Back in ’96, they called me Apu
Simpsons caricature that sounded a total fool
And those who didn’t mocked my name at school
I acted like that stuff wasn’t cruel, just laughed when they laughed
I wanted so hard to be cool
“Hey Hindu, is that red stuff curry on you?”
“Yeah,” I’d say smiling like a feeble sheep 
Getting in my mom’s car, I would start to weep

Thing is, my folks always had thicker skin
The places they had seen and been
They’d say to me "hold up your chin 
work hard and fight to be the best in,
everything you do, and trust in that chotu”
I nodded, ready to show the world just who rules

But right when I thought it was my time
911 happened and started stunting my climb
It felt awkward, almost wrong to thrive
And the Media out there wanted to corrupt my mind
I began to feel like discrimination was OK
All because I looked like some guy on some plane
But really, the most embarrassing thing though
Was hearing myself say “Hell no
I don't pray to Allah, I pray to Rama, don't you know?"
I hate that I bought into their degrading dichotomy
I thought I was allowing myself to stay free 
Of any gratuitous phobic injury 
But in reality, I was just learning how to Otherize
Even though my morals had taught me otherwise

Now, I’m growing up to realize
That keeping it real is what enables you to be wise
And really, I think things are beginning to change
Aziz, Bobby, Nikki Haley - aren’t we turning the page?
Victim mentality seems to be going away
And the nation is starting to see that we’re here to stay
H1B to Nina Davaluri, Sum 41 to CEO, yeah we won
the ESPN spelling bee Champion

My message here is to those kids out there,
I want you to know that you never have to be scared
Somewhere in America, your people have been there
And emerged a God even when it wasn't fair
Work hard and I think you can become another star
Dream big and I think you can go further than far


Somewhere In America ft. TG

1. The Beatles - I’ve just seen a face
2. Blink 182 - I miss you
3. Fort Minor - Where’d you go?
4. Ne Yo  - So Sick
5. Ne Yo - Mad
6. Keri Hilson - Knocks you down
7. Jay Sean  - Down
8. Flo rida - Wild one ft. Sia 
9. Pitbull - Give Me Everything ft. Ne-Yo, Afrojack, Nayer
10. Alphaville - Forever Young
11. Avicii - Fade Into Darkness


Background Music: Grid ][ [Trance Mix] by Alex Smith of the Cynic Project.

11 meets 1

I went to Morocco last summer, and fell in love with a song that my tour guide was playing. He must've played it six or seven times on the same day, half of which were at my request. They blended naturally with two songs I grew up with. A tribute to the great artists, all around the world!

Zina -  Babylone
Jo Wada Kiya Woh Nibhana Padega - Rafi
Flake - Jack Johnson

Zina All Around The World

Featuring J'san x Kupla's "Memories Fade"

Lyrics:

Delusion-ally illusion’d, you’ve lost all control,
You want to fly high, you forget about your floor,
Be hopeful, go ahead, you know you’re gonna trip,
I’ll try not to laugh, when they see you’re full of it,
“Fear is a teacher,” don’t you understand?
Who’s gonna catch you, when you need to land.
Kindness is a killer, it makes me go away,
Hate me and believe me, I’m here to stay.

I don’t wanna hear this, not now man.
My life is just opening up, please understand,
I wanna be without you for at least for a year,
Do you gotta to live so damn near?
In my mind, in body, all over my space,,
I want to sit down, from this hell of a race.
There’s one thing you said that I feel is right.
Kindness is your killer, so why put up a fight?

Let me say thank you. thank you. 
Thank you. Thank you. thank you again.

Oh god here we go. 
No, for real though.

I see you, I saw you, even when I was scared,
I know all you wanted was for me to be prepared.
“Worst case scenario, what’s it gonna be?”
I wanna live with hope, so let me be.
Trust is a thing that I can’t teach,
I just need to believe the things I preach,
So no, fear, I don’t want you to die. 
I appreciate that you have always tried.
I just a need a new guest in this house.
If you were the running cat, hope is my mouse.
So take a break, and let her live a few days.
Don’t go completely away.

So, you want me to stay?
Kind of

Hope & Fear

Caje - Nicone and Sascha Braemer feat. Narra
Zara Zara - Bombay Jayshri
Love Will Come Through - Travis

Caje ft. Ang

My first time playing the acoustic guitar mixing three of my very favorite songs (Zina - Bayblone, Jo Wada Kiya Woh - Rafi, Flake - James Blake). Hope you like it :)

Zina - Acoustic

Identity meant so much to me until I saw what I 
Needed to see to be free,
Elect a brother that looks just like me, And bom
Ba bada bom, this is my country.
 
“E plurubuis unum” 44 would say,
Now you never have to go and white it away,
Go back this time and seek to understand
How your grandpa always had a bigger plan.

When I went to Gus village, I started to see,
How lucky I was to be on his side of the tree,
What if I was born into that other house?
Would I be selling chai be hemming blouse?

I can’t watch the Crown or feel bad for the Queen,
Certain triggers get deeper generationally,
Centuries of crime, wealth they’d pillaged.
The scars live through my ancestral village.

Still, here I am, in this land of plenty,
Living a blessed life, a few months from 30.
Educated, situated, living just fine,
Thinking I would spit over a Wyclef rhyme.

Ready or not, here I come
You can't hide
Gonna find you
And make this worth it.

Identity still means something to me, although
These days the questions get haunting.
Why is that Tarun Galagali gets to be free?
Why is that he never sleeps hungry?

The lottery of birth keeps me on my grind,
The pursuit of the deep why calms my mind,
Top of the pyramid, with everything to show,
Survivor’s guilt is all that’s left to go 

But some days it’s less deeper than that,
I want to make a mark & be a famous cat,
Money sounds nice, and a house too
Is it okay to just want to be cool?

Besides, if it’s all just borrowed time?
Why not run this life on overdrive?
Hedonism and a n co-exist,
I can live the fine life and be deep as shit!

Still, here I am, in this land of plenty,
Living a blessed life, a few months from 30.
Educated, situated, living just fine,
Thinking I would spit over a Wyclef rhyme.

Ready or not, here I come
You can't hide
Gonna find you
And make this worth it.

Apna Time Ayega.
Uth ja apni raakh se Tu udd ja ab talaash mein Parwaaz dekh parwaane ki Aasmaan bhi sar uthayega Aayega, apna time aayega
Mere jaisa shaana… lala Tujhe na mil paayega

Tarun Galagali

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