In this country, America means white. Everyone else has to hyphenate.
--Toni Morrison
One of the varied reasons that I am so critical of black culture is the fact that we allow this rich history to be exploited by ill-valued, inane, and immoral members of the spin-wheeling press. The media’s monolithic goal is to tightly seal our treasured music tradition into a bunch of gun-tooting, pants sagging, video-jiggling; jewelry blinging retired drug-dealers. But enough about Puffy, his Press Eject CD actually speaks for itself. Refreshingly, John Legend’s latest album takes the lid off America’s conventional and convenient wisdom jar and ventures through our historically paved rock and roll path. A road that is now perfected by the Justine’s and Brittany’s better known to most as the poster children of pop culture. Is it any “wonder” why Stevie abandoned the life of Sound Scan’s sinking ship for the more appreciated music scene abroad?
IN THE STATES
Nowhere is the versatility of our music history displayed more than on John Legend’s new LP, Once Again. Legend’s 90 beats-per-minute, Motown throwback track, “Slow Dance” is by far my favorite. This roll-your-window-down, two-steppin’ blue light in the basement joint is a candlelit dinner delight. Just add the wine. One eyes-closed journey through this single and you’ll feel that Marvin and Mavis are somewhere swaying to this one.
Legend chose to abandon the trunk-thumpin’ bass lines of his first classic to unleash a 13-track, pianist’s delight. Somewhat risky, in this day and age, but something true music enthusiasts should appreciate. You’ll be equally thankful that you cannot even sniff the label mate production from track master, Kayne West. Which, I imagine is a small victory for humility. In fairness, the more modest side of West is certainly showcased on “Heaven,” a head-nodding single, probably better suited for Legend’s first LP, but a treat, nonetheless.
Being Jamaican-bred from the Boogie Down, I actually prefer that bass bumpin’, lyrical-laced, drums and loops of reggae and hip hop. However, I also love the jazzy strings, piano taps of blues too. For me, it is that duality that makes black life worth living—yet regrettably absent from pop culture’s stained windows. I really thrive on the versatility of a culture that can add the fresh flavor of a Barack Obama to politics and the channel blocking of The Flavor of Love to reality television. It certainly takes all types, shades and voices to make this black culture go ‘round. And, if you give John Legend’s new one a spin I think you’ll enjoy this culture too. Who knows, you may even learn something.
1 love,
Ray Lewis
