Black Music (album)

Last updated
Black Music
Black Music (Chocolate Genius album).jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJuly 14, 1998
Genre R&B
Label V2
Chocolate Genius chronology
Black Music
(1998)
GodMusic
(2001)

Black Music is the first album by Chocolate Genius. It was released on V2 Records on July 14, 1998.

Contents

Track 5, "My Mom", is about a return visit to his childhood home and the mother he was losing to senility ("My mom, my sweet mom/She don't remember my name.").

Background and recording

Just prior to recording Black Music, Chocolate Genius had finished reading The Alexandria Quartet by Lawrence Durrell. [1] In an email interview with Cleveland Scene , Chocolate Genius explained the meaning of the album's title: "As long as my skin is this color, race will be an unavoidable and hindering label for people that are stuck in that archaic mindset. Of course, I take a special pride in the achievements of people that look like me, but I am foremost a citizen of the planet. Calling the first record Black Music was my way of challenging the people who have to file, sell, and categorize music by genre." [2]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Pitchfork 9.0/10 [4]
Portland Press-Herald B+ [5]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [6]
Spin 8/10 [7]

Spin called it "a relentlessly somber, wryly confessional avant-folk-funk rebuttal to popular notions of what constituted African-American pop." [8] Many other critics have also highlighted the album's morose and starkly autobiographical sound. [6]

Track listing

  1. Life
  2. Half A Man
  3. Don't Look Down
  4. Clinic
  5. My Mom
  6. Safe And Sound
  7. A Cheap Excuse
  8. Hangover Five
  9. Hangover Nine
  10. Stupid Again
  11. It's All Good
  12. Half A Man (Acoustic Version)

Related Research Articles

Nu metal is a subgenre of alternative metal that combines elements of heavy metal music with elements of other music genres such as hip hop, funk, industrial, and grunge. Nu metal rarely features guitar solos or other displays of musical technique, and emphasizes rhythm with instrumentation that is heavily syncopated. Nu metal guitarists typically use seven-string guitars that are down-tuned to produce a heavier sound. Vocal styles are often rhythmic and influenced by hip hop, and include singing, rapping, screaming and sometimes growling. DJs are occasionally featured to provide instrumentation such as sampling, turntable scratching and electronic background music. Nu metal is one of the key genres of the new wave of American heavy metal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Public Enemy</span> American hip hop group

Public Enemy is an American hip hop group formed by Chuck D and Flavor Flav on Long Island, New York, in 1985. The group rose to prominence for their political messages including subjects such as American racism and the American media. Their debut album, Yo! Bum Rush the Show, was released in 1987 to critical acclaim, and their second album, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988), was the first hip hop album to top The Village Voice's Pazz & Jop critics' poll. Their next three albums, Fear of a Black Planet (1990), Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black (1991) and Muse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age (1994), were also well received. The group has since released twelve more studio albums, including the soundtrack to the 1998 sports-drama film He Got Game and a collaborative album with Paris, Rebirth of a Nation (2006).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Frusciante</span> American guitarist (born 1970)

John Anthony Frusciante is an American musician and the guitarist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. He has released 11 solo albums and 7 EPs, ranging in style from acoustic guitar to electronic music. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 2012. Rolling Stone named Frusciante among the greatest guitarists of all time.

<i>Vitalogy</i> 1994 studio album by Pearl Jam

Vitalogy is the third studio album by the American rock band Pearl Jam, released on November 22, 1994, on Epic Records. Pearl Jam wrote and recorded Vitalogy while touring behind its previous album Vs. (1993). The album's sound is more diverse than previous releases and consists of aggressive rock songs, ballads, and other stylistic elements, making it Pearl Jam's most experimental album at that period. Considered a departure from the grunge sound of the band's first two albums, the record focuses more on punk rock and hardcore styles in its production.

<i>Surfer Rosa</i> 1988 studio album by Pixies

Surfer Rosa is the debut studio album by the American alternative rock band Pixies, released in March 1988 on the British label 4AD. It was produced by Steve Albini. Surfer Rosa contains many of the elements of Pixies' earlier output, including Spanish lyrics and references to Puerto Rico. It includes references to mutilation and voyeurism alongside experimental recording techniques and a distinctive drum sound.

<i>Americana</i> (The Offspring album) 1998 studio album by the Offspring

Americana is the fifth studio album by American rock band the Offspring, released on November 17, 1998, by Columbia Records. Following a worldwide tour in support of Ixnay on the Hombre (1997), the band commenced work on a new album in July 1998.

<i>Imagination</i> (Brian Wilson album) 1998 studio album

Imagination is the third solo album by American musician Brian Wilson. It was issued in 1998 on Giant Records and distributed by Warner Music Group. The album received mixed reviews upon its release and its commercial performance was relatively weak. Its best-known track is "Your Imagination", a Top 20 hit on adult contemporary radio. The second single, "South American", was co-written by Jimmy Buffett. Wilson dedicated the song "Lay Down Burden" to his brother Carl Wilson, who succumbed to cancer earlier in the year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anberlin</span> American alternative rock band

Anberlin is an American alternative rock band formed in Winter Haven, Florida, in 2002. Since the beginning of 2007, the band consists of lead vocalist Stephen Christian, guitarists Joseph Milligan and Christian McAlhaney, bassist Deon Rexroat, and drummer Nathan Young.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rudy Ray Moore</span> American comedian, singer and actor (1927–2008)

Rudolph Frank Moore, known as Rudy Ray Moore, was an American comedian, singer, actor, and film producer. He created the character Dolemite, the pimp from the 1975 film Dolemite and its sequels, The Human Tornado and The Dolemite Explosion. The persona was developed during his early comedy records. The recordings often featured Moore delivering profanity-filled rhyming poetry, which later earned Moore the nickname "the Godfather of Rap." Actor and comedian Eddie Murphy portrayed Moore in the 2019 film Dolemite Is My Name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Butch Walker</span> American musician (born 1969)

Bradley Glenn "Butch" Walker is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer. He was the lead guitarist for the glam metal band SouthGang from the late 1980s to early 1990s and the lead vocalist and guitarist for rock band Marvelous 3 from 1997 until 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chocolate (Kylie Minogue song)</span> 2004 single by Kylie Minogue

"Chocolate" is a song by Australian recording artist Kylie Minogue, taken from her ninth studio album Body Language (2003). It was written and produced by Johnny Douglas, with additional writing by Karen Poole. The song is a ballad that uses a chocolate simile to describe Minogue's obsession with love. It is a quiet storm song that contains elements of disco and funk and employs breathy and whispery vocals. It was released as the third and final single from the album on 28 June 2004 by Festival Mushroom Records and Parlophone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slum Village</span> American hip hop group

Slum Village is an American hip hop group from Detroit, Michigan. The group was formerly composed of the rappers Baatin (1974–2009), T3, and rapper / producer J Dilla (1974–2006). J Dilla left in 2001 to pursue a solo career with MCA Records. Elzhi joined in his absence, after which Baatin also left due to health complications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Albini</span> American musician and audio engineer (1962–2024)

Steven Frank Albini was an American musician and audio engineer who was a member of the influential post-hardcore and noise rock bands Big Black (1981–1987), Rapeman (1987–1989) and Shellac (1992–2024). He was the founder, owner, and principal engineer of the Chicago recording studio Electrical Audio. He recorded thousands of records, collaborating with such acts as Nirvana, Pixies, the Breeders, PJ Harvey, the Jesus Lizard and Page and Plant.

Chocolate Genius, Inc. is a musical collective started by Marc Anthony Thompson, an Afro-Panamanian-songwriter based in New York City. Thompson conceived Chocolate Genius as an alter ego, which then became a music project.

<i>GodMusic</i> Album by Chocolate Genius, Inc.

GodMusic is the second album by Chocolate Genius. It was released on V2 Records on August 7, 2001. The album release party and concert was held at Bowery Ballroom in New York City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Cool Kids</span> American hip hop duo

The Cool Kids are an American hip hop duo composed of rappers Sir Michael Rocks and Chuck Inglish. The Cool Kids' music had been released primarily to the independent Chocolate Industries via their own label C.A.K.E. Recordings. Reed and Ingersoll have made appearances in numerous forms of media, as well as in collaborations with other artists such as Freddie Gibbs, The Alchemist, Mac Miller, Boldy James, The Neptunes, Curren$y, Dom Kennedy, Larry June, Pac Div, Travis Barker, Lil Wayne, King Chip, Asher Roth, Ab-Soul, and Chance The Rapper. The Cool Kids are also members of the hip hop collectives All City Chess Club and P.O.C. founded in 2010–2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kid Cudi</span> American rapper and singer (born 1984)

Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi, also known by his stage name Kid Cudi, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, and fashion designer. Born and raised in Cleveland, Cudi moved to New York City in pursuit of a musical career, where he first gained recognition for his song "Day 'n' Nite." Initially self-published on his MySpace page, the song became a hit online and served as a catalyst for Cudi to team up with record producers Plain Pat and Emile Haynie to record his first full-length project, a mixtape titled A Kid Named Cudi (2008). Its release helped Cudi rise to prominence and establish a fanbase, catching the attention of rapper Kanye West—who signed Cudi to his GOOD Music label by late 2008.

This is the discography of American record producer, Metro Boomin. It includes a list of songs produced, co-produced and remixed by year, artists, album and title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donald Trump in music</span>

Multiple songs, albums, bands and performances have referenced Donald Trump or his various brands, including Trump Tower, his TV show, his hotel chain, and his casinos. While recent songs refer to Trump's campaign, election, and tenure as President of the United States, more than 200 songs refer to Trump prior to his campaigns for president. Most earlier references to Trump in lyrics revolve around his status as a business tycoon, but then shifted toward a stance more critical of his politics as he attempted to attain public office. With his victory in the 2016 presidential election, Trump's prominence in hip-hop music has been likened to that of Ronald Reagan's in hardcore punk during the 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Band Camino</span> American rock band

The Band Camino is an American rock band. Established in Memphis, Tennessee, in 2015, the group is now based in Nashville.

References

  1. Johnson, Martin (1 December 2010). "The Assorted Flavors of Chocolate Genius Inc". The Wall Street Journal . Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  2. Saller, René Spencer (2002-05-16). "Minstrel Tension". Cleveland Scene . Retrieved 2018-12-22.
  3. Raggett, Ned. "Black Music". AllMusic . Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  4. Bang, Nathan. "Chocolate Genius: Black Music". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on 2001-06-29. Retrieved 2018-09-06.
  5. Plouffe, Matthew (1998-08-30). "Snoop's newest album dogged by earlier success". Portland Press-Herald .
  6. 1 2 Brackett, Nathan (2004). "Chocolate Genius". Rolling Stone . p. 163. ISBN   9780743201698 . Retrieved 2014-05-25.
  7. Green, Tony (July 1998). "Chocolate Genius: Black Music". Spin . pp. 126, 128. Retrieved 2018-09-06.
  8. "The Greatest Bands You've (Probably) Never Heard". Spin . 27 July 2009. Retrieved 25 May 2014.