When iiWoke up this morning, iiReally took an honest moment to find out what kind of music iiWanted to hear. iiThought deeply, and iiWas answered with Billie Holiday.
iiStarted with "Strange Fruit". It made me think about when a college friend told me that the song used to scare her as a child. iiDidn't realize why, at the time, but that was because iiHad never taken the time, myself, to really listen to the song. The lyrics so bitingly clear, thinly veiled behind a lilting alto and seemingly harmless eyes (iiM watching this on the youtube of course).
That led to "I Love You, Porgy", also Billie Holiday. Watching her sing that made me think of Nina Simone's version of the same song that she sang as a tribute to Billie Holiday. Of course, it was the next recommended video on the youtube, so iiWatched it.
To look in the faces of these strong and courageous women as they sing the same song about love, saying "iiVe got my man.." What a beautiful way to start the day.
iiHad been led down the Nina Simone path to the infamous "Mississippi Goddamn". Which is great because now that iiM talking about it, iiCan tell you that whenever my father refers to this song, he makes it sound like some back country whiskey that you can only get at the juke joint across the alligator swamp in the bushes behind the barn. Which totally blew my mind as a youth, and made me think, "this 'Mississippi Goddamn' stuff must be off the chain!".
And it is...Take a sip...
iiSuppose that he was just recalling the pride he felt when he heard her sing that song. iiFound myself clapping uproariously in the middle of watching the video.
Speaking of middle, her performance of this song in front of all-white crowds in the 1960's was like a big middle finger to the big elephant in the room called oppression. She was not afraid to call it what it was. She was doing what Bob Dylan was doing, but, in my opinion, it was way realer and way more intense and passionate. iiHave always had respect for her boldness as well as Bob Dylan's, but iiM realizing now that the very fact that she composed and performed these songs from the true perspective of an African people in America in the 1960's makes the statement all the more meaningful.
Watching her perform, though, also reveals the dope MC in her. This video of "Ain't Got Nothing...I've Got Life" is one that iiHad seen before and enjoyed, but watching it this time, iiNoticed something iiHadn't noticed before.
iiWas taken by her style and the way she fills up the park with her vocals, keys, and deliveries. In addition to all that good stuff, a true MC's purpose is to master the ceremony. Therefore, the reason iiChose to post this particular video can be found @ about 1:40. iiHad to play it back a few times to make sure that what iiThought happened is what really happened. See for yourself...
Yep, it did.
Did she just sing out instructions to the band and make it fit with the song?
Yes, she did.
...no schoolin, no friends, ain't got no god,
ain't there one more?
ain't got no earth, no water...
Like nothing ever happened...
The band continues to play another verse before going into the chorus.
Gangsta!
After watching another video of her performing this song at different venues, iiFind it even doper because it's like she has no set lyrics to the song, just a concept from which she sings.
As an MC, you never know what kind of situation you're going into, you only know the song or the message you have to share. So every time you get on that stage, you stick to who you are, you stick to your concept and make that message work for the setting and context in which it is shared.
Dope.
Which is why, iiAm inducting Nina Simone into the official nefTUNES Hall of True MC's.
*Stamped*.
Dear Nina,
iiKnow this is only a fraction of a fraction of the reflection of what your true impact is on the music world, and the world at large. Thank you for giving us your music, your strength, your times, your trials, your triumphs, and your beauty, all of which still ring fresh today, long after the world was first introduced to them.
-nef
A couple last minute thoughts:
iiRecently found out that the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, Mary J. Blige, is slated to play Nina Simone in a biopic about this incomparable woman.
That's so Hollywood.