D’Angelo Released “Black Messiah”
D’Angelo’s long-awaited full-length album, “Black Messiah,” was released last night. “‘Black Messiah’ is a hell of a name for an album,” reads an album introduction by D’Angelo that was handed out with a lyric pamphlet at the listening party in New York. “Many will think it’s about religion. Some will jump to the conclusion that I’m calling myself a Black Messiah. For me, the title is about all of us. It’s about the world. It’s about an idea we can all aspire to. We should all aspire to be a Black Messiah.
“Its about people rising up in Ferguson and in Egypt and in Occupy Wall Street and in every place where a community has had enough and decides to make change happen. It’s not about praising one charismatic leader but celebrating thousands of them. Not every song on this album is politically charged (though many are), but calling this album Black Messiah creates a landscape where these songs can live to the fullest. Black Messiah is not one man. It’s a feeling that, collectively, we are all that leader.”
