Pretty for a Dark-Skinned Girl ft. Sharina Marisela

from A Tale of Cool Cities (pick your own price) by Ayoinmotion

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about

I asked people to tell me what comes to their minds when they hear: “She’s pretty for a dark-skinned girl” and the responses were insightful. I have heard this phrase so many times and it bothers me on so many levels. It’s not a statement of preference, instead it’s a statement of reference towards a standard of beauty that makes “beauty” and “being dark-skinned” mutually exclusive. Lastly, this song is for the dark-skinned girls that have to put up with such ignorance, one too many times"

lyrics

Verse 1:
Sticks and stones
Could break my bones
But words could never hurt me
Their words could never cut me
-
Lies
She tells to herself
Think that it’s best,
Better than this feeling in her chest
Better that feeling she was less

Dark skin was their issue
Yet she cries in a tissue
Her beauty tied to self-confidence
She seeking sense in backhanded compliments

Waste of time / I didn’t know
Insecure / I never showed
The hate for her skin
Got her wishing
white was her kin
Got her wishing
melanin was thin

Self hate, she’s pulling out her kinks
She’s feeling like she stinks
She’s living on the brink
Self hate kills, It kills from within

Chorus:
Pretty for a dark-skinned girl X 2
He said, she's pretty for a dark-skinned girl

Bridge:
Naturally she's ebony
The world see's an anomaly
She wakes up to greet herself
With hopes to see somebody else
With skin, maybe a little more fair
and eyes, a little more clear
she don't now the value
of being black and beautiful

Verse 2:
Ebony shinning
Stars aligning
Presence in my life
Perfect timing
Sun kissed, your skin is glorious
Insecurities, her confidence so porous
Legs so long and luscious
Still she was so self-conscious
They say beauty begins within
She thinks beauty begins with skin

Chorus:
Pretty for a dark-skinned girl X 2
He said, she's pretty for a dark-skinned girl

credits

from A Tale of Cool Cities (pick your own price), track released November 25, 2013
Rap vocals written by: Ayoinmotion (@ayoinmotion)
Other lyrics written by: Ayoinmotion & Sharina Marisela (@marisela03)
Production by: Youngr (@youngr_music )
Mixed: George "Cylon" Casseus of Digital Harmonics (@cylonxx)
Recorded by TeV95 95Labs Brooklyn, NY
Cover Art Design by: Sydney Brown (@artistsyd) for INM0TI0N brand

license

about

Ayoinmotion New York, New York

Pulsating Afrobeats, hip-hop, spoken-word, a hard-driving band, and dancers make Ayoinmotion in concert a captivating experience. Essence magazine said the Nigeria-born performer creates “unforgettable music that leaves a lasting impression on any audience.” He has made his name opening for such superstars as Davido, Teni The Entertainer and Talib Kweli & was recently spotlighted by the GRAMMYs. ... more