I meant to do this during February for Black History Month, but didn’t get to it, so for the rest of the month of March and part of April, I aim to share one classic album by a Black artist/group from anywhere in the world each day. I will give special attention to albums & artists that don’t receive as much attention, as well as music from women, queer folks, or folks from the Global South.

For my working understanding of the idea of “classic album”, I am considering albums that have some “musical, lyrical, or cultural significance, demonstrated by unique or memorable artistic performance, message, and lasting replay value” (my own definition here). Important point: what I consider a classic will undoubtable differ from others perspective, whether they be musicians, artists, critics, and the general public.

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Friday March 14, 2025
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Today’s selection is:
Untitled (Black Is) by Sault (2020)

Sault is a Black British musical group/collective that is led by producer Inflo and singer Cleo Sol. The songs on this album capture the righteous anger, frustration, and hope during Summer 2020, with the album being released on June 19, 2020, less than a month after the May 25 murder of George Floyd by Derek Chauvin and the complicity and racism of the police & justice system.

The songs on this album depict a multifaceted mosaic of Black resistance around the world against imperialism, colonialism, and racism. At times, the songs feel like a pirate radio station, for instance as the static plays between “June Child” and “Miracles”, and the dial seems to turn, increasing the volume as the vocals doo wop. I constantly find myself returning to this album and thinking about the lyrics, which are, in essence, mantras.

Song highlights: Don’t Shoot Guns Down, Bow, Wildfires, Monsters, Miracles

From “This Generation”:
“It’s time to wake up
We have walked the walk many years
Many times
We have walked in silence
We have expressed our voices
People have died
We’ve walked the walk
We have talked the talk
Nobody’s listening
Nobody listened
Nobody cared
Nobody cared
This generation cares”

Track linked: Bow

“Answer to Kenya
Check in with Uganda
Remember Rwanda
I see Tanzania
From Verde to Ghana
Take care of Somalia
Free Sudan
Blood thicker than water
Won’t you free Bobi Wine
Senegal, Madagascar
I need you, Angola
I see Tanzania
My people in Congo
I wanna free Sudan
Dance with Nigeria
From Egypt to Libya
Oh, we got, we got, we got, we got rights
We got rights, we got rights
Oh, we got, we got, we got, we got rights
We got rights”