WOW.
Let’s just get that out of the way.
Now, some appropriate comments. First, if you’re going to name tunes after Miles Davis, Muddy Waters, Zora Neale Hurston, as well as the rest of Chicago’s African American creative dynasty, you much better make sure the tunes can online up their namesakes. To do that, Jamilia woods really researched each of her 12 subjects, as well as composed each tune as if from that person’s point of view. This may be the very first R&B album that includes a bibliography (literally–it’s in the liner notes)! I don’t usually like sending business to Pitchfork since their pretensions irritate the crap out of me, however this right here interview goes track-by-track with this outstanding album, as well as it’s a excellent read.
So much contemporary rap/soul is all about self: Bombast, self-disclosure, self-aggrandizing, as well as self-congratulatory. Not this album. Sure, Ms. woods is in every track since her incredible vocal high quality is the typical style for each song, as well as her perspectives of what these artists did is what shapes each song, however this is truly about a diaspora. It’s about losing self in art. It’s about real, meaningful appreciation–not just a shout out or an “R.I.P.” during a fade out.
There are guest appearances by other new jack spirit singers like Saba as well as Boogie.
There can be bit question that this will be one of the very best albums of the year.
LEGACY! LEGACY! by Jamila Woods