One of the albums of the year, this is a confident and self-assured project that affirms the Chicago musician's own place alongside the historical greats she praises.
Woods embodies the cultural makeup of Chicago, tackles the multiplicity of identity, and balances her dominance with flawlessly selected features that build her up.
Woods, herself, a poet, singer, activist, and teacher, casts Legacy! Legacy! as a beacon for a type of self-empowerment informed by the predecessors who built and shaped culture.
This galvanizing declaration of pride, support, and discontent will no doubt inspire covers itself. Every public library should have at least one copy.
For her second album LEGACY! LEGACY!, Woods presents us with an ostensibly simple concept: its songs are named after historical figures in literature, music and the arts.
LEGACY! LEGACY! is a series of sleek homages to the various artistic and emotional lineages that Jamila Woods embodies; a neat conceit which holds the album together without dominating it.
Not only is LEGACY! LEGACY! one of the best albums of the year with its incandescent power and hooks that never stop giving, it achieves the remarkable feat of crafting a cohesive whole out of a dozen disparate stories.
The Chicago artist marries political commentary with deep introspection, resulting in a richly composed R&B album about the echoes of the past and the promise of the future.
LEGACY! LEGACY! educates and enrages but also moves, heals, and leaves you full-hearted with hips and shoulders swaying to each track's studied and hypnotic groove.
While the album could stand alone in its beautiful messages, Jamila also uses the space to celebrate her heroes through time; implicitly relating her own characteristics to these historic figures.
LEGACY! on its own is a thrill, but scrolling through Jean-Michel Basquiat canvases or listening to some of Betty Davis’ strut adds to the experience as Woods’ growth through her idols becomes clear.
Each song on this engaged but accessible record memorialises a figure from the African diaspora – often lesser-known poets, or figures like Miles and Basquiat.
Full of dust-shaking beats, layered vocals and sticky melodies, the record is every bit as rousing as Heavn, with even more intricate production flourishes. But as ever with Woods – who is also an acclaimed poet – her words hold the greatest weight.
Emotion and passion are apparent in every word, key and chord throughout this project, boldly asserting Jamila’s second offering as a brilliant new addition to her own legacy, rather than a mere follow up to 2016’s ‘HEAVN’.
LEGACY! LEGACY! chronicles the adversity that women of color regularly face, but at the heart of Woods’s music is an urgent desire to heal and be healed.
Legacy! Legacy! is about community, about legacies as heritage but also as that which is forged on the ground in the moment.
LEGACY! LEGACY! is a complex and near-flawless reworking of genre ... as the singer-songwriter evolves her art, thought and reason for being.
Woods uses the strength of her vibrant band to mask her reedy vocals, a minor drawback in an otherwise enlightening offering that positions her as one of neo-soul's essential new voices.
Shoutout to @Missing_Lyriks, thanks for the suggestion!
Jamila Woods is a singer who I've been familiar with, not as much by music but by name. Having been introduced to her in a collab with British producer Bonobo on a track called "Tides", her voice had a unique range that was quite enchanting to hear and it fit so well with his downtempo-infused sound.
Finally, I got the opportunity to hear one of her solo projects: her sophomore album LEGACY! LEGACY!
Jamila's sound is a cross ... read more
I listened to this thing about three times today… From the insanity of piano production on ‘BETTY’ and the wonky bass and rap on ‘BASQUIAT’ results in the best and most consistent R&B project I’ve ever listened to!
Jamila not only has stellar vocals and the flow of a queen, but she has the ability to write an album that is genre defying and avant-garde to the max.
Can’t wait for October y’all!
"LEGACY! LEGACY!" is a completely consistent album and shows Jamila Woods' versatility with great lyrics, outstanding hooks and production that is SO GOOOOOD!!!
Fav Tracks: GIOVANNI, BASQUAIT, EARTHA, SONIA, BETTY (both), MILES, ZORA, FRIDA, MUDDY
Least Fav Track: SUN RA
Score:
9.3
Outstanding
@Missing_Lyriks recommendation (eight of eight).
Smooth, bass filled neo-soul makes for a consistent album with great vocals and production throughout. This album mixes and matches with quite a few sounds, making each track unique and different sounding, something quite a few albums like this one lack.
Jamila's voice is smooth and powerful, making for an album with incredible vocal deliveries and an enjoyable sound. Her voice stays strong and consistent, as does the rest of the album. I ... read more
1 | BETTY 3:11 | 91 |
2 | ZORA 3:06 | 87 |
3 | GIOVANNI 4:48 | 91 |
4 | SONIA 4:21 feat. Nitty Scott | 91 |
5 | FRIDA 2:58 | 87 |
6 | EARTHA 2:49 | 85 |
7 | MILES 3:08 | 91 |
8 | MUDDY 3:11 | 87 |
9 | BASQUIAT 6:45 feat. Saba | 94 |
10 | SUN RA 3:26 feat. TheMIND, Jasminfire | 88 |
11 | OCTAVIA 3:11 | 88 |
12 | BALDWIN 3:53 feat. Nico Segal | 90 |
13 | BETTY (for Boogie) 4:15 | 90 |
#1 | / | Chicago Tribune: Greg Kot |
#3 | / | Consequence of Sound |
#3 | / | The A.V. Club |
#6 | / | PopMatters |
#7 | / | Bandcamp Daily |
#8 | / | The Ringer |
#11 | / | Pitchfork |
#12 | / | Okayplayer |
#13 | / | FLOOD |
#14 | / | Obscure Sound |