ADRIAN YOUNGE: THE AMERICAN NEGRO OUT NOW
The American Negro is an unapologetic critique, detailing the systemic and malevolent psychology that afflicts people of color. This project dissects the chemistry behind blind racism, using music as the medium to restore dignity and self-worth to my people. It should be evident that any examination of black music is an examination of the relationship between black and white America. This relationship has shaped the cultural evolution of the world and its negative roots run deep into our psyche. Featuring various special guests performing over a deeply soulful, elaborate orchestration, The American Negro reinvents the black native tongue through this album and it’s attendant short film (TAN) and 4-part podcast (invisible Blackness). The American Negro - both as a collective experience and as individual expressions - is insightful, provocative and inspiring and should land at the center of our ongoing reckoning with race, racism and the writing of the next chapter of American history.
Music is an emotional release with a rhythmic vernacular, designed to communicate with an intended audience. In essence, a form of communication to integrate shared experience and semantics, thereby excluding those that do not share common ground; The American Negro is not for the faint of heart. The album is a powerful, multifaceted statement that reflects perennial injustices and serves to act as a lever of change during a time of mass disillusionment: an album for the people.
To better explain the intricacies of Adrian Younge’s message, The American Negro not only includes an album, but also an Amazon Original podcast (Invisible Blackness) and short film (TAN). The title track from the album, “The American Negro,” is released today. The song cultivates a bold balance between melancholy and pure joy, with melodic grooves; it captures the poetic spirits of black luminaries like Gil-Scott Heron, Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye (Listen HERE).
“The American Negro is the most important creative accomplishment of my life. This project dissects the chemistry behind blind racism, using music as the medium to restore dignity and self-worth to my people...
It should be evident that any examination of black music is an examination of the relationship between black and white America. This relationship has shaped the cultural evolution of the world and its negative roots run deep into our psyche,” stated Adrian Younge.
The American Negro – a narrative of sorts that details the evolution of racism in America – is insightful, provocative and necessary in our fight for equality.
