Untitled- Mixtape

 Victoria Jones

ENGL2017

Dr. Harris

May 1, 2025

Major Project

The aspect of Love and Liberation that I will discuss is the practice of self-love and self-acceptance. bell hooks describe love ethics as a form of freedom and expression that all individuals should utilize in order to prosper, but it is always an option. To me, in order to achieve love ethics, people must first love themselves, find peace within, and accept life for what it is. Internal love is more than just self love because all love reveals itself externally. What happens on the inside is what’s displayed on the outside. Peoples’ principles, ideals, perspectives, and even love experiences change for the better when they truly love themselves first. It provides a sense of freedom and a form of relief. I have created a mixtape that pushes self-confidence, inner peace, loving what is given and even religious aspects of how one can properly grow in a space that is called life.  

My first song is “Guess What” by Syleena Jackson, released in 1990. This song depicts a woman who loves herself more than she loves a man. She realizes the man she is with isn't loving her correctly and isn't trying to improve himself at all. She chooses herself by telling him that he must respect her and be a true man, and that if he cannot do so, he must leave. In the song she says, “I’m not going to live a lie”.  Her decision to choose herself demonstrates that she is a woman of integrity, and her interior love manifests itself externally.

My second song is “I Gotta Find Peace of Mind” by Lauryn Hill, released in 2002. In the song she speaks of finding inner peace, emotional, spiritual, and mental healing. She speaks of this as a form of freedom and letting go of trauma bondages. This a major way to seek self-love.

My third song is “I Am Not My Hair” by India.Arie, released in 2005. The song speaks of self-acceptance and loving yourself despite societies norms or expectations. She utilizes hair and skin as symbols because black people, particularly black women, are told that their  hair and complexion are unattractive. India.Arie advocates self-love and empowerment for black women to recover their identity and be true to themselves.

My fourth song is “Pretty Girl Rock” by Keri Hilson, released in 2010. The artist Keri Hilson promotes being yourself confidently and being unapologetic about it. This song does not advocate only black women. This song is for all women and encourages them to accept who they are. It also mentions jealousy and competition among women, which is an indication of unhappiness within. Instead, women should develop confidence and beauty inside themselves and allow it to spread to other women, strengthening their confidence.

My fifth song is “Happy Alone” by Z-Ro, released in 2011. Even though this song speaks of betrayal and loneliness. It encourages emotional independence and the concept that no matter what happens, you must learn to be happy on your own. “Happy Alone” isn’t about only  finding joy, it’s about choosing yourself instead of experiencing pain, which I believe is a sort of self-love, especially for a man who wants to thrive with no support.

My sixth song is “Love Yourz” by J. Cole, released in 2014. The intention of this song is to promote finding peace by appreciating what you have. Appreciating the people around and the struggles you’ve endured. He repeats “No such thing as a life better than yours”, as well as using the concept of fame that there’s a life better elsewhere. There is always better somewhere else, but all of this is symbolized for the thief of joy because you’ll never be happy until you love and appreciate what you have right now. 

My seventh song is “Free Your Mind” by Jazzmeia Horn, released in 2019. The lyrics challenge passive mentality and promote self-reflection on identity and purpose. They also advocate resistance to systematic oppression and emphasize on individual transformation. A central lyric that stood out to me was “Free your mind so your soul can fly”, this proves and showcases that true freedom and happiness starts within. 

My eighth song is “Know That You Are Loved” by Cleo Sol, released in 2021. This song breaks down unconditional love and support. It teaches emotional healing and inner peace by offering peace and reassurance through the lyrics and the melody. 

My ninth song is “Good Morning Gorgeous” by Mary J. Blige, released in 2021. This song is an anthem for self-love, healing, and affirmation. The main lyric “Good morning, gorgeous", is an intentional daily affirmation to help a woman regain her self-esteem. This song also teaches the power of getting up and choosing to love yourself anyway, because no one will love you like you love yourself.

My tenth song is “Choosing Myself” by Naomi Raine, released in 2022. As a Christian artist this song is a declaration of self-worth, boundaries, and healing. It teaches deliverance through faith and emotional growth. It's also an invitation to love yourself unconditionally, just as God does.

My eleventh song is “Inner Me” by Franchesca, released in 2023. Another song based on Christian principles of allowing God to fix the inner person. The lyrics are intended for spiritual growth, liberation, and empowerment. The artist promotes a want for change and a need for what’s best. Through the lenses of God anyone can change for the better and this serves as a staple for working on yourself internally. 

My twelfth song is “Hello” by Aqyila, released in 2023. It targets letting go of the past, embracing self-love, and the start of new beginnings. The Lyric “falling in love with who I am”, shows how in order to better yourself, you must accept who you are and being fine with that. It’s a sense of freedom because it releases a bondage of burdens and emotional baggage. 

My thirteenth song is “Changing Yourself (Gil’s Interlude)” by Khamari, released in 2023. This short interlude speaks of a man wanting change, but he has to take accountability and understand the importance of looking inward. 

Each song has a different genre, message, and even style but they all have one common goal and that’s inner peace. From the article “The undeniable freedom of self-love” the quote “Self-love is being at peace with where you are RIGHT NOW” is shown throughout each song because everything starts within, but you can only start where you are right now.