When I embarked on the 12 Days of Black Messiah I really didn't know it was going to happen. I was and still am so moved by this album that I had to write (almost) daily from the day the album came out on December 15th. I posted my original thoughts on Facebook, but since I know everyone is not on Facebook I am posting it here too. It is sort of the companion to my review of D'Angelo and the Vanguard at the Apollo Theater (February 7, 2015).
When I originally wrote the posts I didn't do it in album order. I just did it as I was feeling it, but in this space I will put them in the order of the album. On some days I didn't have a lot of time to write, but I still wanted to say something so I did. This is what you will see here. Also I know so much more about the album now thank I did then, but I didn't want to add anything. So with that in mind, if you didn't get to see them on Facebook, I hope you will take a moment to check them out here and then my Apollo show musings.
If you haven't picked up Black Messiah, please, please do. Don't just get it for free somewhere, actually purchase it. Put your money down. It's 15 years in the making so I know it's worth at least a dollar year and guess what, it doesn't even cost as much as that.
Ain't That Easy
The 12 days of #BlackMessiah, day 5. Song of the day: "Ain't That Easy." Let's start of with the George Clinton/Funkadelic-esque vocal, which I learned last night might be scaring the children (for real). Then let's move to when the chorus drops in and you must move something, anything. We got the crazy Prince-esqe 808 clap/smack (that's an 808 right? Nerds please chime in) and if you really listen close the bass is a monster on this joint. Don't know if it's Pino or D, but whatever. Since this is the song that haunted me last night into the morning I sat with it. In keeping with the Messiah theme, I feel like this song is a call to worship. A call to get on board. It is the first song after all. Note the whiny guitar crescendo/fade in at the top (and in the bridge) that kind of sounds like a UFO landing (hello Mothership) and then he starts by saying (and I haven't checked the lyrics for accuracy, I'm just listening) "Take a toke of smoke from me as you change inside/Let your day slip away come with me tonight." Now I know what the brotha it talking about, but what is he saying? So the ship comes down, he's telling you to take a puff of the smoke and get on board, then the smoke clears and he says, "You can't leave me, it ain't that easy, to walk away, when I want you to stay." We tried to walk away. Well some of us did, but we are still here. It ain't so easy to walk away from D. It ain't that easy.
1000 Deaths
12 Days of #BlackMessiah. Song of the day: "1000 Deaths." I heard this song long before this album came out. It was one of the Questlove leaks that hit the streets years ago. When I heard it then I was floored. I mean really I think I just sat there with my mouth open because I was like, "What in THE hell am I listening to?" When I heard it back then it didn't have the Khalid Muhammad intro talking about, "When I say Jesus, I'm not talking about some blond haired blue eyed, pale skinned... cracka Christ! I'm talking about the Jesus of the bible with hair like lambs wool!…Jesus the black revolutionary messiah!" Uh, YEAH! Talk about fire from the top! Those of us who were living in NY when Khalid was really running things remember that fire well. I have my own theories about his death, but I'll just stick to the album for now. The instrumentation/production on this joint is so dense, and it feels like a battle cry. When I got my hands on the lyrics I learned that it's exactly what it is. It reads like D in the fight for his life and for his space on a musical landscape that tells us music is just for the kids or if you are out for too long no one is going to care when you come back, and where older black artists are often put out to pasture. "I can't believe I can't get over my fear/They're gonna send me over the hill" This was the only song that I looked at when the lyrics were released because I HAD to know what he was saying and well, damn! This song is everything! This bass line is so CRAZY especially in the chorus (well I guess more than the bass is playing it, but I'm feeling that bass so much), and the deep rumble that happens every 16 bars just rolls up the spine. Just that one rumble kinda blew my wig back. The way this song bounces, the pulse just rides through your body, and if you close your eyes you can hear the tambourine rocking with the drums. The keys, guitars, everything damn thing. This song is just perfect to me. It's just masterful. It's EVERYTHING!
"That is the Lord!
I won't nut up when we up thick in the crunch/
You know a coward dies a thousand times/
But a soldier only dies but once/
Once, once!"
Word!
The Charade
12 Days of #BlackMessiah, day 7. Song of the day: "The Charade." I had a whole lot say about this song musically. The fact that it's one of two joints on the album with the sitar, but used so differently than it is on "Another Life," the Linn drum machine smack shows up again and it's probably the song that made Prince the most mad when he heard the album (cuz you know he's mad). But as I look at all that has happened here in Brooklyn in the last 24 hours this song really spoke to me. I'll let D speak for himself. Stay woke people. Don't let the matrix draw you in. Look inside and know the truth. Use your first eye to see through the veil. That is all.
The Charade:
Crawling through a systematic maze
And it pains to demise
Pain in our eyes
Strain of drownin', wading into your lies
Degradation so loud that you can't hear the sound of our cries (doo, doo)
All the dreamers have gone to the side of the road which we will lay on
Inundated by media, virtual mind fucks in streams
[CHORUS]
All we wanted was a chance to talk
'Stead we only got outlined in chalk
Feet have bled a million miles we've walked
Revealing at the end of the day, the charade
Perpetrators beware say a prayer if you dare for the believers
With a faith at the size of a seed enough to be redeemed (doo doo)
Relegated to savages bound by the way of the deceivers
So anchors be sure that you're sure we ain't no amateurs
Sugah Daddy
The 12 Days of #BlackMessiah Day 4. Song of the day: "Sugah Daddy." There are so many reasons to love this song. The Andrew Sisters/Pointer Sisters 1940s throwback swing/jazz vibe in the chorus, the killin' piano, but for me it's the James Gadson hambone at the top of the track. Come on man! It's hambone!
Really Love
12 Days of #BlackMessiah, day 6. Song of the day: "Really Love." I don't have a lot of time today as I am running a little late getting to the studio to finish my own masterpiece, but I will say this. Strings + Spanish guitar + the sultry voice in your ear + doo wop (snaps, style of singing) = lots of babies being made or at least a lot of practice. "When you look at me/open up instantly/fall in love so quickly/Doo, doo wah/I'm in really love with you." Talk amongst yourselves.
Back to the Future (Pt. 1)
"If you're wonderin'/wonderin' bout the shape I'm in, I hope it ain't my abdomen that you're referring to." ~ Back to the Future (Pt.1) #BlackMessiah #LyricsFromMyHappyPlace
Till it's Done (Tutu)
Now back to your regularly scheduled #BlackMessiah program. Song of the day: "Till It's Done (Tutu)." I know this song may not be at the top of the list for folks, but this song is haunting me today. It's one of those that I know when it's done live is going to kill. That change at the end that just fades away is like a pied piper wake up call to action. This song is. #CarryOn
Prayer
12 Days of #BlackMessiah. Song of the day: "Prayer." I know I missed a day, but Lillie the elf took over my page. I was powerless to her will. LOL
Anyway, we are back on the train and although I missed a day it's OK. I realized that I was somehow behind in my numbers since I actually have three songs left to put my two cents in on. So let's get to it. This joint is a straight up mediation. D jumps the whole joint off with the Lords prayer (which if you listen close if really a choppy vocal as if it was purposefully cut off), the guitar is crazy, that Linn drum smack is back, and there is a church chime going through the whole song. The whole things feels/reads like a loop even though there is a change when the chorus comes, but for me if feels like a mantra. It's the chime. Well at least that's what it is for me. Remember D is a PK (preachers kid) and although I'm not PK I know the space from which he is speaking. We know what he's been thought. Maybe not first hand or even second, but we know. You know I'm holding a candle for a brotha and keeping a prayer for him in my heart. "You got to pray..."
Betray My Heart
12 Days of #BlackMessiah, day 8. Song of the day: "Betray My Heart." Let's just state the obvious and get it out of the way. The whole joint is just hi-hat & rim shot (except I think the snare gets one roll out of the bridge) AND the bass is walking so hard that it's damn near giving you the screw face. To me this brings a whole new meaning and feeling to drum & bass. This songs swing is so lovely that you could Lindy Hop all day to this joint! Oh, how can I forget Roy Hargrove killing the trumpet once again (a la "Spanish Joint" on Voodoo). Then on top of that the sentiment of the song is so sweet. Ah... I'm back in my happy bubble. "I will never betray my heart."
The Door
12 Days of #BlackMessiah, day 9. Song of the day: "The Door." I know when some of ya'll heard this you were confused. I, on the other hand was like, "hell yeah!" It took me directly to Taj Mahal and one of my favorite songs, "Fishin' Blues." But the whistling took me right to my girl Maritri Garrett who is always whistling on a tune, and now both are making me mad that I can't whistle to save my life. LOL Also the slide guitar and bass on this joint are killing; and upon further listen I'm trying to figure out if the percussion on this joint is just foot stomps, hand claps and tambourine? Are there any drums at all? Is what I think are foot stomps really the kick or both? Also something is tapping double time, but I can't figure that out. It almost sounds like they left a click in, but that can't be it. Can it? This is the kind of song that has a sing along/whistle along feel that is up and happy, but the lyrics are a warning of sorts. "I told you once, but twice/you wasn't very nice/In your hands you held my life/I told you once, but twice my love/don't lock yourself out that door/No, no, no, don't lock yourself out that door." Now you know what a brotha is talking about. Don't hedge your bets honey cuz I love you, but keep acting up and you could be out of my life in the blink of an eye. The other interesting thing about this song is that there are a whole gang of lyrics listed in the liner notes that never happen. So I'm wondering what happened to those takes. Could they end up on the vinyl? The saga continues...
Back to the Future (Pt. 2)
Well after a trial to get home to my peeps, I can now bring you the 12 Days of #BlackMessiah day 10. Song of the day, "Back to the Future (pt. 2). It's a reprise and a throwback to James Brown or the Isley's who always had a pt. 1 & 2 to a bunch of their jams. Who doesn't love a reprise? Also note the skip at about :11 into the song for those of us who are old enough to remember when the record might skip right when the joint was jumping. Speaking of vinyl, do I smell a 12" in the future? Let the music play!
Another Life
12 Days of #BlackMessiah. Song of the day: "Another Life." This 12 days of "Black Messiah" has taken a few more than 12 days, but in the spirit of D that makes total sense. I saved the last for last, and I think this song should just be called "Life" because it's giving me so much of it. During this "Black Messiah" rundown many of you have been shouting out this tune above all others. Much like "Really Love" I bet there will be lots of baby practice happening to this tune. So let's just start at the top with Quest dropping his signature snare and in comes the piano, bass, guitar and electric sitar.
Let's just talk sitar for a minute. Remember it showed up before it "The Charade," but in a whole other way. This time as soon as I heard it I was thinking that it was the sound from, "Betcha By Golly Wow?" Of course I was quickly corrected that it was actually from the Stylistics jam, "You Are Everything and Everything is You." For me this song is all about the piano. D is KILLING the piano on this joint. I mean he'll start playing it percussively and then he'll just switch to rolling over the keys, or tinkling in the higher registers. It's kind of crazy when you just pull out the piano. I would love to just hear the piano track on this joint, or even piano and vox. The single rhythm guitar hits just moving through the chord changes is such a part of the solid foundation for this piece. It's the slow drag pop of the hip. Remember slow dancing? Then every once in a while you will hear the lead guitar spill like a waterfall to add just a taste of color. Can we talk about Quest on the drums on this joint? I mean really? Come on Ahmir Kalib Thompson (Questlove) you are KILLING IT! I know what this man can do, but for some reason on this joint, maybe it's the combination of all the elements happening, this song is just perfect. I know I said that about "1000 Deaths" yesterday, but I have to say it again today. Masterpiece! First and finally what really makes this song, or is the glue so to speak (at least for me) is D's vocals and the BGs. Good God! He is singing is face off! I mean by the end you have to raise a hallelujah hand or find a damn lighter for this joint. This song is a straight up testimony service that turns into a full on outdoor tent revival. This has to be one of the best vocals on record. I know that's saying a lot considering how many dope ass vocal recordings there are in the world, but I'm putting this one in the pile. I have listened to this song so many times and EVERY TIME I am moved. EVERY TIME. This song opened me right up. It touched a place in my soul for real. After first hearing this song I was so moved that I had tears in my eyes. It is the energy of the composition. There is a spirit up in this joint. A real, live healing spirit. Ashé.
Well kids, that concludes the 12 Days of #BlackMessiah. It's been great! I'm glad that along the way I made some converts and met some fellow followers of the Church of D. I hope Quest is wrong when he joked about seeing us again in 2025, but if that's the case I'll be alright if in 2025 we get another masterpiece like this. Make your art people and take the time you need. The world is waiting.
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