About To Blow
By TIM DAVID HARVEY
Blown out of proportion. That's this week's New Music Friday for you. Headlined by the 'Timeless' nature of a Prince, very little promoted, but vault heavily raided, in what poses an ethical and moral dilemma. Yes, we still haven't heard music quite like this (even Celine Dion's version of 'With This Tear', can't quite match this), but should we? Prince is said to have not wanted any of his stored material to be released posthumously. So, should we even turn our ears to the 'Timeless' nature of his estates latest release? If you want something a little more respectful, Busta Rhymes gives us the sequel to his own due 'DILLAGENCE' with the late, great J. Dilla. And that's not the only creative collaboration pushing the envelope like Fugee Wyclef Jean's foray into jazz (the self-released 'Q Theory'). Abi and Alan are here, too.
Better known as neo-soul queen Erykah Badu and super-producer The Alchemist (Mobb Deep, Nas, and many, many more of rap's elite). 'Before The World Explodes (The Abi & Alan Experiment)' is finally here after years of high anticipation and long wait. Ready to explode across the world in all its experimental epic-ness. And this genius collaboration brings a few friends along for the ride, too. In this black and white film reel of shades and puckered up lips we have Creole Princess, Joi and Westside Gunn (also appearing on 'No I.D.') telling us 'I Just Play A Part'. Steve Lacy heading 'To The Moon' for a 'Plan C'. And the great Earl Sweatshirt putting his on for 'I Know That Man'. Not to mention, a pair of modern-day jazz greats in Thundercat ('They Ain't You') and Kamasi Washington for the closing 'Black Box' recording.
Yet on this sweet sixteen it's 'Valentine' (featuring DRAM) you'll fall for way before February. Reminding us of the Devin The Dude assisted 'Poisonous' by legendary underground hip-hop outfit, Dilated Peoples (also produced by Alch). All for an album that is a straight classic, not to mention one of the most cohesive and compelling of the calendar, from the moment the opening 'Echos' are heard. Baduzim making a stand and social statement about racism and sexism, saying "Ah, John Lennon said/They treat women like the n###s of the world, yes, he did." Now, read in-between those lines. Feeling like a trilogy conclusion to the 'New Amerykah' series that we last heard of a decade and a half ago with the classic and controversial (in the art of its amazing music video) 'Return Of The Ankh'. All as The Alchemist has been mixing creative concoctions with the genre and game's best of the best. But nothing, not even hearing Prince again, takes us higher than this. It's Erykah's earth once again.
A pair of apostles ('What The People Say', 'Hot BiBi') and a whole lot of magic ('Witch Doctor', 'Abracadabra'), this album amazes the senses it stirs. On 'Crossfade', Badu brings the beauty that comes with the art of storytelling and song-writing, singing, "It's like a cross between two animals/Two different breeds/He likes the sea/But that's just too cold for me/Don't go too deep (Ooh)/'Cause that's just too cold for me (Mm)." And that's just what Erica Abi Wright and Alan Daniel Maman are together. Forever in this always collabo. 'Next 2 U' holds you close like someone you'll have and se 'Next Lifetime'. Whilst 'Love Me Not' checks all the boxes, not merely picking at daisies. The chain is complete with the beautiful 'Breezy' that flows in with the wind of a changing season. "Her name was Breezy, she eats with chopsticks/She likes to party by herself/She drives a fast car and it's electric/She's at the red light, she's at the green light", Erica stops and goes. The experiment works, the two A's charge you up with something strong for a world on the brink of collapse. Nothing before, for the pair, has blown quite like this.
Playlist Picks: 'Echos', 'Witch Doctor', 'Valentine (Feat. DRAM)'.
Spin This: Erykah Badu - 'New Amerykah Part Two: Return Of The Ankh'.
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