Thoughts On: Black Excellence in Music

Recommended listening: The Epic, To Pimp A Butterfly, Black Messiah

Welcome back to a late yet important addition of Thoughts On, where I hide my tardiness by claiming this write up is more important than all the rest. This week I will not be talking about one album in particular but rather a collection of works that I personally have deemed the trifecta of Black Excellence and empowerment in this generation of music. These albums being 'Black Messiah' by D'angelo and the Vanguard, 'To Pimp A Butterfly' by Kendrick Lamar, and 'The Epic' by Kamasi Washington and his band. Each of these albums has demonstrated its ability to blend multiple aspects of black music seamlessly and send a message to the masses that we as a people are stronger than anyone gives us credit for. With the protests happening and more attention being paid to how black people are acting and reacting to situations it has now become imperative to produce as much positivity as possible so not only does the media see how amazing a people we are, but also so that we ourselves never lose site of what we can do with our vast potential.

Now so more than ever I am hearing the term “Black Excellence” being used to as a motto for black people both both young and old to symbolism pride in their skin, culture, and ability. It is not a bragging tool but rather a shield against the ignorance and prejudice that we may have to experience on a daily basis. That being said a motto or symbol has no meaning without a drive to keep it alive, and with the release of 'Black Messiah' last December we saw an an album by R&B singer D'Angelo, the man who pioneered the Neo-Soul genre that artists like Frank Ocean now make their career off of, coming back after a 14 year hiatus with one of the most important musical projects of the decade. Playing off themes of faith and empowerment this album stands as a testament to the reliance of the black spirit and was the most highly reviewed project of last year for good reason. Then in March of the next year we got TPaB by rapper Kendrick Lamar, a masterful album that focuses on the dark themes like black depression, oppression, and temptation before transitioning into having a positive self-image in the modern era. Finally just this month we got 'The Epic' by saxophonist Kamasi Washington, a 3 hour long Jazz album that is musically one of the impressive projects I have ever heard. While there are not many vocals in this album the few that exist revolve around love and change, with words from Malcom X himself about the value of acceptance.

So what makes these the trifecta? Well besides the fact that their close release proximity makes this all seem planned lets go step by step and see the role these all play in modern black culture. First off want to start at the covers of each album, which are all black and white with simple pictures that represent deeper symbols of black struggle and potential. Starting on 'Black Messiah' all you see is I bunch of black hands in the air in what seems to be some type of rally. Now given how this album is based around faith it is not a stretch to assume these hands are all raised for God or some equivalent. In a country where our skin can be used as a weapon against us it is often easy to feel powerless, and when that happens a lot of us turn to a higher power. To those who knock religion it may seem stupid or futile but considering it has only been 61 years since it was legal for schools to be segregated in the U.S there are much crazier things to be found in the world than a persons faith. Next we have the cover of TPaB in which a bunch of black youth (presumably from Compton) are all posed in front of the White House brandishing money, alcohol, and gold chains. While not as straight forward as the previous album cover this strikes me as a juxtaposition between black ambition and reality. We may desire to be presidents or have influence but are destined to just be labeled as thugs, even though we never chose where we were born or how we look. Another interpretation is just to show two sides of American and to try and generate questions in the minds of those that cannot fathom these two entities existing in the same space. Lastly with 'The Epic' has Kamasi Washington wearing cultural attire and holding his saxophone in front of a backdrop with is a beautiful mural of the the Moon with the Earth in the distance behind him, the opposite arrangement from what you might expect. A man and his music so far removed from the criticism and restrains of Earth that he is on the Moon, doing what he loves most. Faith, conflict, and finally passion represented through just the covers of these albums.

So what do they add to the movement musically? Well with that we have to go into the next step and see what the all offer individually. With D'Angelo's signature genre defining smooth style you can say that he encourages us to look back at our past and take inspiration from all the good that we have done so far as a people. With songs like 'The Charade' which has a psychedelic sound and mystic vocals that come straight out of the past but still ring true in 2015 he proves that we may already have everything we need to make something amazing. Musically his album is probably the most tame out of all three of the projects we are talking about, but it still carries the weight of a generations worth of experience and expertise in song crafting. Deep bass, expertly implemented horn sections and wavy vocals make this an experience to be had. This is the kind of album that we as black youth will be able to play for our children and pique their interest in where our music came from. It is simple yet complex  far beyond my limited musical knowledge. It is the soundtrack to a block party, a ceremony, road trips with your family, and revolution. Even as songs off this album were performed live on late night TV there were was always some kind of symbolic performance aspect like solid black “Black Lives Matter” hoodies with dark lighting to show how serious the song is. Indeed the longer this album remains out in the world the more you will be able to take from it as it the musical embodiment of our ability to believe and achieve.

I have talked at length about Kendricks album at length both online and offline and you can read more about that HERE, but for the sake of this write up it needs to be said that TPAB is more than just a Hip-Hop album. It takes aspects of Soul, Gospel, Jazz, and Funk and brings them together to create this dark tale about a mans personal demons and how he fought through them. Hip-Hop is the result of blending other genres as it is, which is why I love it so much. So for this project to go as far as incorporate everything into a cohesive body of work not only serves as a testament to a rapper's ability and Hip-Hops power, but shows that we can make anything possible if we fight for it. Hot off the release of an album people had already deemed classic and dealing with the depression that came with fame was not easy for Kendrick, and as a result this album could not have have been easy to make. How does a boy from the hood deal with suddenly being hailed as the king of the music that inspired him to get out of the hood? This album is a personal story but it applies to the entirety of the black race. We are all human, whether the U.S wants to see that or not, and the struggles that we go through because of clashing ideas about class and what it means to be black can bother our youth day in and day out. It is a depression that is the result of things we can't help and things that forces outside our control refuse to fix. All this being said in this album Kendrick shows us it is possible to be happy and love yourself despite the depression you may feel. At the end of the day the music is about how to survive even when you feel like you have nothing going for you by using everything you know to make up for what you do not have.

Lastly and probably the hardest to talk about is this 3 hour long masterpiece that Kamasi Washington created after years of being in the bands of other famous musicians and artists (his musical resume also happens to include working on TPaB funny enough) to show what he could do. I was planning on doing a write up of this but writing about instrumental music is one of the hardest things ever and I believe everyone should just listen to this on their own. To put it simple this album is what happens with black people are given the freedom and resources to create. From the opening track 'Change of the Guard', the 12 minute opening of this album, we get a Jazz sound that would bring tears to the eyes of greats like Charlie Parker and Miles Davis. Make no mistake by what I mean when I say Jazz, this is almost entirely instrumental but never feels like it. Through long solos and beautiful transitions each instrument takes on a life of its own and you can feel the passion in what each band member is doing. This is music. Jazz is one of my favorite genres of music because it knows what it is and regrets nothing. The music on this album is fearless and proud, not hiding in the shadows of racism or timid in how it does what it does. This is the kind of sound you get lost in, inspired by, and through it you are reminded of how much power and potential we have as a people. Despite the atrocities being committed against us this album exists, and is one of the strongest Jazz records to have been released (and I am going on a limb by saying this) ever. This a classic not just because it is well executed musically, but because we can learn from it. Each listen brings out a different instrument, trying to decipher the meaning behind the song names through the music provides a fun mystery, and creativity like this can empower anyone of us to do anything. This album should not be possible. A single album should not be longer than Avatar or a Lord of the Rings movie, but it is, and despite the odds it has earned its album namesake.

When all is said and done these albums represent the black past, present, and future of music, and by extension our culture and ability. Music is such an integral part of our lives that it may actually be easy to miss these works. We hear music all the time so what makes something stand out? Well the answer is the message and quality of the music. Like good novel these albums are worth listening to again and again and again. They will not feel whole upon a first listen as they are not meant to. You have to think about the songs and what they mean while also seeing how they apply to our lives. These three albums are about the black experience and the ups and downs that go along with it. We are often reminded of the downs (and these albums do not shy away from that) but it is always harder to remember to good over the bad. I think more conscious music is being made and in ten years when we look at the hottest albums of 2025, I wonder how many albums will have been inspired by these three projects. Music like this saves lives and starts careers, proves that we carry influence and inspiration through our words or chords, and serve as proud anthems of Black Excellence. They are fierce and genuine, like the people they come from, and collect hundreds of years worth of knowledge to then condense and serve as brain food to current and future generations. I urge you, no matter what race you are but black people especially, to: LISTEN SOON to all of these albums and never forget the power that music plays in our lives and revolutions.