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CRITIC REVIEWS
100
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.
100
Woods embodies the cultural makeup of Chicago, tackles the multiplicity of identity, and balances her dominance with flawlessly selected features that build her up.
90
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.
90
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.
90
This galvanizing declaration of pride, support, and discontent will no doubt inspire covers itself. Every public library should have at least one copy.
87
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.
85
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.
85
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.
85
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.
85
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.
80
LEGACY! LEGACY! is a complex and near-flawless reworking of genre ... as the singer-songwriter evolves her art, thought and reason for being.
80
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’.
80
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.
80
Legacy! Legacy! is about community, about legacies as heritage but also as that which is forged on the ground in the moment.
80
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.
80
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.
80
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.
60
LEGACY! LEGACY! nonetheless has remarkable staying power and a gracious ambition to in some small way materially improve the world of which it is an image. Aesthetic or not, that's worth something.
"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
Fav Tracks: GIOVANNI, BASQUAIT, EARTHA, SONIA, BETTY (both), MILES, ZORA, FRIDA, MUDDY
Least Fav Track: SUN RA
Score:
9.3
Outstanding
Amazing sophomore album from Jamila. Her writing is such a force on this album. Paying homage to many greats without it feeling stuffy or preachy at all. Reading on how each inspired their respective track was so interesting and the tracks hold so well on their own. Great production, great guest verses especially Saba's verse on Basquiat and just great energy in general
Faves: Betty (both versions), Basquiat, Baldwin (love the message in this)
Faves: Betty (both versions), Basquiat, Baldwin (love the message in this)
Jamila did it Again! This is a great and inventive album about being a Black, Queer, Woman wrapped in a interesting concept inspired by names activists of the modern black culture and feminists. Legacy! Legacy! is heavier than her debut album “Heavn”,released in 2016, its angry, bitter, sometimes sounds sad (As we can feel listening to 'Basquiat' and 'Baldwin') and more cohesive and lyrically interesting. She open the album telling us she’s not a typical girl and of course ... read more
“I like you better when you see me less/ I like me better when I’m not so stressed.”
The Chicago RnB singer comes out with a sophomore release that is a clear celebration of the past, present and future by way of paying homage to artists and thinkers that shaped our society. With multitudes of lesser known artists and collaborators, it shines and never feels a dull moment throughout.
The Chicago RnB singer comes out with a sophomore release that is a clear celebration of the past, present and future by way of paying homage to artists and thinkers that shaped our society. With multitudes of lesser known artists and collaborators, it shines and never feels a dull moment throughout.
Jamila Woods' second album starts from an exhaustive research work on the Afro-American culture to which she belongs through great figures of men and, especially, women to filter her own vision through her prism and express herself in her own voice as there was no achieved in HEAVN, achieving an excellent plea in favor of sisterhood and self-empowerment.
consequenceofsound.net
Jamila Woods Returns With New Single “Sula (Paperback)” 
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Year End Lists
| #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 |
More Lists
Track List
- BETTY
- ZORA
- GIOVANNI
- SONIA (feat. Nitty Scott)
- FRIDA
- EARTHA
- MILES
- MUDDY
- BASQUIAT (feat. Saba)
- SUN RA (feat. theMIND & Jasminfire)
- OCTAVIA
- BALDWIN (feat. Nico Segal)
- BETTY (for Boogie)
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1y
NME: *gives it a 100* "one of the albums of the year"
Also NME: *doesn't put it on their year end list*
Also NME: *doesn't put it on their year end list*
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Added on: February 5, 2019