I don’t want to write this down

Umi Says is a song by rapper and actor Mos Def, released in 1999 as a part of his album Black on Both Sides. The song was written by Mos Def and produced by Minnesota, and its title translates to “My Mother Says” in Arabic.

The song has a strong message of hope and positivity, with lyrics that encourage listeners to stay true to themselves and follow their dreams, while acknowledging the challenges and injustices faced by black people.

At the time of the song’s release, hip-hop was dominated by commercial success and materialism, and Mos Def’s socially conscious lyrics and positive messages were a refreshing change of pace. The song also came out at a time when police brutality and racial profiling were hot-button issues, particularly in the wake of the killing of Amadou Diallo in New York City earlier that year. Mos Def himself was an active participant in social justice issues, having been arrested in a protest against police brutality in 1999.

Musically, the song has a laid-back and jazzy feel, with a prominent saxophone riff and a repeated chorus of “la-di-da-di-da, la-di-da-di-di”. Mos Def’s smooth delivery and the song’s positive message made it an instant classic in the world of conscious hip-hop, and it continues to be celebrated today as a powerful call to action for social justice and self-improvement.