Jamila Woods named each of the songs on her sophomore project, Legacy! Legacy!, after a famous black figure. A sonic & lyrical monument to Eartha Kitt, James Baldwin, Sun Ra, Zora Neale Hurston & more, Woods writes introspective music through the lens of the icons, specifically drawing on how each of them "tried to push beyond the margins a country had assigned to them." Accompanying the deftly poetic words are beats that run the gamut from bluesy rap grooves ("MUDDY") & electro-funk ("OCTAVIA") to house ("BETTY"), and Woods evocative, passionate vocals ("once in a generation") glide over them with clear, perfectly measured intention. Check out the psychedelic flourishes of "SONIA" on which Nitty Scott shows off her sparkling flow, or "BALDWIN" where Nico Segal contributes his deft horn chops. "EARTHA" is another standout ("I don't want to compromise / can we make it through the night"), and "ZORA" is also a vibrant number with Woods singing from Hurston's imagined perspective.

• black double vinyl pressing
• gatefold sleeve
• printed inner sleeves
• music label: Jagjaguwar 2019

reviewed by singing in japanese 05/19