Black

Album: Black to the Future (2021)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Sons Of Kemet are a British jazz group that sprinkles elements of rock, Caribbean folk, and Afrobeat into their music. The quartet comprises bandleader Shabaka Hutchings (saxophone and clarinet), Theon Cross (tuba) and two drummers, Eddie Hick and Tom Skinner. "Black" is the closing track from their fourth album, Black to the Future.
  • Anglo-Nigerian poet Joshua Idehen voices the song. His pointed monologue is a plea for black people to be safe to walk the streets and not killed because of their skin color.
  • You already have the world, just leave black be
    Leave us alone!


    Idehen's last words, "leave us alone," are uncompromising. Mojo magazine asked Shabaka Hutchings what they mean to him. "I take it to mean 'leave black culture alone,' or leave Africa and cultural knowledge to develop on its own terms, without the gaze or interpretation of external forces," he replied. "Leave black people to develop without the fear of being harassed."
  • Sons of Kemet released Black to the Future to widespread acclaim from critics. It was their first album to chart in the UK, reaching #54, and also entered the album charts in other European countries, including Belgium, Germany and Switzerland.
  • Hutchings created Sons of Kemet's unconventional lineup because he wanted to play with a pair of drummers. "In some ways it was split between a desire to play with the two individuals and also a desire to take away the function of the drums as being the thing that provides the rhythm," he said. "When you've got two drummers they converse with each other. It takes the onus off any one particular drummer to provide the beat, because there's going to be a forward momentum just from them expressing together."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Jethro Tull

Jethro TullFact or Fiction

Stage urinals, flute devices, and the real Aqualung in this Fact or Fiction.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino EditionMusic Quiz

Whether he's splitting ears or burning Nazis, Quentin Tarantino uses memorable music in his films. See if you can match the song to the scene.

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)Songwriter Interviews

Mike Rutherford talks about the "Silent Running" storyline and "Land Of Confusion" in the age of Trump.

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillian

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillianSong Writing

A Soul Train dancer takes us through a day on the show, and explains what you had to do to get camera time.