DARK MATTER + DARK ENERGY = BLACK MESSIAH

gradientlair:

D’Angelo and The Vanguard - Black Messiah

I am in love with and in awe of D’Angelo’s new work of art, Black Messiah, and I shared a few thoughts about it on Twitter, as seen above. It is glorious. It is medicine. It is rage and it is calm. Passion. Beauty. Truth. I also mentioned last night that it feels right on time, despite the 15 year gap in album release for him. I needed this album right now, more than I knew, until I heard it…if that makes any sense. D’Angelo really has created something remarkable; feels timeless, yet acutely pertinent, like a clock set to the right time, but ticking in the past, present and future all at the same time.

I love how he described the title and direction of this art:

Black Messiah is a hell of a name for an album. It can be easily misunderstood. Many will think it’s about religion. Some will jump to the conclusion that I’m calling myself a Black Messiah. For me, the title is about all of us. It’s about the world. It’s about an idea we can all aspire to. We should all aspire to be a Black Messiah. 

It’s about people rising up in Ferguson and in Egypt and in Occupy Wall Street and in every place where a community has had enough and decides to make change happen. It’s not about praising one charismatic leader but celebrating thousands of them. Not every song on this album is politically charged (though many are), but calling this album Black Messiah creates a landscape where these songs can live to the fullest. Black Messiah is not one man. It’s a feeling that, collectively, we are all that leader.

I’m not going to dissect each song right now. I’ll leave that endeavor for other writers. I don’t really have a desire for the scholarly at the moment, but instead a desire to experience something truly fresh and truly healing, in totality. I love all of the songs though; my first impression is that my favorites are “Another Life,” “Till It’s Done (Tutu),” “Really Love,” and “1000 Deaths.” Like, this is all I’ll be playing for a while; real talk. Already set on my computer, tablet and phone (as seen above); ready to go! I want it on vinyl too. Perhaps as a holiday gift to myself.

You need this album. Trust me. You need this album more than you know. At least I did.❤ 

http://jamealmuhammad.tumblr.com/post/105557915130/black-messiah-dangelo-and-the-vanguard-album