“What will your legacy be?” poses Chicago artist, author, and co-founder of the DuSable Museum Margaret Burroughs. “How can I map a portrait of myself  (and my own legacy) through vignettes of the legacies of artists before me?” responds Jamila Woods in her 2019 work “LEGACY! LEGACY!” Across 12 creatives of color, trailblazers and innovators of their time inclusive of Nikki Giovanni, James Baldwin, Betty Davis, and Jean-Michel Basquiat, Woods explores themes of resilience and rebellion, joy, white violence, Black rage, and self-reflection. She pivots through sounds as the songs swing from upbeat classic hip-hop beats (FRIDA, SONIA) to sci-fi ambience and synths (SUN RA, OCTAVIA). Amidst it all, Jamila’s voice, dedication to uplifting Black history, and repping of her hometown Chicago remain consistent including using Chicago producers and artist features as well as familiar faces of the Chicago social and arts scene in her music videos.  “The beauty of our Blackness is generational!” this album decries. Our strength and resilience, creativity and coolness, brilliance and bravery are woven through generations and will continue to be. Through this album, Woods urges and hopes for young Black people to feel empowered through their history. A teacher and poet, Jamila knows the power of words and is unafraid to flaunt her talents in masterfully stringing them together. Alongside her voice, her wordplay is truly a standout on this album. This record is one for the books and an exciting re-listen as Woods gears up to release her third full project in October of this year. Personal favorites include: “GIOVANNI,” “SONIA,” “MILES,” “MUDDY,” “BASQUIAT,” and “BETTY (for Boogie).” 

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As always, this episode and all others are available on Apple Music and Spotify - link in bio! 

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This episode wraps up season 1 of An Album 2Day Podcast! It has been such a fun journey sharing these albums and learning more about artists and the projects they put their thought, time, and energy into. Over the next few months, I’ll be taking a break, checking out all kinds of new music, seeing some live shows, and listening to music just for fun (because the fun is the point!). I can’t wait to come back and share even more projects and hopefully talk more with artists and community members about their work. Talk soon!

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Peace n luv, Ash