I first caught wind of Ursula Rucker almost exactly two years ago when my friend Jessica wrote a wonderful guest piece for my week of guest posts back in February of 2009.If you're not familiar with her, be prepared for an in-your-face wake up call; her music is direct, powerful, confrontational, and unapologetic. It pulls no punches, rounds no edges. Part musician, part poet, almost like a female version of Gil Scott-Heron for the 21st century. You will not find Rucker eschewing what she believes in with her art. Her observations are cutting and keen, and peer into many facets of our world: political, moral, and personal.
Take for instance So What..?:
or later on in the song...the simple truth of the matter isthe truth is simply epicracism, sexism, intolerance, injustice are pandemicthe absence of a system of checks and balances in this country is systemicso let's fix it
i'm just checking on on youto see how you be doingcuz people be saying it's the endwhen really it's the beginning
why don't you take this life that you've been givenbe grateful thinking, put it in rhythm andit's ok if you a bit offbeat but stilltiming is everything soopen your heart, stop hatingfind some space inyour mind for some new informationswear off complacencemake the commitment to nurture the next generationend your affair with lame-stream radio stationsreplace your miseducation withtruth, peace, and this process takes timeso be patient and friendit's time for somerevisionadjustmentreconstructiondifferencerevolutionyou know...changing
If that level of frankness appeals to you, I strongly recommend checking out the rest of Rucker's album
and an older collaboration she did:
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