“Unify” Song Lyrics Meaning | Imani Lenz
Unify centers connection, collaboration, and shared humanity. Imani Lenz reflects on bringing people together through creativity, storytelling, and intention.
Listen to “Unify” song on: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music
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Intro
Camera Rolling
Hey there,
Can I talk to you for like two minutes and thirty seconds
I know your time is precious
I just want to get something off my chest
so I can complete my checklist.
I’m using my camera to spread a message
Once I’m done I promise I’ll get back to my edits
But if my camera dies, I really hope there’s a camera heaven because
Hook:I took a chance on myself, left my nine-to-five
I been grinding for a while as that camera guy
I started from the bottom, held my camera high
I can’t do this on my own we need to unify
Verse 1:
Summer 2020, I was seeing Black tragedies
The hot term was we need more diversity
Gatekeepers didn’t show it even with the keys
Started thinking to myself observing patiently
It was strange times, something like anomalies
If I’ma change the world, I have to change me
I’m a Capricorn baby my emotions deep
Started working on myself more strategically
Became a real storyteller with ingenuity
Filming stories of new and the OGs
Rapping bout my story I can never skip a beat
Life gave me cameras, so I
Hook:
I took a chance on myself, left my nine-to-five
I been grinding for a while as that camera guy
I started from the bottom, held my camera high
I can’t do this on my own we need to unify
I took a chance on myself, left my nine-to-five
I been grinding for a while as that camera guy
I started from the bottom, held my camera high
I can’t do this on my own we need to unify
Verse 2
I built a website from scratch, and it’s real fire
To download unique stock videos of Black lives
Would you change the game if you could monetize
Who’s making better stories, us or AI
Dang, what would happen if never left my nine-to-five
What if I never became that trusted camera guy
If you at the bottom, do you ever aim high
I know we can do this together, let’s unify
And that’s it, you know, unification
doesn’t mean we’re all the same
But it means we’re writing our stories together
You know, the ups, the downs, like me, I
Hook:
I took a chance on myself, left my nine-to-five
I been grinding for a while as that camera guy
I started from the bottom, held my camera high
I can’t do this on my own we need to unify
What Is the Meaning of “Unify”?
“Unify” is a song about perspective, purpose, and collective responsibility. Written and performed by Imani Lenz, the track reflects his decision to leave his nine-to-five, navigate the uncertainty of 2020, and reimagine how storytelling, creativity, and unity can move culture forward.
In this post, Imani breaks down the lyrics meaning of “Unify,” sharing the personal experiences, themes, and reflections that shaped the song.
Imani Lenz breaks down the meaning behind the intro of “Unify,” sharing the intention, perspective, and real-life context that inspired the opening lines of the song.
Why “Unify” Was Written
Unify was written during a period of intense observation. In 2020, while social injustice dominated headlines and conversations around diversity became widespread, Imani chose to pause rather than react.
Instead of protesting or creating commentary-driven content, he turned inward — reflecting on his role, his responsibility, and how his creative tools could be used with intention. The song’s opening lines speak directly to that moment: a quiet request for attention, presence, and space to share something meaningful before returning to everyday work.
The camera, which appears repeatedly throughout the song, represents perspective — not just documentation, but how we see, interpret, and engage with the world.
Imani Lenz breaks down the hook of “Unify,” reflecting on taking a leap of faith, starting from the bottom, and the idea that real progress requires collective effort.
Key Themes in the Lyrics
1. Taking a Chance on Yourself
Leaving a stable job to pursue an uncertain creative path wasn’t framed as a victory lap — it was a risk. The lyrics reflect the reality of that transition: odd jobs, uncertainty, and persistence during a time when the world itself felt unstable.
2. Perspective as Power
Holding the camera high symbolizes maintaining belief and clarity even when starting from the bottom. The lens becomes both a literal tool and a metaphor for faith, resilience, and vision.
3. Self-Work Before World-Work
One of the central lines — “If I’ma change the world, I have to change me” — anchors the song’s philosophy. The lyrics acknowledge that real impact requires emotional awareness, accountability, and personal growth.
4. Storytelling and Cultural Preservation
The later verses reference the creation of Black Stock Footage and the importance of preserving real, human stories. The song questions who gets to tell stories, who benefits from them, and how culture can be protected in an era of automation and artificial intelligence.
5. Unity Without Erasure
Unification, as defined in the song, does not mean agreement on everything. It means showing up, listening, and moving forward collectively without losing individual identity.
Imani Lenz breaks down Verse 1 of “Unify,” reflecting on 2020, personal growth, and how observation, self-work, and storytelling shaped the foundation of the song.
How “Unify” Connects to Imani Lenz’s Broader Work
Unify sits at the intersection of music, filmmaking, and cultural storytelling. The song reflects the same values that drive Imani’s creative work: authenticity, perspective, and responsibility.
From documenting real people and communities to building platforms that empower creators, Unify acts as both a personal statement and a broader vision — one rooted in intention rather than reaction.
Imani Lenz breaks down Verse 2 of “Unify,” reflecting on building Black Stock Footage, questioning the nine-to-five path, and the idea that unification means creating our stories together.
A Question the Song Leaves Behind
Toward the end of the track, the lyrics ask:
What would’ve happened if I never left my nine-to-five?
That question isn’t about regret — it’s about awareness. It invites listeners to reflect on their own moments of choice, comfort, and risk. Whether “the bottom” looks like struggle or stagnation, the song asks a simple but powerful question: Do you ever aim higher than where you are now?
About Imani Lenz
Imani Lenz is a multidisciplinary music artist, filmmaker, and content creator whose work centers on cultural storytelling, lived experience, and perspective. He is the founder of Black Stock Footage, a platform dedicated to preserving and monetizing authentic Black narratives, and Film Trips — group content experiences hosted by local creators that bring people together to document culture through real moments, movement, and place. Through music, film, and photography, Imani creates work that bridges personal story and collective memory, using art as a tool for connection, visibility, and cultural preservation.
Social Media: Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube
Founder: Black Stock Footage | Film Trips
