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"Gonna master the art of following my heart"-
Singers Anita Bias, Amber Strother and Producer Paris Strother of the R&B Group KING.
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This has been an epic week for music fans. We were once more reminded that our favorites are not immune to the Petty Virus, Impettigo, if you well. Not only did Rihanna bless us with her latest (either that or one of TIDAL's interns did, depending on who you believe), the R&B dream group KING put their entire album on NPR music, in advance of the album's February 5th release.
There are many lessons to learn from KING's story, including but not limited to-
1. Try it out and put it out
If you are like most fans of the group, you are glad to have a whole album to feast on after their explosive 2011 debut EP and a few singles. What I didn't know before reading the write-up by NPR Music's Bobby Carter (also known as DJ Cuzzin B, creator of some of my favorite mixtapes) is that The Story, KING's 2011 debut EP was the product of the first time the three women recorded together. I'll say it again- KING had never recorded any music together before they created the three tracks that made up their first EP. The response was almost instant. Questlove and Erykah Badu co-signed and shared the link. Prince himself contacted them and put the three musicians on his tour. Does it make you think about that project/idea you are sitting on? It should.
2. Don't let the fuss make you rush
The public is use to a quick turnaround between buzz and product. Buzz wears off, we are told, and must be capitalized on as soon as possible. But other than collaborations with the likes of Foreign Exchange, The Robert Glasper Experiment and singles such as In The Meantime and Mister Chameleon, fans were made to wait. The ladies took time to build their following through guest appearances and tour dates. The result is an incredibly cohesive album and sound, including the singles from their EP, extended and remastered to perfection.
3. Own it
KING is a part of a growing group of buzz-heavy acts like Chance the Rapper who opt to avoid the major label system completely (I'm sure that is the first thing Prince told them to do, after offering them pancakes). KING's full-length LP is being released on KING Creative, the group's own creative imprint.
If you can't tell, I give the album five (out of five) cowry shells, a scalp massage and a plate of butter cookies. It is literally everything great about life right now.
Don't Wait, Create,
Chakka AKA Cosmos Def
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Highwater Weekly Picks
Toolbox
- Everyone who writes on the web- Avoid copyright issues with using photos on the web by using Visual Hunt and the tips in this helpful article.
- Media Makers/Journalists/Documentarians- The deadline for Third World Newsreel's Production Workshop is today (Jan. 29th)! Apply here.
Playlist
- Soulection has one of my favorite Soundcloud stations. All the mixes are dope, but this one, featuring Anderson. Paak and music from D'Angelo, Chance the Rapper, J Dilla and a Hidden Beach version of Beautiful by Snoop and Pharrell (this was news to me as well) is on repeat.
Watch List
- I'm still trying to get Nate Parker's Birth of a Nation on bootleg. Until then, I'm going to get into the White Christmas episode of the British TV mini-series Black Mirror (Netflix).
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