Kellee moved to Pittsburgh in her late teens with the dream of changing the world. She learned more about the negative sides of our society through study at the University of Pittsburgh and Hip Hop was solidified as her passion and outlet for activism. She also experienced watching her mother go through a near death bout with cancer and used writing as a means to cope. She began performing in 2000 and has not stopped since. However, a sense of not being able to make any real change, a lack of confidence, and need for financial security pushed her into the workforce and on the spiritual journey, which proved to be a unique opportunity to learn about what would became her inspiration as an artist.
Kellee worked in events and promotions at the Pittsburgh City Paper right after college. After her father passed away Kellee again turned to music as a way to cope. Soon after the tragedy, she started her own female owned and operated, socially conscious company, Nakturnal, in hopes of securing a better income to help her mother in the future and allow for growth in her music career. For over two years now, Nakturnal has been considered the leading guerilla marketing and events organization in the region, that works daily for independent artists, worthy causes and is expanding nationally. While Nakturnal was growing, Kellee found more time to record and perform, and released her first album, Age of Feminine. She is currently working on her second release which highlights her mystical side. She is also launching a website that will act as an artistic statement with the help of a huge female team made up of Nakturnal and other talented Pittsburgh based women.
A deeply spiritual person striving to enjoy and appreciate the present, Kellee now sees activism on a energetic level that starts within. She studies the power of intention, meditation, quantum physics, astrology, tarot and other forms of mysticism. She feels her purpose in life is to make music that sends out good energy and makes people think. She believes massive global change is coming and that it starts with the individual. She asserts that our inner world is a mirror of our outer reality and that we have the power to help positively affect the world by "being the change we wish to see", as Ghandi puts it. She believes we are entering a new stage of evolution in human consciousness and hopes that her music inspires change and awareness in the listener. She believes music and art hold the key to the revolution we need and that we can enjoy this moment while opening hearts and minds.
Listen
Kellee Maize Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can u hear (listen baby they be talking loud)
It's there (think you crazy and ignore the sound)
Don't fear it (you higher self has always had a plan)
Pull up a chair (you can create whatever you demand)
Take a load off, it's your time
Forget the road blocks, ease your mind
Take a load off, it's your time
[Verse 1:]
I often undulate, try dominate
And my egos takin over
Ain't no time to waste
I ask for a guide, who in I confide
Tell um homey can u help me
I can not decide
If this is what I want, if this is why I'm here
If I am driven only by all my concerns and fear
And then I open up
I can find my joy
Reachin deep inside my being
Let my heart deploy
Risen stuck inside a prism yeah I'm shinin, I glisten
But I lost it I'm trippin, sittin inside mold I ain't fitting
Can't handle the scandal, oh powers gamble
Letting the world fall to shamble, givin out lethal sample
Right on the hearts they just trample
Destroying love when we could channel
Oh how I ramble
Can't seem to handle
Made myself an example
Of how you can dismantle confidence
Not seein God in this, not feeling like enough or ample
[Hook:]
Can u hear (listen baby they be taking loud)
It's there (think you crazy and ignore the sound)
Don't fear it (you higher self has always had a plan)
Pull up a chair (you can create whatever you demand)
Take a load off, it's your time
Forget the road blocks, ease your mind
Take a load off, it's your time
Forget the road blocks, ease your mind
[Verse 2:]
Now won't somebody tell me why I hear the static
Why I fell and can't clear my mental attic
Can't find a stairs
I'm testing my addict
Get lost no tactic, to get free, I practice
And then I loose it, then choose it
Then I'm boosin, and then I get stupid
My self hatred ruthless, my third eye muted
I'm back to square one, forgive and get loosened
But I know there is reason for everything
I know the winter season comes before spring
But I'm askin, for guidance
Cause I was questionin my wiseness
What lessons do I, gotta learn
I'm working hard to not let my bridges burn
I twist, I turn, I give, I yearn
I need to listen closely dissect and discern
[Hook:]
Can u hear (listen baby they be taking loud)
It's there (think you crazy and ignore the sound)
Don't fear it (you higher self has always had a plan)
Pull up a chair (you can create whatever you demand)
Take a load off, it's your time
Forget the road blocks, ease your mind
Take a load off, it's your time
Forget the road blocks, ease your mind
[Bridge:]
I Listen to the voices that I wanna hear
Ignore all the self hatred that swims between my ears
I know I've been conditioned only to survive
And I can change perspective connect to my higher mind
[Hook:]
Can u hear (listen baby they be taking loud)
It's there (think you crazy and ignore the sound)
Don't fear it (you higher self has always had a plan)
Pull up a chair (you can create whatever you demand)
Take a load off, it's your time
Forget the road blocks, ease your mind
Take a load off, it's your time
Forget the road blocks, ease your mind
The lyrics of Kellee Maize's song "Listen" are about the internal dialogue and struggle within a person's mind. The hook encourages the listener to listen to their inner voice and not to ignore it. It encourages everyone to trust their higher self and recognize that they have always had a plan. The song suggests that if one listens to their intuition and inner voice they can create whatever they want in life.
Verse 1 of the song discusses the conflict between the ego and desire for control, and the struggle to find a guide to help make important decisions. Kellee raps about feeling lost and uncertain if she is only driven by worry and angst rather than a sense of purpose. She realizes that when she opens up and searches within herself, she can find joy and positivity. Verse 2 describes the process of clearing one's mind and removing distractions in order to listen to one's higher self. Kellee acknowledges the difficulty of this process, but knows that it is necessary to learn important life lessons.
The bridge of the song focuses on the importance of listening to the right voices and perspectives. Kellee encourages the listener to ignore self-hatred and focus on changing perspectives to connect with a higher mind.
Overall, "Listen" is a powerful and introspective song that encourages listeners to trust their intuition and listen to their inner voice in order to reach their full potential.
Line by Line Meaning
Can u hear (listen baby they be talking loud)
Pay attention and listen carefully, even when others are trying to drown out your own voice
It's there (think you crazy and ignore the sound)
Don't second-guess or dismiss the wisdom that you receive in your own thoughts
Don't fear it (you higher self has always had a plan)
Trust yourself and know that your inner voice is leading you towards your purpose
Pull up a chair (you can create whatever you demand)
Take your time and create the life you want without limitations
Take a load off, it's your time
Relax and allow yourself to be in the present moment
Forget the road blocks, ease your mind
Don't let obstacles and challenges drag you down, focus on living in the present and finding inner peace
I often undulate, try dominate
Sometimes I struggle with dominance and shifting power dynamics in relationships
And my egos takin over
But my ego is causing me to lose control and perspective
Ain't no time to waste
I recognize that it's important to be proactive in addressing my issues
I ask for a guide, who in I confide
I ask for guidance from someone I trust
Tell um homey can u help me
I seek the help of a friend I trust
If this is what I want, if this is why I'm here
I question my life's purpose and whether or not I'm on the right path
If I am driven only by all my concerns and fear
I question if my motivation is based on my own fears and anxieties
And then I open up, I can find my joy
When I let go of my fears and anxieties, I am able to find happiness and peace
Risen stuck inside a prism yeah I'm shinin, I glisten
I feel trapped in a situation where I'm shining brightly but unable to move forward
But I lost it I'm trippin, sittin inside mold I ain't fitting
I feel like I've lost my way and don't fit in with current circumstances
Can't handle the scandal, oh powers gamble
I struggle with challenges and feel like there's too much at stake
Letting the world fall to shamble, givin out lethal sample
I'm worried that my actions are leading to negative consequences
Right on the hearts they just trample, destroying love when we could channel
I am concerned about the negative impact that people's actions have on others and relationships
Now won't somebody tell me why I hear the static
I feel overwhelmed by external factors and can't focus
Why I fell and can't clear my mental attic
I feel like I've fallen and can't get back up mentally
Can't find a stairs, I'm testing my addict
I'm struggling to find my path and am testing different options
Get lost no tactic, to get free, I practice
I don't have a set plan but am practicing different methods to find inner peace
But I know there is reason for everything
I recognize that everything happens for a reason
I know the winter season comes before spring
I trust that even during hard times, better times are coming
But I'm askin, for guidance
I'm still seeking guidance to help me navigate my struggles
Cause I was questionin my wiseness
I was doubting my own wisdom and decision-making abilities
What lessons do I, gotta learn
I know there are things I need to learn and areas where I need to grow
I twist, I turn, I give, I yearn
I am constantly trying new things and seeking to improve
I need to listen closely dissect and discern
I need to be fully present and listen carefully to find the answers I need
I Listen to the voices that I wanna hear
I choose to focus on the positive voices in my life
Ignore all the self hatred that swims between my ears
I let go of my negative self-talk and focus on positive thoughts
I know I've been conditioned only to survive
I recognize that societal conditioning has influenced my perspective on life
And I can change perspective connect to my higher mind
I know that I can change my perspective and connect to my innermost thoughts and feelings to find peace
Contributed by Sarah K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.