Wednesday, December 21, 2016

NICE AS F*CK! : The Albums, 2016.


12/a tribe called quest/"we got it from here... thank you 4 your service"

Time and time again in this Black American's life, I've been told or heard way too many times to count that all I have to do in this here life is "eat, sleep, stay black, and die." Sustenance, rest, self-care, PRIDE. Pride that'll help me stand tall. PRIDE that will keep me grounded. PRIDE present in you, me, and everyone we know with the melanin. But it's hard. Cause when you're Black in America the struggle is often indeed real, and you'll also often find that the task of staying Black can be, for some reason, much harder than it should or needs to be. Masters, it seems, ain't listening to the streets, and keep doubting our smarts. The Media appears untrustworthy and the President elect is installing fear in the heart of many (of us colored folk). It's all enough to make you shout THIS IS ENOUGH(!), WE THE PEOPLE want more, NEED more. Sure, "everybody running when they see the storm coming, but whatever will be will be". We all we got, THIS RIGHT HERE is all we got.  "There ain't a space program for niggas", so we gotta buck up, get together, make moves and make something happen, TOGETHER, in this space; in America. Be informed, get involved, and keep it together. But how do we do it, and what can we do to keep it together? Who do we turn to or look towards for guidance and hope outside of ourselves in this here game we call Black Life?
 
HERE. With them. With the tribe. They got you.The midnight marauders still on a mission to uplift and inspire; acknowledge that the struggle is real, but not let that keep them or us from standing tall, being prideful, and most importantly, staying black. It is not a place where fuckboys reside, touching mics with flows uncertain. It is not a place where forward momentum is stifled, but is, instead, highly encouraged, reminding you to "Don't be no backwards ass nigga."  "We Got it From Here... Thank You 4 Your Service" is not only Hip-Hop personified, but musical creativity and ingenuity personified, too. It's a welcomed soapbox in a sea of believers, doubters,  the mothers, the fathers, the sistahs, and the brothas looking for reassurance, a place of belonging, and a reminder to stay strong, and stay BLACK, no matter the strength of your struggle's hand. "We Got it From Here... Thank You 4 Your Service" is the Tribe we have always known, and the Tribe the people need: Sharp and correct, as if they never left, making something happen. Much obliged, A Tribe Called Quest. Many thanks.

KEY TRACKS: The Space Program/Mobius/Black Spasmodic

13/nxworries/yes lawd!

14/nice as fuck/nice as fuck

15/childish gambino/"awaken, my love!"

16/rihanna/anti

17/parquet courts/human performance

18/kaytranada/99.9%

19/devendra banhart/ape in pink marble

20/david bowie/blackstar

21/the julie ruin/hit reset

22/jessy lanza/oh no

23/junior boys/big black coat

24/majid jordan/majid jordan
 
25/badbadnotgood/iv


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