“Masquerade” is a song that explores the more mysterious aspects of the minds that populate the nightlife consistently. It also takes a dive in the mind of an anxious and uneasy artist in one of those places.
The song was recorded, engineered and written in Washington D.C. by “Ya Minko” & “Duke Walker”
lyrics
[Hook - Mawa Keita (Ya Minko)]
Black with the feather...
Mask on!
Hold it with a stick…
Ready for the Masquerade
(Camouflage, camouflage, camouflage, camouflage…)
Ready for the Masquerade!
(Camouflage, camouflage, camouflage, camouflage…)
Ready for the Masquerade!
(Camouflage, camouflage, camouflage, camouflage…)
Ready for the Masquerade!
(Camouflage, camouflage, camouflage, camouflage…)
Ready for the Masquerade!
[Verse 1 - Duke Walker]
Hello ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to party!
Where the rich ain’t really rich, and the broken ain’t come to linger
Where the liquor’s prolly spiked, and the people ain’t living right
Be sure you sit up straight, cause they gon judge you like…
They fake bougie, with a side of hip-hop flavor
Let me see the keys, I gotta see the new foreign!
Pass that jacket here! I’m wondering if that’s new leather...
Swear I’ll judge you as soon as you walk away from me baby…
But please there’s one rule: you must wear you mask all night...
You wouldn’t want anyone to know what you’re doing tonight…
Have a pillar too! I heard you snowboard
I’m glad we got these masks nigga, watch me go for it!
Tonight’s about fun and living life and then it’s really no judgement
But tomorrow on Instagram, yeah I’m really gon tag you
Oh hell! If your face is covered....
In the dark shadows, behind these closed doors we all hold the keys too
I wonder if they’d be surprised if they could see the real you
[Hook - Mawa Keita (Ya Minko)]
Black with the feather...
Mask on!
Hold it with a stick…
Ready for the Masquerade
(Camouflage, camouflage, camouflage, camouflage…)
Ready for the Masquerade!
(Camouflage, camouflage, camouflage, camouflage…)
Ready for the Masquerade!
(Camouflage, camouflage, camouflage, camouflage…)
Ready for the Masquerade!
(Camouflage, camouflage, camouflage, camouflage…)
Ready for the Masquerade!
[Verse 2 - Ya Minko]
Something is wrong... How come they playing this song?
How come everything feels like nothing when we don't get along?
Colorful wordings and emojis when you texting my phone
Took a few hits, got played but shit the whole thing made me strong...
They don't want me like the black James Bond...
Look: Here's another cool rap song!
Listen: Lyrical brilliance promise of shaded excellence...
Third world kid with the Midas touch and a foreign accent
Musical gold, the records sounding like El Dorado
Pick up the phone, it's drugs you should try next to the bando
On a different note though, the homie bought a rifle
I guess he feels like it's time, he said we ready for trouble
Second guessing the teachings of those who promised salvation
The glory of resurrection you'll die before you find out
Duck, duck, goose, the Reaper on the lookout
But we can't keep you in line unless we make it so you don't ask
Cause the coming generation need some time to find what we lost
For the price of many nations we will rise up as one mind
And forgive, all our sins, but we had to go through that
Speaking in codes, and hoping that the kids don't forget why…
[Hook - Mawa Keita (Ya Minko)]
Black with the feather...
Mask on!
Hold it with a stick…
Ready for the Masquerade
(Camouflage, camouflage, camouflage, camouflage…)
Ready for the Masquerade!
(Camouflage, camouflage, camouflage, camouflage…)
Ready for the Masquerade!
(Camouflage, camouflage, camouflage, camouflage…)
Ready for the Masquerade!
(Camouflage, camouflage, camouflage, camouflage…)
Ready for the Masquerade!
An immigrant born and raised in Gabon, Ya Minko has spent the last ten years writing, producing, and mixing music in
Washington, D.C. His style, heavily influenced by hip-hop and Afropop, melds many styles and genres that he was exposed to along this journey. Ya Minko believes in music as a healing community outlet, and his art focuses on the interconnectedness of our experiences....more
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