New Man/Incredible | Xola Malik | TEDxSnoIsleLibraries

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx

The final talk/performance of the event by hip-hop artist and philanthropist, Xola Malik, led to a standing ovation.

Xola (ko-lah), has released six critically acclaimed CDs yielding four top 40 hits as Kid Sensation. Under his own name, he has released Songs for Change. He uses art to “tell stories of life, love, and good and bad times with substance, without the profanity, misogyny, and negativity prevalent in entertainment today.” He has partnered with the social media platform and clothing company FINAO (Failure Is Not An Option).

You are a person;

the most complex living creation
on earth; a human being.

Fearfully and wonderful made,

your brain is more powerful
than any computer.

You think and reason.

You have emotions, feelings, and a spirit.

Your DNA and fingerprint
are just like your gifts and talents:

they're unique to you.

You were created on purpose,
for a purpose,

the Earth being
the perfect distance from the Sun

with the perfect atmospheric
conditions to sustain life;

the intricate design of human beings

and our complex body functions;
life itself; space and time.

It's OK we don't have it all figured out,

and there just may be something
to this God thing.

But let's table that for a future talk

and get back to us as individuals.

Mankind is a cool, diverse,

interconnected, interdependent puzzle.

Each of us, no matter our color,
fame, economic background,

or status, is exactly one piece
of that puzzle.

And as we serve one another,

we complete the puzzle,
and we all benefit.

I used to think small
growing up without a father,

my single mom working two jobs.

As I got older,
every goal was self-serving.

But I began to realize,
a commitment to a cause,

a group of people, a person, a faith,

those are the things that define me.

The shift from selfish
to selfless thinking

grows us as people.

I am a hip-hop recording artist.

I hope to change your perception
of what that is.

The man I am today understands
that life, love, and relationships

require me to commit,

to be locked in,
to be decisive and passionate,

to stand up against ignorance, apathy...

The man I am today understands

that life is what we decide it'll be.

I have to forget my past
in order to focus on my future.

I'm a new man.

(Music plays with Malik's recorded voice)

Sometimes when you're grown up,
you ain't grown up

XM: Normally I make music
to make people jump up and down,

but I just want you guys
to listen right now; listen.

I used to be young
and kind of foolishness

I was into it
so I tried to keep hanging

With dudes that I went to school with

And they were doing nothing
so I was doing nothing

Productive at doing nothing,
it was time to change something

'Cause of all my potential
giving life to instrumentals

Was slipping between my fingers
like sands in an hourglass

My road windy and rough,
I made silly mistakes

And left a lot of heartache
and heartbreak in my wake

And even in the middle of it,
facing my toughest choice

I hear the words and the sound
of my mother's voice

She sees greatness in me,
underachieving

She knows the power of faith,
and she's believing

One day I'd wake up
and realize I'm wasting

A lifetime on all these
good times that I'm chasing

I'm seeking something different,
this ain't my life plan

I'm stepping to You
and stepping out a new man

I keep on building, keep on moving

With each new day I keep proving

The past and future are not equal

The story is stormy, but there's a sequel

And if you don't recognize
the man you see before your eyes

It's 'cause I'm a new man,
'cause I'm a new man inside

And the old man's gone away

I was a kid chasing the fame,
young, chasing the game

Chasing these little frames,
but then something changed

Did a full 180 from the days
when I used to be shady

Figured out the importance
of sticking to one lady

I don't dip in the club,
run and rip in the club

I'm skipping the club,
girls strip in the club

Dudes trip in the club,
shots pop, blood drip in the club

No love, just troub' in the club
and the streets so I'm done

Plus, we takin' vows, baby,
I take 'em serious

These girls wanna take your place,
must be delirious

We in this life forever,
even through stormy weather

And we'd rather die
and treasure every moment together

Since I put a ring around
the fing, it ain't a fling

It's just the way I feel about you
and the love we share and bring

To the table, and stability
minimizes mystery

This family's about to make history

I keep on building, keep on moving

With each new day I keep proving

The past and future are not equal

The story is stormy, but there's a sequel

And if you don't recognize
the man you see before your eyes

It's 'cause I'm a new man,
'cause I'm a new man inside

And the old man's gone away

New days are ahead,
old days are behind

New vision, new heights,
and I'm no longer blind

Looking at my face,
tell me what do you see?

It don't always reflect what's in me

Been blessed, and my face
is still looking the same

But in my heart
a whole lot has changed

My rear-view mirror
is small, windshield big

And I don't forget it --
where I came from

But I focus on where I'm headed, yeah

I can't forget the lesson
when walking in my blessing

Peep in the rear-view,
but I keep a clear view

Of what's in front of me;
my past is washed away

I let regret go and I focus on today

God forgive me
as these people remind me

Of the changes that I made
and the past behind me

It was all for Your purpose,
it was all for Your plan

I came into You broken,
came out a new man

I keep on building, keep on moving

With each new day I keep proving

The past and future are not equal

The story is stormy, but there's a sequel

And if you don't recognize
the man you see before your eyes

It's 'cause I'm a new man,
'cause I'm a new man inside

And the old man's gone away

Each man that's under the sound
of my voice right now:

we are meant to be leaders, man.

We have to step up in our rightful place,

and treat our families, our community,

and our world like it matters,

and we're the leaders to make it happen.

So, men, let's stand up
and be the men we're supposed to be.

I'm a new man.

(Applause) (Cheers)

Thank you, thank you.

Ladies.

Historically, you have been made
to feel worthless or worth less.

You've had to fight for every right,

every bit of equality,
every bit of fair treatment.

You've had to fight for it.

I just got done--
I'm following up a female astronaut

(Laughter)

scientists, rocket scientists,
psychiatrists...

There was a time
when we wouldn't have seen any of that.

And guess what?

There are still places in the world

where women don't even have
those kind of opportunities.

But I'm here to say something
that I think is really important

that you need to realize, ladies;

that you are so important and significant,

and your contributions
have made the world what it is.

You're the cradle of life.

No matter how you've been violated,
no matter how you've been treated.

I don't care what your past says,

the future and the past are not equal.

I just want to see a hand
for every lady that knows

that her best days are ahead of her.

(Cheering)

We should hear more men applauding that,
I'm just telling you right now.

(Applause)

Ladies, you're truly incredible.

(Music)

Yo.

This goes out to every lady
under the sound of my voice.

Yo.

Society better make way,

'cause I hear a lot
of powerful women out here.

Check it.

God's gift, so awesome

Look at the way the little girl blossomed

Incredible, underrated

And through the best
and worst days, she made it

I see the pain and love in her eyes

A smile that's bright like a sunrise

The world wants to pull you down

But let's build you up and fill you up

With hope for the next chapter

Replace tears with smiles and laughter

I'm so inclined to say,
"Never let the world define you."

You're a masterpiece, soft spoken

Strong love not easily broken

Every daughter, every mother, sister, wife

You're the ones
with the power to carry life

I salute you and celebrate you

Forgive when we acted like we hate you

All things made new, new day

Past hurts, past scars fade away

Don't let a few bad decisions

Keep you from accomplishing your mission

You're a step above amazing, don't settle

Beautiful right where you are: incredible

I just really want you to know, to know

Listen, ladies...

One word describes you: incredible

The real men have to stand up
and let these ladies know

that you're incredible.

Unconditional love, so patient,
your strength my inspiration

Your contribution to our lives

You're my anchor, I thank you

You're the cradle of civilization;
you're what's real; thank you, ladies.

You're incredible, you're incredible

All right, listen,
let's take this a little deeper.

Uh-huh, hey lady

Have I told you you're incredible lately?

It's a holler or every sister's welfare

Xola cares, if don't nobody else care

And I gotta take a minute to tell you

I'm sorry for the way we failed you

'Cause you're more
than a cute face plus curves

You're more than the lies
you've seen and heard

I guess if no one wants
to step up, speak truth

I'ma step up, speak truth, bring proof

You're one in a billion times seven

A handmade original from heaven

You were born to love, born to lead

Born to shine and succeed

They want to see you
in a strip club on a pole

I'd rather see you
in a boardroom in control

Achieving greatness

Some artists would rather exploit you,
they hate this

They getting nervous as I expose them

And point you to your purpose

Even if you've been through hell in a cell

And you're still breathing, keep believing

You're a step above amazing, don't settle

Beautiful right where you are: incredible

I just really want you to know, to know

To every woman in the house that believes

that her best days are ahead.

One word describes you: incredible

One more time, let me see your hands.

Unconditional love, so patient,
your strength my inspiration

And this time, men, I want you
to stand up on your feet

and applaud every woman in this place.

Every man in this place,
let's applaud these women.

Give them a standing ovation
because they are truly incredible.

(Applause)

You guys, thank you so much
for letting me share with you.

We had an amazing lineup of speakers,
an amazing time today.

And I just wanted to say thank you guys
for being open-minded, embracing hip-hop,

because I hope that my career
will redefine what hip-hop can truly be.

God bless you and thank you.

(Applause) (Cheers)