Wow. It starts with the voice of Malcolm X, moves through some of the most hard-hitting features I’ve ever heard by a wide variety of voices: Stephen Marley, Mumu Fresh (who is amazing on “No Peace), Black Thought, Common, Busta Rhymes, Nas, Super Cat, CeeLo Green, Jennifer Hudson, Syleena Johnson, Anthony Hamilton, Doug E. Fresh…An eclectic mix of new and old, emerging and legendary. Throw in samples/covers/remimagings of rap-and-soul Gods like Betty Wright, Chuck D, Marvin Gaye, a reworking of the haunting “Strange Fruit,” and James Brown, to name a few. And then make sure you’ve got some funk and soul, played live on real instruments. That’s this album.
Imagine the music version of the history of the black civil rights movement, and you’ve got the perfect album for 2020.
ALBUM OF THE WEEK: BLACK ON PURPOSE by SALAAM REMI
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November 30, 2020 |
