WORD by The Mighty Heard

"We started this band five years ago
Where the music’s gonna take us nobody knows
We lost a couple friends along the way
God bless 'em all we’ll love 'em to this day
Don’t let nobody tell you what you can’t do
If you don’t believe in me believe in you
If you feel what I’m saying then throw your hands high
And wave them around from side to side to side to side to side to side
- Do Whatchu Gotta Do by The Mighty Heard

There's a legendary Hyattsville, MD band that many people still remember, they made a bigsplash in the area before its members moved on to other projects. The Mighty Heard wasborn over a decade ago by Honest Lee and Terry T at Franklin's Brewpub and quickly grew to incorporate UMD musicians and play shows in College Park. Formed as a space funk and intergalactic soul band, the group was then joined by vocalist Abdullah Thompson, aka Dullah D, who brought a cool Hip-Hop swagger to the mix. The result was creative bliss and The Mighty Heard took off, playing shows and festivals throughout the Washington, DC region.
In 2010 they recorded an album, “WORD”, which was never released, and the band kept going until 2012. Tragically, a stroke and subsequent brain failure claimed the life of Dullah D in December of 2017. That sad event brought The Mighty Heard back together, and they agreed the album should not stay in the dark any longer. After much delay, and many life lessons later The Mighty Heard are proud to present WORD, a 12-track album of 100% original and fully live hip-hop, funk and soul.
The lyrics on "Do Whatchu Gotta Do" feel prophetic when you hear “We lost a couple of friends along the way, God bless 'em all we'll love 'em to this day.” This entire album is in facta posthumous tribute to our fallen brothers Dullah D and percussionist Gerard Bingham, and Growroom Productions is proud to be releasing this body of work.
Despite a decade passing from the time of recording to this release, the tracks hold up and remain relevant. The Mighty Heard made timeless music and it shows. This is not a genre meld or a trend catcher. This is the real deal of new and enduring music made by professionals who pushed through into their own territory, creating the sound known as Mid-Atlantic FUNK. The songs presented would all sound equally in place on a Jill Scott album, in Big Crown or Daptone Records' catalog or an Anderson Paak production.
Speaking of timeless music which really captures the zeitgeist and is highly pertinent today as our society struggles for racial and social justice, be sure to check out tracks "Bad Things" and "How Many Kids." When listening to “How Many Kids”, a familiar Large Professor rhyme from “Looking at the Front Door” by Main Source can be heard. Terry T originally wrote this as a tribute to one of his golden age influences, flipping Large Professor's lyrics in a message to his abusive stepfather. While preparing this album for release The Mighty Heard contacted Large Professor to get his permission to use those lines in tribute. Large Professor graciously and kindly gave us his official permission, adding yet another layer of intrigue and gravity to this album. Another tune that speaks to the current mood is "Karma", which dishes lessons and knowledge to the youth, without sounding preachy or judgmental. The Mighty Heard have created a jazzed out, conscious hip-hop vibe that speaks to issues in the community.
The single "Still High b/w Karma" was released last year and the songs on WORD pick up where those tracks left off, showcasing the tight grooves of the band and the lyrical skills of Terry T and Dullah D. "Butt that Funk" kicks off the party, letting the audience know how it's gonna go down, bringing "Nothin but the FUNK, man!" Modern love songs "Be Wit U," "Deep" and "Walk Away" show the full range of relationships with the head nodding backbeat of Pete Rock mixed with Frankie Beverly & Maze. "Karma," "How Many Kids" and "Bad Things" bring real street stories to life in full, vivid, and upsetting color, immersing the listener in life battling
Black problems a la golden era hip hop legends Mobb Deep, 2Pac, and Wu-Tang Clan. "Do Whatchu Gotta Do," "Opportunity," "Got No Time" and "Y'all Don't Know" bring it back to the straight raw funk party bangers that got crowds on The Mighty Heard's side in their numerous sweat-drenched live performances.
Containing some of the best live band hip-hop, neo-soul, raw funk and stone groove classics this side of Mars, WORD is sure to please any music connoisseur. Wah-wah guitars, funky horns, soulful vocals, pocket percussion, and hip-hop swagger meld perfectly to create the Mid-Atlantic funk sound of The Mighty Heard. Their chemistry became apparent from the downbeat in 2003 and was honed over years of local and regional touring, performing at the Washington, DC area's highest regarded live music establishments and outdoor festivals, until life and professions took them on different paths in 2012. Luckily for music fans across the globe, The Mighty Heard album was already fully recorded.

Worldwide release on Friday September 25th, 2020 with one week Bandcamp exclusive starting on Friday September 18th. Bandcamp release also contains two bonus tracks.