root of it all

The turbulent political climate in the US today reminds citizens of the battles fought over the Vietnam War, civil rights and social norms in the late 1960s. It was and remains a rich cultural stomping ground. When the divide between left and right hardens beyond a certain point, many artists still choose to up politics; they remember the way in which fundamentals of musical evolution in the 20th century were linked to politics- poverty, anti-war, black struggle- and they have various and vivid reference points from which to begin: “Bill Withers recorded this song at the end of the Vietnam War. As I record this now, America- the land of peace and prosperity is in the middle of two wars.” After Bill spoke to a young man who had served, he wrote ‘I Can’t Write Left-Handed’. Social consciousness is the central tenet in this part-heated, part-laid back collaboration between The Roots and John Legend, and yet, what seems so unusual about it, is how despite the above quote, it is pretty much isolated as an activist record by a high profile artist or artists. I mean really; you have to be daft not to figure out that this is a concept album- a clear, unambiguous plea for anti-war and liberal politics. “War is hell. It always has been and always will be.” ‘What this music is about- indeed why it was made, is so important to bear in mind. ‘Wake Up!’ is about America today; informed by it, holding up a mirror to it and making bold statements about it, with protest songs. It is something so alien to the chart today as political musicians- at most- aren’t putting their thoughts into their music, if considering it part of their modus at all. For The Roots and Legend then, big-selling commercial artists, the need for this to be a record that fans can take into their hearts just as much as any other, and enjoy- simply- ‘for the music’ is a naturally restraining force on the activist statements. It makes the idea of ‘Wake Up!’, which evokes the extreme, urgent militancy of The Last Poets’ seminal ‘This is Madness’, an uncomfortable, somewhat cringe-worthy proposition in principle and often on listening.

Legend’s six-grammy award winning, philanthropic juggernaut of soul man is a natural partner musically for a band whose focus is the soulful, instrument-led end of hip-hop. We arrive on ‘Hard Times’; a quite self-explanatory suggestion of the themes and general messages to come. But it is not, in any way, an expression of how you will feel about the music. Legend’s silky tones are first exemplified by Questlove’s excellent signature hollowed out percussion, and then by Black Thought, who raps on alternate verses. It’s a blend of direct, sobering vocals and Legend’s typically reassuring tones, but from the very beginning, the soul and hip-hop directions self-evidently complement one another.

When you listen to ‘Wake Up!’, the oozing swagger of ‘Wake Up Everybody!’ is hard to miss. Melanie Fiona delivers a refreshing zing on guest vocals, emanating the clarity, harmony and sunny optimism of the song’s uplifting message (established by Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes more than 30 years ago): “Wake up all the teachers, time to teach a new way. Maybe then they’ll listen to what you have to say.” The block by block repetition of the structure, with doctors, builders and everybody(!) builds a disarmingly anthemic message. I recommend listening to both versions for an interesting comparison on how this bad boy looked in 1975.

The Roots draw inspiration from the various strands of black culture that have entwined with messages of social consciousness over the past 50 years, some radical, and some moderate, like the gospel references on ‘I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free’. ‘Humanity’s reggae vibe, for example, sits quite uncomfortably alongside Legend’s unmistakably jazz-lounge style- an example of one of those instances where pushing a tempered, accessible sound as well as an honest replication of a genre’s political essence hasn’t really worked. Generally-speaking however, smooth intonements and production do successfully elevate the messages, rather than obstructing them. The 11-minute march ‘I Can’t Write Left-Handed’ and ‘Our Generation (Hope of the World)’ also show that loosely hung together, spontaneous outbursts of feeling are never outshone by more comfortable, softer numbers (‘Shine’ and ‘Holy’).

‘Wake Up!’ is an exciting, rich and diverse accomplishment that has clearly been produced with much thought and evaluation. Not only are The Roots and John Legend pillars of modern music today in their own rights, but the coming together of the former’s driving brass and lyrics, and the latter’s unmatched urban sophistication make this an album of different shades and dimensions, painting mellow, pretty and insular pictures at times, and at others outward, angry and revolutionary ones. Across the spectrum, this is a tale of political feeling and thought. Yet, perhaps, what rings out truest is that there was a time when every artist seemed to have something to say. From Bill Withers to Nina Simone, this album does its rich cultural ancestry proud.

John Legend & The Roots- I Can't Write Left-Handed
John Legend & The Roots- Wake Up Everybody
John Legend & The Roots- I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free