tina Turner, Josephine Baker, Langston Hughes, Whitney Houston, Frantz Fanon, Roxanne Shanté, Marsha P Johnson (the ‘P’ stands for ‘pay the hate no mind’). Bayard Rustin, Diana Ross, Thomas Sankara, Kwame Nkrumah, Assata Shakur, Nanny of the Maroons, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Saul Williams, Ida B Wells, Stokely Carmichael (Kwame Ture), Renee Cox, Julius Nyerere, Malik El Shabazz, Angela Davis, Lydia, Elijah, And every preacher, singer, lover, dreamer, survivor and believer who would never allow the odds or the opposition to prevent them from being exactly who they were without shame. So this is a blessing. For everyone who has ever said enough was enough. Nothing will slow you or allow your steps to falter. You are the head and not the tail. You. You will bless and heal the very ground you step on. You will recover. You will recover. No weapon formed against you will prosper. No conspiracy will throw you. No conspiracy will slow you. And that goes for superstition, bad faith intuition, imposter syndrome, “common sense” traditions, every “obia” and “ism”, cloudy vision; and anybody or anything that’s ever tried to get me (or you) to believe giving up is what you need to do before you’ve even tried. Your confidence cannot be sacrificed. And you can’t take my energy.
5.
Ah narolane haha… Ah ah I’ve never been to Mexico But I know you Cancun And I’m coming back soon So you need to make room And I’ve never been to Kosovo But you know we Balkan You handle my Shere Khan Colder than your snow man I’ve never been to Mexico But I know you Cancun And I’m coming back soon So you need to make room Never been to Kosovo But you know we Balkan You handle my Shere Khan Colder than your snow man Huh Sometimes Man I think I’m Kanye, sometimes Might rub you the wrong way Sometimes Huh? Just sometimes Man I think I’m Kanye, sometimes Might rub you the wrong way Sometimes Not afraid of crossing Some lines Just, huh Sometimes Zunguzunguguzunguzeng You can bite my flow but we’re not the same Might hate it but you can say my name Unfortunately I can’t say the same C H A I L A Be your own advocate because not today Satan I made my lane I’m ethereal I’m on another plane Young titan Never bow to Zeus or Poseidon Swords, sceptres or tridents Strider, return of the king Bun liars, Worm tails worm tongues I’m tired Dora Milaje, call me Akata Got my Bushidō, heart of Assata I am the shogun, studied Bambara Child of the soil and the child of my father uh I’ve never been to Mexico But I know you Cancun And I’m coming back soon So you need to make room Never been to Kosovo But you know we Balkan You handle my Shere Khan Colder than your snow man Huh Sometimes Man I think I’m Kanye, sometimes Might rub you the wrong way Sometimes Huh? Just sometimes Man I think I’m Kanye, sometimes Might rub you the wrong way Sometimes Not afraid of crossing some lines Just huh, sometimes Your transphobia is whack your homophobia is whack We see through you My parents respect me way too much for me to ever entertain what you do Black Knight, on a quantum level Grounded but I never settle Don’t Hyde, but I just might Jekyll Divine; I correct the devil If I can rob you of your dominance then you stole it to begin with You make way too many assumptions Did I ever say I was cis? Don’t take leave of your common sense Cause you know that I can act right Give me one reason to go Gotham and this isn’t staying polite Huh, Sometimes Man I think I’m Kanye, sometimes Might rub you the wrong way Sometimes Huh uh Sometimes Man, I think I’m Kanye, sometimes Might rub you the wrong way Sometimes Not afraid of crossing Some lines Uh Sometimes I’ve never been to Mexico But I know you Cancun And I’m coming back soon So you need to make room Never been to Kosovo But you know we Balkan You handle my Shere Khan Colder than your snow man Huh Sometimes Man, I think I’m Kanye, sometimes Might rub you the wrong way Sometimes huh? Just sometimes Man, I think I’m Kanye, sometimes Might rub you the wrong way Not afraid of crossing Some lines Just, sometimes

about

“This EP, for me, was about pursuing both play and purpose. I was thinking about what it means to relax, to be free, to do what makes me laugh, to do what makes me cry, to fly in the face of convention and just...do what I want. It ended up being a tapestry of anger, despair, hope, cynicism, defiance, braggadocious faith and quiet pain. It was about taking an opportunity to make sure that I could still ‘fingerpaint’ and allow myself to grow.”

credits

released November 25, 2021

1. 061
Written by: Denise Chaila
Produced by: MuRli
Co-Producer: Ian Ring (Boku)
Recording Engineer: David Anthony Curley
Mixing Engineer: Ian Ring (Boku)
Mastering Engineer: Chris Athens

2. Might Be
Written by: Denise Chaila
Produced by: MuRli
Co-Producer: Ian Ring (Boku)
Additional Backing Vocals by: Karen Crowley
Recording Engineer: David Anthony Curley (The Clinic Recording Studios)
Mixing Engineer: Ian Ring (Boku)
Mastering Engineer: Chris Athens

3. I A M (Interlude)
Written by: Denise Chaila
Produced by: MuRli
Bass by: Danny Lanham
Vocals by: Sharon Bolanta, Jade Brinkley, Tyrone Webster Reid, Samantha Olabi, Panashe Chindavata, Tanyaradzwa Wayah
Mixing Engineer: Ian Ring (Boku)
Mastering Engineer: Ian Ring

4. Energy (Extended Version)
Written by: Denise Chaila, Mawuli Boevi
Produced by: MuRli
Co-producer: Ian Ring (Boku)
Guitar: Danny Lanham
Harp: Bríd Ann McGowan
Trumpets: Paul Kiernan
Additional Background Vocals: Senita Appiakorang
Recording Engineer: David Anthony Curley (The Clinic Recording Studios)
Mixing Engineer: Ian Ring (Boku)
Mastering Engineer: Chris Athens

5. Return of the King
Written by: Denise Chaila
Produced by: MuRli
Co-Producer: Ian Ring (Boku)
Additional Production by: Denise Chaila
Violin: Tadhg Byrne
Samples Vocals by: Lydia Chaila
Recording Engineer: David Anthony Curley (The Clinic Recording Studios)
Mixing Engineer: Ian Ring (Boku)
Mastering Engineer: Chris Athens

Photography by: B+ (Mochilla)

‘It’s a Mixtape‘ was made possible with the support of the Department of Tourism, Culture,Arts and the Gaeltacht.

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Denise Chaila

In her breakthrough track Copper Bullet, Denise Chaila succinctly described the thriving hip-hop scene in Ireland.

The fact that Chaila was able to convey the sentiment of a nation in one perfect line displays both the depth and skill of the Irish MC.

It perhaps partially explains why, following the release of her debut EP Denise has become one of the most in-demand MCs in Ireland and beyond.
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