Her album is ok to my ears, but I feel like she’s trying too hard, lyrically and musically. I try not to give credit to an album based solely on its world views, which would make every good-hearted release a classic.

If you’re looking for a psych funk stunner with a positive message, I recommend Del Jones “Court is Closed” (one of the best LPs I’ve ever heard) or “America Eats Its Young” by Funkadelic. Or The Coup for straight hip-hop.

Thanks for reading!

Also, for an artist to set conscious, weighty lyrics to such trunk bumpin beats is incredible and gives me shivers just to think of it.

In a time where a woman and a black man are vying for presidential candidacy with much support (!), this mainstream-released soul-hip-hop album is like a beacon of hope, a sun on the horizon: things might start to change! Hip-hop, young people’s music in general, is the perfect place to start!

New Amerykah deserves mad props for being ambitious and having gravity in a world where Soulja Boy and Flo Rida are the best things going in “hip-hop.”