Yes, Alicia!
Now ya’ll know, I live for ‘quality’ content and the same is required by the artists I choose to support. Alicia Key’s has lured my attention again with her new album debut ‘HERE’ .
For me, its always refreshing when I can listen to an album from start to finish without hitting the ‘forward’ button. Now aside from my inner ‘trap soul’ that craves other music genre’s [at designated times], I like to feel inspired, uplifted, and empowered by lyrics.
This album is filled with great music music and production sounds which should also be credited to Keys husband ‘Swizz Beatz’ who put his talents to work on this project.
With all the pressing issues facing the country which has become more VISIBLE in spite of the upcoming presidential election, Alicia gives gives us a musical perspective with a message of hope and healing. Alicia also addresses her ‘no make up’ stance in one track ‘Girl Can Be Herself’ and just to re-iterate, she and any other girl can do whatever she pleases.
There were certain sister-to-sister moments I had with Alicia, having been born and raised in NYC. I felt the soul of R&B oozing through my spirit with tracks ‘She Don’t Really Care’, ‘The Gospel’, ‘1Luv’, ‘Blended Family’ (What You Do For Love), and ‘More Than We Know’. The visual narrative in ‘The Gospel’ was a resurrection of my childhood experiences. There were so many ‘good things’ I can recount and still cherish as an adult. I also can attest to the bad things that were ‘unhealthy’ and ‘destructive’ in my community, and watching many of my close peers/family] become ‘fallen victims’ simply because they believed in the false notion that they were nothing more than a ‘product’ of their environment.
The interlude messages gave me Lauren Hill’s ‘Mis-Education’ vibes. Former black panther, philanthropist, and activist, Elaine Brown pours out ‘Black Mother’ poetry , Nas reminds us to ‘Elevate’ at all times, and in ‘Cocoa Butter’ we learn what one man thinks of women with ‘stretch marks’.
Alicia pays tribute to ‘Mother Earth’ on ‘Kill Your Mama’. There’s a line that Keys sings ” If We’re In Love With Hell , Why The Hell Would Heaven Visit “ that struck at my heart strings.
Not to get too deep into metaphysics, but, ‘Mother Earth’ is shifting the energy, and has unleashed her ‘sparkles’ on the hearts of many. Alicia got the sprinkles on this album, and she concludes with a powerful song that delivers the new gospel entitled ‘ Holy War’ .
One Love PLUMS!