I've spent the greater part of the last decade on 3rd shift in a warehouse. I've had my share of large blocks of time that I just can't account for! I've looked up in many an aisle and didn't really know where I was - a result of slanding (ie- sleep-standing or sleeping while standing). That said, this joint was better than any cup of coffee, as it instantly perked me up every time to enjoy one of music's grandest mavericks. Do you think the fact that he hailed from across the pond played a part in him not being a major fixture in the game today? Brothas and sistas have just been slow to embrace foreigners throughout the years - Billy Ocean??? If the Beetles had been a group of brothers, there never would've been a prolonged British invasion! It hasn't really been an English cat to get on, and stay on, with the exception of Idris Elba...
I think his import status coupled with the fact that we don't feel we have to choose one type of singer or the other. We act like we couldn't have Prince, Lenny, and Terence at the same time. For a lot of people I think his tunes are a bit heady and odd. He doesn't follow trends or seek to swim in the mainstream. Idris has the benefit of having that Stringer Bell mystique that sisters love.
I knew TTD brought somebody else to mind... Don't you see some parallels between him and Bilal? I mean Bilal's voice isn't as bluesy/sleepy/raspy as TTD, but it's something there to me - beyond the hair! I thought Bilal's first album was unfairly overlooked, with the exception of the looks he garnered with Soul Sista.
3 comments:
I've spent the greater part of the last decade on 3rd shift in a warehouse. I've had my share of large blocks of time that I just can't account for! I've looked up in many an aisle and didn't really know where I was - a result of slanding (ie- sleep-standing or sleeping while standing). That said, this joint was better than any cup of coffee, as it instantly perked me up every time to enjoy one of music's grandest mavericks. Do you think the fact that he hailed from across the pond played a part in him not being a major fixture in the game today? Brothas and sistas have just been slow to embrace foreigners throughout the years - Billy Ocean??? If the Beetles had been a group of brothers, there never would've been a prolonged British invasion! It hasn't really been an English cat to get on, and stay on, with the exception of Idris Elba...
I think his import status coupled with the fact that we don't feel we have to choose one type of singer or the other. We act like we couldn't have Prince, Lenny, and Terence at the same time. For a lot of people I think his tunes are a bit heady and odd. He doesn't follow trends or seek to swim in the mainstream. Idris has the benefit of having that Stringer Bell mystique that sisters love.
I knew TTD brought somebody else to mind... Don't you see some parallels between him and Bilal? I mean Bilal's voice isn't as bluesy/sleepy/raspy as TTD, but it's something there to me - beyond the hair! I thought Bilal's first album was unfairly overlooked, with the exception of the looks he garnered with Soul Sista.
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