By Jos Truitt • @jostruitt • 10 years ago

Feministing Jamz: Mumu Fresh turns Pharrell’s Happy into an ode to natural hair

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In February, Syreeta posted an awesome cover of Lorde’s “Royals” by Washington DC artist Maimouna Youssef, aka Mumu Fresh, titled “We’re Already Royals.” Now Mumu Fresh is back with another reimagined cover – this time she’s turned Pharrell’s way too catchy and ubiquitous “Happy” into “Nappy,” an anthem for natural Black hair. Check it out after the jump:

This track’s off her new mixtape “The Reintroduction of Mumu Fresh” which also features “We’re Already Royals” and a track about student loans.

Here’s the rewritten lyrics:

[Verse 1:]
It might seem crazy what I’m about to say
Love is here, haters take a break
I know you’ve seen these curls all in my face
I shake my hair in the air like I don’t care baby by the way…
1st chorus
Because I’m nappy
Clap along if you know that a comb can’t mess with you
Cuz I’m nappy
Clap along if you know that Africa’s in ya roots
Cuz im nappy
Clap along if you know that nappiness is the truth
Cuz Im Nappy
Clap along if you know that nappy’s what youre born to do

[Verse 2:]
Here come bad news want me to wear hat, yeah,
When I walk my head up and shoulders back, yeah,
Well, I should probably warn you that it’s all mine, yeah,
No offense to you but im super fly, here’s why

2nd chorus
Cuz im Nappy…
Clap along if you know that Africa’s in ya roots
Cuz Im Nappy
Clap along if you feel like Nappiness is the truth
Cuz I’m Nappy
Clap along if you know that your hair looks good on YOU!
Cuz Im Nappy
Clap along if you the truth and you don’t need no more proof

[Bridge:]

Bring me down, Can’t nothing, bring me down,
my fro is too high, to bring me down
Cant no perm, lay this down,
Cant nothing
Hold me down
This love is too strong to bring me down
Cant nothing,
tame this crown
the love is too high, to bring me down

3rd 4th Chorus (DEV DUFF)
Because I’m nappy
Clap along if you know that a comb can’t mess with you
Cuz I’m nappy
Clap along if you know that Africa’s in your roots
Cuz im nappy
Clap along if you feel that nappiness is the truth
Cuz Im Nappy
Clap along if you know that nappy’s what you’re born to do
Cuz im Nappy…
Clap along if you know that Africa’s in your roots
Cuz Im Nappy
Clap along if you feel like Nappiness is the truth
Cuz I’m Nappy
Clap along if you know that your hair looks good on YOU!
Cuz Im Nappy
Clap along if you the truth and you don’t need no more proof

credits
from The Reintroduction of Mumu Fresh, released 13 May 2014
M. Youssef & Sean Glover feat. Dev Duff & Tamika Love Jones

Jos Truitt Jos Truitt is an Executive Director of Feministing.

Boston, MA

Jos Truitt is Executive Director of Development at Feministing. She joined the team in July 2009, became an Editor in August 2011, and Executive Director in September 2013. She writes about a range of topics including transgender issues, abortion access, and media representation. Jos first got involved with organizing when she led a walk out against the Iraq war at her high school, the Boston Arts Academy. She was introduced to the reproductive justice movement while at Hampshire College, where she organized the Civil Liberties and Public Policy Program’s annual reproductive justice conference. She has worked on the National Abortion Federation’s hotline, was a Field Organizer at Choice USA, and has volunteered as a Pro-Choice Clinic Escort. Jos has written for publications including The Guardian, Bilerico, RH Reality Check, Metro Weekly, and the Columbia Journalism Review. She has spoken and trained at numerous national conferences and college campuses about trans issues, reproductive justice, blogging, feminism, and grassroots organizing. Jos completed her MFA in Printmaking at the San Francisco Art Institute in Spring 2013. In her "spare time" she likes to bake and work on projects about mermaids.

Jos Truitt is an Executive Director of Feministing in charge of Development.

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