Madaket Media

We used to dare to dream of dragons, looking up at the stars

Refused to share the stream of fragments from our shattered glass hearts

We moved to bear the fiends, imagined worlds on Saturn or Mars

See truth to where the screens we fashioned kept pain tattered and far

We used to play the day away and talk below the trees

We flew to save the day in space, we’d walk, we’d roam at peace

We’d lose to nothing but the figures we thought up in our heads

Rebuke you if the time is all we brought, we won’t go to bed

Ain’t it funny how we crave these days now that they’re gone?

That we feel like the places we worked towards aren’t where we belong?

That we kill time finding that place in us where we once ran wild?

The dollar bill took down the dragon, with it, my inner child

The beast behind the screen’s really much more than it seems

It feasts on times we leave behind and then it gores all our dreams

We plead to it on hands and knees for it to finally cease

But it keeps coming, band keeps drumming ‘til the battlefield’s clean

You say to let it get away, that that’s the way to survive

Well, I guess that’s the way to live when you decide to go hide

It doesn’t matter when you can’t fathom a world past the sky

So, it’s just better to surrender then go on and skate by

But as for me, the things I need to breathe are still within the leaves of the trees

That we’d dwell neside, good times that died, I try to see them in my dreams

I try to seize them, get them back by any means

Trying to fit together pieces of my once masterful peace

Compassionately, maybe a little bit too passionately

Disastrously, I’m trying to catch the fragments with a fractured knee

Stop asking me ehat day I’ll get over the stories I imagined

Factually, it’s easier to face death if it’s but a dragon

Trivia: This is the first rap song I ever performed live, in my entire life. This was at a coffee house night at my high school.

Freshman’s a term that can be descriptive

Fresh man, yes, can I paint the picture?

Delivered, twilight cloaks the horizon

My eyes are tied up in her eyes and

It’s no surprise that I light up these nights

I’m fired up, been tired of cheap nights

Weak lies I fall for, delusions of grandeur

If you don’t want more, then what do you stand for?

He says, “I’ll get babes when I go to Stanford

“I’m too cool for school with my family mantle”

Well, you can do you, I’ll do the proof

That your form of aloof isn’t much to pure truth

If I want her, Imma go for it

If she tryna bring it back, Imma go forward

Imma run up on these girls like go Forrest

Running like go Forrest, go for em

If I want her, Imma go for it

If she tryna bring it back, Imma go forward

Imma run up on these girls like go Forrest

Running like go Forrest, go for em, run

Alright, so, uh…

How do I put this?

She looks so good in the Friday night lights

The deeper the sky, the steeper her rise

My surprise is that we all feel this way

And it’s everybody out here going crazy past day

She looks so good in the Friday night lights

The deeper the sky, the steeper her rise

My surprise is that we all feel this way

And it’s everybody out here going crazy past day

Lose the game, win the girls

Win the game, win the world

Saw that pearl with the curls

Then my heart did a twirl

Ayy, she had eyes that would shine

Ayy, but that time she wasn’t mine

Ayy, homie had her, that was fine

Ayy, but it’s no beef if I try, right?

Ayy, I go lose it at the afterparty

Unless the songs are trash, and then I’ll dash the party

Talking with this girl, I lit up half the party

Then we both almost passed out, that might’ve crashed the party, ayy

If I want her, Imma go for it

If she tryna bring it back, Imma go forward

Imma run up on these girls like go Forrest

Running like go Forrest, go for em

If I want her, Imma go for it

If she tryna bring it back, Imma go forward

Imma run up on these girls like go Forrest

Running like go Forrest, go for em, ayy

Now when I bring the drums back

I wanna see hands from the front of the place

To wherever y'all go in the back

Let's hit it

Depths of the night, the pressure is on

It’s come to a fight, all friendship is gone

And I don’t feel sorry when I do what I do

Girl, you got problems with my bro so I got problems with you

Now my girl

Looks so good in the Friday night lights

The deeper the sky, the steeper her rise

My surprise is that we all feel this way

And it’s everybody out here going crazy past day

She looks so good in the Friday night lights

The deeper the sky, the steeper her rise

My surprise is that we all feel this way

And it’s everybody out here going crazy past day

Can I get some hands up?

Can I get some hands up, huh?

Can I get some hands up?

Let me see you wave em

Let me see you wave em

Can I get some hands up?

Can I get some hands up, huh?

Can I get some hands up?

Let me see you wave em

Let me see you wave em

Can I get some hands up?

Can I get some hands up, huh?

Can I get some hands up?

Let me see you wave em

Let me see you wave em

Can I get some hands up?

Can I get some hands up, huh?

Can I get some hands up?

Let me see you wave em

Let me see you wave wave

[Outro]

Trivia: The closing piano melody was originally written as guidance for sung vocals that would have repeated the chorus. I never ended up getting a sung portion recorded, so I edited the piano and left it in.

Inspired by “Los heraldos negros”

It’s hard not to doubt when your neighbor

Steps out of the house with your color of skin

Then gets beat to the street, the victim

Of a crowd that sees him as nothing but a sin

My mother and brother dead beside each other

Of course I can’t sleep anymore

My tears and fears wetting me under the covers

What am I concealing them for?

Cause everyone knows, everyone just chose

To keep them as rumors below

But I’m done with running, I know that I’m nothing

The one that holds me, let me go

The only one near in this jail of my fear

Is my mother’s pale ghost when I faint

I call out her name while she’s running away

But it’s all just a dream, it’s a shame

That I’m sane

Somebody told me I need to meet Jesus

I said to him, “Why’s he not here if he sees us?

The necklace you wear with a cross, it’s a chain

You can pray every day but you’ll die just the same”

He started to narrate the Catechism

I asked for the part about cataclysm

He told me one day I’d see light

I left him to go catch my ride

So I’m driving downtown in a hooptie

I then get a call, guess what? The number’s blocked.

I pick it up, hear some girl hitting me up

I ask her, “Hold on, miss, can you stop?

Now explain to me why you’re insane

Enough to ask a man who’s depressed for some love?”

She told me, “I guess that you didn’t hear me

I’m speaking for someone that you’ve touched

Her fiery hair looks like autumn

Her physique is on fleek, she’s real modern

She’s that Catwoman straight outta Gotham

She’s perfectly cut, top to bottom

She met you like, um, twenty-six years ago

She’ll comfort all your heavy, sick fears below

She’s sweet and she’s calm

She’s gorgeous and tall”

I then said, “Miss, if Death

Wants to talk, she should call”

[Outro]

Trivia: I originally wrote this for a school project as a poem based on “Los heraldos negros” by César Vallejo. The verse is inspired by the poet’s life, and not so much by the original poem.

It's K-Wal!

Anyone in here ever had their heart broken?

Stand up then

Stand up

This is a song for us

Turn it up!

We got a man down

And we gotta get him out

We got a man down

Lost in the crowd and he’s been out

We got a man down

And we cannot let him drown

Let’s stop waiting for some made-up day

And be his brothers now (Turn it up!)

I’ve fallen to my own flaws

Should’ve stopped and pressed pause

Wish I saw my false calls

Hope I haven’t lost y’all

Hope y’all haven’t withdrawn

From my cause, this pitfall’s

Cold and I’m a bit lost

Prone to take a big loss

Party couldn’t die sooner

The lunar light illuminates the road home to ya

Through ya’s the only way to get my peace back

To ya, I’ll prove that I’m worth all these flat

Falls that I take, maul me and break me

‘Cause lately, I know that my mind’s been racing

Chasing a Daphne, I’m not happy

She zapped me and it hurt, but at least I’m back, see?

It’s your bro that you know ain’t go’n get a phone number

Bro that you know be lonely whole summer

Bro that got switched out for some other guy

It’s both pain and pure fury that smother my eyes

The lies in her lines had me still on her side

You were right, t’was a fight for a dream in the sky

But the time’s come to come home from all of these nights

And I’m right where I started, yet I’m closer to light, I see

Ain’t girls I need

I just need to be here with all of my team

We’re misused, confused, lost-in-the-crowd teens

With two-faced, cool-haze, girls on all our screens

Instagram age, I’m a victim of that

DMs with a fake, there’s no winning in that

I learned my lesson, I’ve made my repentance

I plead on my knees, my brothers, please end my sentence

We got a man down

And we gotta get him out

We got a man down

Lost in the crowd and he’s been out

We got a man down

And we cannot let him drown

Let’s stop waiting for some made-up day

And be his brothers now

We got a man down

And we gotta get him out

We got a man down

Lost in the crowd and he’s been out

We got a man down

And we cannot let him drown

Let’s stop waiting for some made-up day

And be his brothers now

We got a man down

And we gotta get him out

We got a man down

Lost in the crowd and he’s been out

We got a man down

And we cannot let him drown

Let’s stop waiting for some made-up day

And be his brothers now

We got a man down

And we gotta get him out

We got a man down

Lost in the crowd and he’s been out

We got a man down

And we cannot let him drown

Let’s stop waiting for some made-up day

And be his brothers now

[Outro]

Trivia: This song was originally over 5 minutes long, with multiple sung passages. The single verse construction of the song strips the song down to what I think is its essental message and feeling.

Birds on the skyline, heard some were lying

Heard one was crying. heard he was flying

Crashed down, thrashed ‘round

Hurt his flock and no one stopped him

He was too strong, was too far gone

Went too far off, by far most wrong

He was spitting, he was splitting

He had slipped in his own visions

Had envisioned a good ending

Didn’t witness all the hints and

When it hit him, he was pissed and

Flew in mist and had friends missing

Friends that loved him, friends that tried to

Shine the light through as he might do for ‘em

They were out looking for him

Found him snorin', anger pourin'

Over his face, he felt disgraced

Had to escape yo a safe place

Had to make waves, had to make change

From his time spent on a night and

Find forgiveness, oh, he wishes

Things were different, that he didn’t

Ever feel it for her, now she feels foreign

She was so exciting, had his heart soaring

Now she’s with somebody and she told him lies

She had looked so sweet, it was a disguise

His friend tried to tell him, but he wouldn’t listen

Tried to show him her, then he turned and dissed ‘em

He knew he’d changed from chasing mental pictures

He would re-engage with his knowledge richer

Few months later had another night

Where other birds were all in his sight

He met a bird that he had known before

She said “Let’s be friends”, and he told her sure

Few weeks later he was looking for a date

To a dance, was in panic, he couldn’t find a mate

Then that bird came

She saw his pain

She helped him changing up his gaze

Met a cool girl , not a Tove Lo

Nice, cute schoolgirl, which was overdue

Took her out and danced around and

Made a friend and Saw no end in

Sight for that kinship

Turns out it lasted more than a minute

Not that they got together and got in it

But more like no hatred came to finish it

But not every bird kept in touch with him

For example one said that she had loved him

But it turned out that she had said the same to Jim

To Bill, to Jeff, to everybody in the gym

Another bird had pecked his heart in two

Then said, “Ooh, please, just let me follow you”

Guess she really thought that he would follow through

But he already promised he won’t fall for you

Birds on the skyline, heard they’re still flying

Heard they’re still trying to turn up at night and

They’re still looking for mates

They’re still booking faux dates

Still taking cheap swings

Still making cheap flings

Still the same birds on the skyline

Still here to flirt in the nightlife

Eyes still glimmer like nightlights

Still complicating my life

I’m not quite the same as that last time

Where daydreaming was my favorite past time

But my wings are still spread, I think it’s past time

That another bird and I went past flat lines

Past only seeing each other as friends

Went past only seeing each on the weekends

Went to cuddling in the morning light

And holding each other through stormy nights

Are they ready to fly?

Are they ready to try?

They ready to pry my shroud?

Be the queen when I get my crown?

[Outro]

Trivia: This track originally served as the second half of a two-track suite on one of my first mixtapes ever. That first half became a track on one of my other releases… Do you know which one?

[Intro]

Another wave, another day

Another payment to leave the pavement

Another face, another place

Another mate, we’re out too late

Do you want the bait? Do you want to stay?

Do you want to play? Please don’t go away

Say they’re plenty fish, you’re my only wish

I’ve been looking for you for a long time

I’m the fisherman, babe, stay on the line

Plenty fish in the sea

But only one's for me

Vapor eyes, sweet goodbyes

By my side all my life

You’re my fire, my desire

My admired, my provider

My first Sylvette, my fulfillment

My devotion, my life’s hope, and

Tell me again, how it happened

How I went in to your heaven

12AM love, came in from ‘bove

Craving your touch, stay, enjoy us

Plenty fish in the sea

But only one's for me

Vapor eyes, sweet goodbyes

By my side all my life

Another wave, another day

Another payment to leave the pavement

Another face, another place

Another mate, we’re out too late

Plenty fish in the sea

But only one's for me

Vapor eyes, sweet goodbyes

By my side all my life

Plenty fish in the sea

But only one's for me

Vapor eyes, sweet goodbyes

By my side all my life

Trivia: This song, unlike the rest of the album, is in 3/4 time - 3 beats are in each measure rather than the standard 4.

Oh, y’all know what this is!

Over the next four minutes, I want every single person here to lose whatever of their mind they have left

Let’s go!

Unhinged at the 7

Take this to 11

Fire down from heaven

While I’m unhinged at the 7

Unhinged at the 7

Take this to 11

Fire down from heaven

While I’m unhinged at the 7 (seven)

Unhinged at the 7

Take this to 11

Fire down from heaven

While I’m unhinged at the 7

Unhinged at the 7

Take this to 11

Fire down from heaven

While I’m unhinged at the 7 (seven)

They said today would be the day, turns out this party’s wack

The DJs tryna save it but they can’t keep it on track

He brags to her ‘bout Snapchat, the next thing he knows, she’s ghost

She’s got so many followers he can’t be in her post

One man lighting up the floor, guess who’s mixtape he bumps?

Two dudes crying at the door, guess who’s tape they say sucks?

I got a contract, got a trust fund, set up on her phone

By the time that dawn kills night, you know I’m not alone

Claimed my territory with a picture of the team

Wait, hold up, is that your girlfriend coming up to me?

Now I don’t want to be the type to break the code of men

So I’ll make sure I don’t ever go home with her again

Yeah, I’m counting double digits

Swear you don’t want to miss this

First place, her place, home plate, Game 7

This is just what happens when my free time’s at the day’s ending

Unhinged at the 7

Take this to 11

Fire down from heaven

While I’m unhinged at the 7

Unhinged at the 7

Take this to 11

Fire down from heaven

While I’m unhinged at the 7 (seven)

Unhinged at the 7

Take this to 11

Fire down from heaven

While I’m unhinged at the 7

Unhinged at the 7

Take this to 11

Fire down from heaven

While I’m unhinged at the 7 (seven)

Pull up in a Rolls-Royce, an angel in the front

Alexis what she calls herself, barely parks with that trunk

My beats so hot they made a few mosh pits out of cold feet

So many people surfboarding the crowd, you couldn’t see

He hated my last project, but his girlfriend has the aux

She asked me for an autograph, he had to stand and watch

She said, “I loved the seventh song,” I said, “I’m glad you do”

We hit it off, then hit the pit, at that point, he was through

11:56, she slid inside of my DMs

She said, “I loved your style, hey, Monday, let’s meet again”

I obliged, we got along, she got the aux with me

Was not surprised to find she had my album on repeat (hey!)

Unhinged at the 7

Take this to 11

Fire down from heaven

While I’m unhinged at the 7

Unhinged at the 7

Take this to 11

Fire down from heaven

While I’m unhinged at the 7 (seven)

Unhinged at the 7

Take this to 11

Fire down from heaven

While I’m unhinged at the 7

Unhinged at the 7

Take this to 11

Fire down from heaven

While I’m unhinged at the 7 (seven)

Liking just one picture makes her wild at the 7

Either fight it or invite it, there’s no mild at the 7

Walk in looking like I might just have a vengeance with the 7

Oh, we dropped a classic song? We’re just beginning at the 7

Not to mention, I just went in with his ex-girl, he feels tempted

To shoot her a brand new message, says he’s sorry things were messy

Now, I could just be here guessing, but he saw how she was dressing

It was he who killed their party, now he feels just like confessing

Sorry dude, she hangs with me, can guarantee she’s gone for good

Hear them saying that I’m playing this love thing not how I should

But look, a rapper flirting with you at the hottest club in town,

Do you really think there’s other ways this thing’s going to go down?

This isn’t stealing, it’s girls siding with a better team

And when I’m free, they know there couldn’t be a better scene

7 was done, you said the 7 was trash

I turned to the 7 to 11, you can’t argue with that! Woo!

Unhinged at the 7

Take this to 11

Fire down from heaven

While I’m unhinged at the 7

Unhinged at the 7

Take this to 11

Fire down from heaven

While I’m unhinged at the 7 (seven)

Unhinged at the 7

Take this to 11

Fire down from heaven

While I’m unhinged at the 7

Unhinged at the 7

Take this to 11

Fire down from heaven

While I’m unhinged at the 7 (seven)

Unhinged at the 7

Take this to 11

Fire down from heaven

While I’m unhinged at the 7

Trivia: This track was not originally made for the album. This is a very old song of mine I re-did shortly after making the first version of K-Wal and sent in a 2-pack to some of my friends. I omitted a track from that first version for the release, but since I wanted seven songs, I added this as a bonus track of sorts to the end. So, when the song references itself (“She said, ‘I love the seventh song’”), that’s by accident. Originally, that meant “Fish in the Sea,” which was track 7 on the first K-Wal version.