Dedication

“Hip Hop is how I do good in this world. That is what World View is all about. And everything I do good I do in honor of my mother. So, this site is dedicated to her… In Celebration of the Life of Debby, World-Famous Mother, Wife, Daughter, Sister, Social Worker, Chef, Singer, Swimmer, Activist, Artist, Gardener, Birder and Dog/Horse Whisperer, who died 1/2/12, just shy of her 60th birthday.” — AWKWORD

AWKWORD says:

The Greatest Woman of All Time Died on One-Two…

I wrote and recorded “Thank You (A Tribute To My Mommy)” in honor of my perfect mother, who died 1/2/12, before she even reached 60. She was smiling and beautiful, even in her last moments.

I wrote this song sitting beside my mom, as she stared at death — with grace, as she did everything in her life. Without my mother, I wouldn’t be here today. And thanks to my mother, I never shied away from expressing myself through the arts. “Thank You” is the most personal song I’ve released to date, and for me it’s the most important. My #WorstMemoryof2011 was learning we’d run out of options. My #BestMemoryof2011 was witnessing my mom’s expression as she listened to her tribute song and watched the accompanying slideshow.

To me, this song demonstrates the positive power of Hip Hop — this is why I do what I do. And rightfully, “A Tribute To My Mommy” will appear on my 100% for-charity album World View, dropping in 2012. Yet, I can’t help but think my tribute only barely touches the surface in capturing all that my mother means and has meant to the people in her life and the plants, animals and insects all around her. World-Famous Mother, Wife, Daughter, Sister, Social Worker, Chef, Singer, Swimmer, Activist, Artist, Gardener, Birder and Dog/Horse Whisperer. The only person I’ve ever know who practices what she preaches, adheres always to morality, and even challenges my theory that there is no true form of altruism.

In her honor, as her son, as someone who always admired — and was often in awe of — her, I present this song to my family, friends and fans, as well as to all those who have ever lost someone (especially due to cancer and metastatic breast cancer) they love, undoubtedly too early.

Youtube Slideshow x Song Preview

Song Stream

Song Download

Download in the HIGHEST, better-than-CD-quality sound, FREE or by electing to NAME YOUR OWN PRICE. All (100%) of the proceeds are being donated to The Nature Conservancy in the name of AWKWORD’s mother. And if you knew her, you know that this organization was more to her than a nonprofit to throw money at; AWKWORD’s mom lived and breathed its mission to “protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people.”

Song Lyrics

Thank you, mommy, i try to say the words calmly /
but im a little too sensitive, you helped make me an anomaly /
i cry on your shoulder, put my head in your lap /
think of all the fun we had, and how we’ll never get it back /
the sound of your laugh, feel of your hand on my back /
hiking through the woods, eating the lunch that we packed /
My biggest fan in the crowd, im still watching ya clap /
youre the angel on my shoulder, pushing me back to the track /
i woulda thought that be enough, for you to be saved /
maybe god wants a golf course, on that land that YOU saved /
Most little girls, they dream about guys with porsches /
you stared up at the ceiling imaginin carin for horses /
most popular chick, growing up, just like my sister /
You will always live on, in her voice, i hear your whisper.

Thank you, mommy, for all the truths you taught me /
In any conflict, I’ll always think about my mommy /
But its time to man up now, mom, im scared /
You were the person i fully knew, who’d always be there /
I can picture myself now, rooftop, screaming in the dark /
I cant imagine living a single minute without my heart /
But I promise to go on, for you and my seeds /
I promise to watch my money, and stay away from all that greed /
I promise to support pops, with anything he needs /
And my best friend, your daughter and me, we holdin down the tree /
Plus YOUR sister, together, reminiscing about your grace /
Passing pictures around, like kids, lovingly study ya face /
We suffer now, cuz we all lost like 30 years /
But mom thats 60+ years of greatness better than your peers.

Select Reviews

DJBooth.net:

AWKWORD pens an intensely heartfelt track to his recently deceased mother… Showing love to one’s mother is a theme that’s run heavily throughout hip-hop. From Tupac’s Dear Mama to Kanye West’s Hey Mama, nearly every rapper finds their way to jotting down at least a line or two – if not several verses or an entire song – paying tribute to the woman from which they came. AWKWORD’s Thank You (A Tribute To My Mommy) is not just your normal homage to the maternal figure in his life as it was written at her bedside while she was losing her fight with breast cancer, eventually passing on the second day of this year. The song was recorded and played for her before her passing and AWKWORD credits her as being his biggest supporter and influence. With more and more things taking up our time, taking a moment to call or see our mothers for a quick hug or “I love you” should always be on our “to-do” lists. For more from the NYC emcee keep an ear out for his upcoming World View album, dropping soon via The DJBooth.

BeatBreastCancer / BeyondTheBoobieTrap:

This rap song is a tribute to this man’s mom and her battle with cancer. I think the words are sweet in a genre that can be rough. It’s amazing what creativity can do isn’t it?

RefinedHype.com:

It’s bigger than Hip-Hop… I know it seems like I’m some mysterious, faceless force that posts booty shots and talks shit about rappers, but believe it or not I’m an actual, real life person. So when an artist like AWKWORD comes to me with a track dedicated to his mother, who was dying of breast cancer when he first played the song for me and has now passed away, I have an actual human reaction. At its best hip-hop offers both an escape and reflection of our actual lives, so in that spirit I’m going to turn things over to AWKWORD from here on out…

AGirlAndHerHipHop.com:

AWKWORD drops a heart warming tribute to his mom.

808Crate.com:

Damn, that the most beautiful thing you could do for your mother. SALUTE!… Many blessings go out to @AWKWORDrap for even being able to write and put this together in his rough times. My mother was my grandmother and she’s passed. It was a very tough for me to see her so ill on her bed. Much love goes out!! The song is FREE but you can elect to pay for it and the money goes to the The Nature Conservancy. SUPPORT IF YOU CAN.

Womazing.com:

Oh, man… this has to be the most heart-felt song I’ve heard in a very long time. My eyes started to get watery while listening to it. AWKWORD releases a new song titled “Thank You” dedicated to his mother, where he talks about how much he loves and appreciates her. This was absolutely beautiful. My thoughts and prayers goes out to him and his family during this difficult time. Read below to get more of an insight behind this meaningful song.

WeGoinIn.com:

AWKWORD reminds us that love and loyalty transcend all.

Now show your support for AWKWORD and his mother — and go to DJBooth.net to LISTEN, RATE, LIKE and COMMENT.

Donations

Per Debby’s request, we ask that you please consider a donation — IN HER NAME — to any/all of the charities below. Instructions:

1. METAvivor. [Metastatic breast cancer is the spread of breast cancer to non-adjacent parts of the body -- most commonly to the bones, liver, lungs and/or brain. At present, the disease is not considered survivable. METAvivor hopes to help change that.]
2. BCMets. [BCMets is an online discussion board with ongoing input from experienced Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients. "It is a list where passion, compassion, information, spunk, fun, love, fears, tears and frustration are posted, tolerated, welcomed and loved" (Linda, BcMETS member). Debby was a devoted member of this group, read the posts daily and contributed. She found help, hope and comfort in her readings and correspondence with other women. Donations to BCMets in honor of Debby will be directed to the Pete Bevin Fund, created to assist site owner Pete Bevin with hosting expenses for the Breast Cancer List Archives, Breast Cancer List AUCTION site, BCList Annual Gathering site and the the online discussion board.]
3. The Nature Conservancy: Option 1 – Download “Thank You (A Tribute To My Mommy)” and NAME YOUR OWN PRICE. Option 2 – Go here and click the Make a Donation button. [As everyone who loved Debby knows, no place on earth was more apropos for her than the earth itself. Nothing made her more at peace than walking through the woods with her dog or sculpting and digging in her legendary garden. And few things made her more proud than watching her children enjoy nature or work to protect our environment. For as long as we can all remember, The Nature Conservancy -- dedicated to protecting Earth's natural resources and beauty -- was Debby's favorite charity. (It is one of the only charities that has always stuck to its mission, thusly never disappointing a woman with unflappable morals and values.)]

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