These are trying times to say the least. Life as we came to know it flipped upside down in a few months. But in the midst of this, we’ve seized the opportunity to question things that have been normalised. Prompted by the atrocious death of George Floyd at the hands of police, the Black Lives Matter movement is again at the forefront. Across the globe, there is a chorus for the fight for equality for black people in all aspects of life.
Thankfully, art, especially music, often has a unique disposition. One that can both imitate life and speak to the future. On the topic of blackness, art has long spoken to the times. In this piece, I’m focusing 5 contemporary albums (although there is truly an endless list) which provide not only social commentary but also in their own unique ways celebrate blackness. As well as a Black Lives Matter playlist: multi-genre celebration of blackness and songs on the black experience
Kano – Hoodies All Summer (2019)
In 2019, The multi-talented musician / actor, Kane Robinson aka Kano released his sixth studio album Hoodies All Summer. The album brilliantly touches on topics from the realities of UK gang life, to the black experience in the UK and globally. The album’s production is truly melodic, leaning on genres from reggae, grime and hip-hop. But the album is most brilliant for its lyricism, bringing home Kano’s legendary status.
Kano’s ability to clearly and concisely convey his message resonates effortlessly on the album’s visuals also. A masterpiece in many senses.
Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly (2015)
In 2015, Kendrick Lamar followed up his debut album Good Kid / Mad City with an ode to blackness, To Pimp A Butterfly. The album broadly touches on the black struggle, but also black excellence in a sociological and political sense.
To Pimp A Butterfly is simply one of the most important musical contributions of its generation. At the time, it was sadly backdropped by cases of police brutality and the initial rise of the Black Lives Matter movement. Kendrick used this to fuel his narrative. A true artistic masterpiece, the album is literally a story with each track linking to the next with a poem running through the album. It ends with an interview with none other than Tupac Shakur, edited to sound like a genuine conversation.
Solange – A Seat At The Table (2016)
We wrote about the catharsis that Solange Knowles’ A Seat At The Table represented back in 2016. The album is brave, musically adventurous and touches on the pain as well as joys of black womanhood. The album truly displays Solange’s evolution, discovering who she is and where she comes from. A Seat At The Table is poetic on asserting black excellence and the importance of speaking up. It celebrates the achievements and influence of blackness in mainstream culture.
Solange openly discusses the ongoing issues faced by black women through the eyes of a black woman and continues to have a powerful impact today. Many of the songs on the album draw from the trials of the black experience and touch on empowerment within this. Overall, A Seat At The Table is a timeless record which is hugely layered but delightfully executed.
Rapsody – Eve (2019)
Rapsody is a rapper hailing from North Carolina, USA and became one of hip-hop’s most acclaimed new acts in recent years. She broke through the genre’s glass ceiling in 2017 with her Grammy nominated album, Laila’s Wisdom.
In 2019, she released her third studio album titled Eve which she described as a “love letter to all black women”. The album consists of 16 songs specifically named after inspirational black women, including Nina Simone, Afeni Shakur, Oprah Winfrey and Serena Williams. This theme works extremely well as Rapsody unlocks her creativity to the fullest making for an insightful listen from beginning to end. It further establishes her as an elite female rapper. Spoken word elements are also included throughout the album via poet Reyna Biddy which again helps tie these songs and themes together. Eve is an outworking of black excellence.
Jamila Woods – LEGACY! LEGACY! (2019)
Chicago based singer/songwriter Jamila Woods delighted us with her sophomore album in 2019 LEGACY! LEGACY!.
The album merges political and social commentary with deep introspection. It’s a very well executed R&B album that sonically reflects on the past whilst also providing hope for the future.
Similar to Rapsody’s Eve, Jamila themes each track based on a legendary artist of color, spanning disciplines, genres and decades. For example, Zora Neale Hurston, James Baldwin, Frida Kahlo and Miles Davis to name a few. They become examples of how to unapologetically navigate life as a person of color.
The subject of each track on the album is treated with the same reverence and warmth as Jamila’s own ancestors, who are frequently referenced throughout. The album strikes a beautiful balance between black struggle and excellence. Assuming responsibility for socio-political issues within her art, Jamila Woods also stands on the shoulders of these figures in search of her own humanity throughout the album.
LEGACY! LEGACY! is a fitting tribute to the fullness of the Black Lives Matter message. That Black Lives Matter not just in death, but the quality of life.
