Stan Kells performs his original rap piece ‘War Cry,’ an emotionally charged song challenging the stigma around men crying and emotional vulnerability, weaving together themes of unrequited love, grief, community violence, and the exhaustion of giving without receiving. He briefly addresses the audience before and after the performance, shouting out fellow performers and organizers.
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Transcript
[03:24:41] Wow we’re almost at the end yes we are oh shoot all right so coming to the
[03:24:54] stage Stan Kells give it up for him y’all
[03:24:59] thank you guys for being Troopers here I know we’re supposed to end at 10 o’clock but you know thank you
[03:25:11] yeah for those that don’t know me I am the one and only Stan Kells
[03:25:18] I want to say something because I was touched by the young songwriter
[03:25:22] Carly too you know I was a young songwriter being my writer and uh sometimes you don’t
[03:25:29] because you stand out you know i mean people can see the light on you and it exposes their darkness
[03:25:36] so just keep doing what you’re doing so thank you thank you so i’m gonna do something deep
[03:25:46] in my heart for y’all this one is called war cry you know what i’m saying so get ready brace yourself
[03:25:53] now give it to me bruh scribe i got you brother look they say a man can’t cry but i’ma cry in this
[03:26:10] song and if you can’t cry then it’s gonna cry for your homes but you ain’t had a good cry
[03:26:15] and a whole life long let out a war cry when you listen to this song
[03:26:20] love
[03:26:23] have you ever loved a woman try to treat
[03:26:26] you like a simp will mean all our women hosin every man should be a pimp
[03:26:30] that exactly how it goes understand i am a man yo i keep a stoic so i can’t invest we both be rope
[03:26:36] in this world i go alone my ancestors come along it’s been this way for long i don’t expect no one
[03:26:42] to come i gotta be in the flesh i’m hot so straight to a bone i cry in this song cause
[03:26:48] my real love they can’t accept so i live my life i give it
[03:26:51] i don’t want nothing back
[03:26:53] you can’t do
[03:26:53] much for me and yeah i’m cool with that i continue to be generous that’s where my heart is at i will
[03:26:59] never change my stance i have to be who i am i put my pain and awesome my heart can stand the dark
[03:27:05] i’ve been born for the love but it perceive me worlds apart they ask me for my story my god where
[03:27:11] do i start i try to remain positive not talk about laws hugging on everybody with a hole in my heart
[03:27:18] the people feel it on me don’t nobody say nothing i wonder who truly love me when this all said and
[03:27:24] done will they be there for me like i’ve been there for them everybody always sorry when it’s
[03:27:30] finally time to live and help a hand then again you don’t help them they won’t forget everybody
[03:27:35] loves the lie so the truth is not received people think they’re praising god but they’re praying to
[03:27:40] a demon why they mourning every evening sleepwalking dirty speaking who made you hate
[03:27:45] what’s good and celebrate up all your evils i praise the
[03:27:48] man who made me what i’m not i praise the man who made me what i’m not
[03:27:48] i praise the man who made me what i’m not i praise the man who made me what i’m not
[03:27:48] The teacher still teaching off an easel
[03:27:51] Amazing grace, my saving grace
[03:27:53] Was each one teach one
[03:27:54] Why everybody die, everybody always gone
[03:27:57] Why the fuck nobody know
[03:27:58] Where the fuck I’m coming from
[03:28:00] Little homie tried to cry, he couldn’t cry
[03:28:02] He wouldn’t come, so he went outside
[03:28:05] Started crying with his gun
[03:28:07] Shot somebody’s son every day
[03:28:09] Crying side, cause it wasn’t meant for him
[03:28:11] The city filed him in the bin
[03:28:13] All the mamas like that side could do
[03:28:15] Is cry, they can’t get in
[03:28:16] Whichever you decide, jail, hell, heaven
[03:28:19] I’m saying what is real
[03:28:21] I ain’t trying to kick no lesson
[03:28:23] I’m tired of teaching niggas who don’t even wanna listen
[03:28:26] I’m tired of reaching out to people
[03:28:28] That don’t really feel me
[03:28:29] But I can’t keep this all inside
[03:28:31] This shit’ll probably kill me
[03:28:33] They say a man can’t cry
[03:28:35] But I’ma cry in this song
[03:28:37] And if you can’t cry
[03:28:39] Then it’s gonna cry for your homes
[03:28:40] But you ain’t had a good cry
[03:28:42] In a whole life long
[03:28:44] Let out a war cry
[03:28:46] When you listen to this song
[03:28:47] Thank y’all, thank y’all
[03:28:52] I am Stan Kells
[03:28:56] Y’all can follow me at
[03:28:57] S-T-A-N underscore K-E-L-Z
[03:29:00] Thanks again, you know what I’m saying
[03:29:01] For allowing me to speak my truth
[03:29:03] Shout out to Tyler, Justice, and everybody
[03:29:06] Peace, y’all
[03:29:07] Hey, give it up for Stan Kells
[03:29:14] One more time, y’all
[03:29:15] Give it up for him