“See she’s telepathic
Call it black girl magic
Yeah, she scares the government
Deja vu of Tubman”
Singer and poet Jamila Woods’ first release of 2016 is the powerful and inspiring single, “blk girl soldier,” from her upcoming project due in the spring. “blk girl soldier” premiered via Billboard with the announcement that she has signed to Chicago’s Closed Sessions. This feels like a big deal and is the most interesting thing I’ve heard about Chicago music this year. The song speaks significant truths regarding the challenges of black women while also noting their extraordinary perseverance and spirit. The song is excellent, soulful, and I love it. Woods references the past while keeping it in present time with lyrics like, “The camera loves us, Oscar doesn’t.” Jamila told Billboard, “I drew inspiration from a protest chant I learned at a Black Youth Project 100 meeting in Chicago. I love how music and chants were used in the Civil Rights movement to help people keep marching. How songs were both a balm and a call to action. I’m interested in figuring out what freedom songs would sound like in 2016. My hope is that ‘blk girl soldier’ is a freedom song for black women today who are fighting the macro and microagressions of daily life in our city/country/world.” Jus Cuz produced the brilliant song with Saba. The cover art is by Max Sansing.
“What they don’t understand is
See, what they don’t understand is
No, she don’t give up”
Jamila recently garnered national attention for her work with Chance The Rapper on “Sunday Candy,” it was a treat to see her appear with him on Saturday Night Live a few weeks ago. Catch her this Saturday, January 23, at The Metro for Louder Than A Bomb’s mixtape release party. She will be performing alongside Ravyn Lenae, Kweku Collins, Ric Wilson and more in an all ages show that begins at 12:00 PM. Treat yourself to the sounds of Jamila Woods and my fav freedom song of 2016, “blk girl soldier.”
