The mask is coming off! In this Exandrian MIXtape entry, Rochelle Ibarra ("I Wear the Mask) and Danny Dourado ("Mollymauk vs Caleb - ULTIMATE RAP BATTLE") reprise their roles as early campaign Nott and Caleb, as the motley duo look to take destiny into their own hands.
Written by Meany Vizzini (@MeanyVizzini) and Amyownfie (@amyownfie)
Artwork by Scott Maitland, Will Crosswait, and Lorgnit
Nott performed by Rochelle Ibarra (@roroibarra, roro_ibarra on Instagram)
Caleb performed by Danny Dourado (@Rapping_Bard)
Production by Will Crosswait (@WillCrosswait, willxwait on Instagram)
If you're in a position to donate to charity, we would love to encourage anyone who enjoys our work to donate to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund
NOTT Ayo, pick locks, quick shots, get rocks, eat tots
Get it right, ‘cause you only get one shot
Advice from a horde matron to a young Nott
The hatin’ is blatant, so meticulously taught
No wonder “fair races” tell us we’re born to be hellish
Before I get in a rejoinder, they join her to sell us
That they gon’ end up either perish to goblins or fell us,
So it’s fair they just wanna quell us
That’s why I hustle hella hard, never celebrate a getaway
That’ll be the day I gonna fin’ly show my giveaway
I decline to be defined or throw my shot away
Or be put down as just another one to rot away,
So I’m apt to be frenetic, I’m hatin’ my genetics
If I’ve a shot to reverse my lot I cannot regret it
My point of destination’s different from where I was headed
‘Cause Caleb’s got the potential to get it, one shot!
Well, they said ready or Nott, you best be listenin’ to orders
Losin’ my (breath), they decided to give me torture
They said if we can’t break ‘em, you turn ‘em into informers
But once I get ‘em to spill it, the killin’s around the corner
Yeza was his name - the halfling man, from before
Our chemistry was legend’ry, he drove me to be bolder and
Break off, take off and shake off my borders
To give up giving up and square up my shoulders
Must admit, was timid, was kind of, um
Shier as a hider with this fire and desire to be lighter
As a stealth private eye-r with my eye on all that shines
I surprise allies, a pint-size fighter!
My Nein are mighty guys, I might survive minor
Jailbreaks to break out jails in my mind
Be cunning, becoming who you want, I mean it!
I mean you fin’ly got one shot, take it, don’t leave it!
CALEB
Eyes up! If the green is all they sees, they size up
Soon the guard all yell SEIZE, panic flies up
Do you wonder why she’s gotta guise up?
When are folks like me and you gonna wise up?
Ev’ry city, ev’ry town we analyze up
Living scared they look down and demonize us
She ain’t got no other choice but humanize up
Eyes up!
Throughout my travels and journeys through life I’ve been searchin’
And been learnin’ to be a timeless person to display how determined I get
When I’m yearnin’ inside I feel that fire that’s burnin’
Though my crime is still certain, I fight while I’m hurtin’
I lost my mind, their cries are my burden
And the shame from my blight only worsen
Tryna stifle the light that ignited me first an’
Just when I find it’s not workin’
I find Nott, and she’ll help me take my one shot I got to accomplish my purpose
Now I build again to me utterin’ backstory mulligan
Readin’ beyond covers, now I’m discoverin’
Secret recoverin’, we in the guts again, Mighty Nein rushin’ in
Power uncoverin’, feelin’ the hunger an’ feedin’ the lust to win
See, I’ve been patiently waitin’ for the moment
To rise up again, that’s the reason I bolted
As long as I’m still standin’, with the rest of them holdin’,
Give me my one chance to alter time an’ properly mold it