BLACK by Free Tillman
BLACK is a meditation on Black music and Black people from different parts of the world. It incorporates Jazz, Brazilian Funk, Juke, Grime, Hip-Hop, Soul, Disco, Drum ’n’ Bass, Blues, mental pain, sadness, dance, physical pain, hope, laughter, death, atheism and all around Blackness.
Invocation
This album was heavily influenced by the Archie Shepp album Attica Blues so it was only right to open this album invoking his spirit.
Woke Folk Be Playing
The title of this song is taking from a line from the Run The Jewels song “ET vs. Goonies”.
Black Nectar
Self-care is important. You can’t give every day to the Revolution. If you get to the other side and can’t function, then what was it all for?
People Need to Be Heard
“Peeped the weakness in the rap game and sewed it”
Juke the Police
This all started because I wanted to make a dance version of Frank Ocean’s song “Solo”. I specifically wanted to highlight the line “We too loud in public/then police turned down the function.” I could never get it to sound like I wanted so I abandoned the idea. Months later while I was creating this album I decided I wanted to try my hand at a Juke song. Furthermore, I wanted to create a Juke song that addressed social issues. Vince Staples is a master at that type of thing so I used Big Fish Theory as a blueprint. I put the two ideas together and there you have it.
I Am A Man
This is a question that has haunted me for years.
Words to Live By
This one seems pretty self explanatory but it's really not. Is “fuck bitches” a call to action or an exclamation? It’s an eternal question that we may never get an answer to.
A Word from The Crime Dog
A freestyle from the most uncelebrated member of Children of the Corn.
Empty Church
The original name of this song was “There’s No God” but I didn’t want to alienate anyone.
Dizzy and the Rascal
I know that the title of this song makes it sound like it’s Dizzee Rascal rapping over a Dizzy Gillespie sample but that’s not true. Maybe next album.
Coloring Book
This song uses the same movie sample I used on the song Bng Blk on my last album Sweet Dreams. You should listen to the bandcamp version of that album if you haven’t already.
A Word from Raygunn
The title of this song references a song by Milo, now known as R. A. P. Ferreira. The preceding and latter song uses Milo vocal samples also. I guess I’m a fan.
A Tribe Called Free
A never-ending quest. At least it feels that way.
Fine People
“[45] is a white supremacist, full stop / If you vote for him again you’re a white suprematist, full stop.” - clipping. Chapter 319
Good Morning
The last three song on this album are the “Wake up Suite”.
Tomorrow is Too Late
Do it today. Whatever that means to you.
Get There
This is another idea that has bothered me for a while. If you take the world's current affection for authoritarian leaders and couple it with climate change it’s becoming harder to believe that we can turn this around. In the words of Fannie Lou Hamer “I really don’t know where we go from here.”
I’d like to end on a happy note but what can I say, that’s the BLACK experience. Let’s take a 5 minute break and then get back to work.
Tracklist
| 1. | Invocation | 2:36 |
| 2. | Woke Folk Be Playing | 2:15 |
| 3. | Black Nectar | 1:36 |
| 4. | People Need to Be Heard | 2:27 |
| 5. | Juke the Police | 3:48 |
| 6. | I Am A Man | 3:49 |
| 7. | Words to Live By | 2:08 |
| 8. | A Word from The Crime Dog | 1:42 |
| 9. | Empty Church | 1:31 |
| 10. | Dizzy and the Rascal | 1:51 |
| 11. | Coloring Book | 2:08 |
| 12. | A Word from Raygunn | 1:02 |
| 13. | A Tribe Called Free | 2:21 |
| 14. | Fine People | 2:30 |
| 15. | Good Morning | 2:29 |
| 16. | Tomorrow is Too Late | 1:23 |
| 17. | Get There | 1:44 |
