Kendrick Lamar: Hip Hop and Social Policy

A very interesting article highlighting the connection between hip-hop (specifically Kendrick Lamar's m.A.A.d City album) and social policy (specifically gun control.)

The World of Kendrick Lamar: good kid, m.A.A.d city

One of the best feelings for me is being transported into the world of an album. I felt that with Ice Cube's Death Certificate and many others. I heard a lot of buzz about Kendrick Lamar's album good kid, m.A.A.d city and decided - as I always do - to read a review of it, measure the content, sample the music and make a decision to buy, wait, or not buy. I chose buy. And what I chose was a voyage into Kendrick's world -  complete with dramedic (dramatic and comedic) skits with an emotional arc and arguable conclusion; the musings of a young man navigating the hard streets of Compton; and a young man commenting on the devastation of alcohol on a people and a community. Kendrick's lyrics are engrossing, and clever - his sound a mixture of west coast and south (to which a combo many of us, who are from the west and have southern roots, can relate.) His sensibilities are modern. I love the notion that Kendrick created commentary about family life, life on the streets, street life leading to death by murder, murder disconnected young people hope to avoid - and the hope we all have that we'll make it home safely.

Jessie Ware :: "Devotion"

I first learned about Jessie Ware’s album, Devotion, on Pitchfork a couple of months ago. I read the review (was intrigued), sampled the album on Amazon (I liked it), and decided to buy it. The more I listened to it the more I realized her debut album was quite spectacular. Soon I realized that her album was nominated for the 2012 Mercury Music Award for album of the year. Nice!

When I saw that she was going to be playing at the 9:30 Club I thought to myself, “why not?” St. Vincent was the last concert I saw there, and the first concert of a non-mainstream artist I had seen in a very, very long time.

I really enjoyed Jessie’s show. The production was sparse and simple. It was just her and her three member band. She sang nearly every song off of her album, including a few covers. She managed to maintain an enduring quality, which new artists tend to have when they are embarking on their career and aren’t yet bogged down by expectations and image.

It’s my opinion that Jessie Ware is part of the future of (pop) RnB ---the type of music that may never fully hit the mainstream, in this current environment, unless a massive hit takes over. Music lovers should take notice of Jessie Ware and check out her album, Devotion.
Favorite Tracks: "Devotion," "Running," "No to Love"