Album Review: Jamila Woods - LEGACY! LEGACY!

Jamila Woods celebrates her idols on her second album, with each tune bearing the name of a legend she admires. Thankfully, this doesn’t mean that Woods prostrates herself at the feet of her icons in rapt adoration. Rather, Woods constructs lyrics that build on what she has learned from everyone named on this album. This is a celebration of their legacy, but its comprised of songs that are not exactly about her inspirations as people, or even their ideas.

Woods' response to each of these people is articulate, personal poetry that’s wrapped in honeyed R&B and soul that oozes thick, luscious, deep jazz grooves. As we rub shoulders with FRIDA, EARTHA, MUDDY, BALDWIN, ZORA and BASQUIAT, the familiar themes of race, gender, sexuality and inequality that featured on Woods' first album once more make themselves heard loud and strong. The underlying politics just simmers below the surface without ever being in your face. 

Woods' distinctive vocals are supported by some fine flow from Nitty Scott and Saba. SUN RA rather delightfully embraces an Afrofuturistic attitude as Woods seemingly grows wings and heads out into deep space with co-pilots theMIND and jasminfire. It’s a layering of ideas on this album that blends the past and present to pave the way for the future. 

It’s easy to contemplate the legacy of these great people, but as we ease our way through this album it becomes clear that Woods is trying to understand what will constitute her and, perhaps more importantly, her generation’s legacy to the world. What will be your legacy?