We are all standing on the shoulders of someone else. On Jamila Woods‘ sophomore album LEGACY! LEGACY!, which is available everywhere now, she cites many Black pioneers who have made a profound impact on her life in some way.
Throughout the 13-song LP, which are each named after those many influences, the Chicago-based artist salutes icons like poet and activist Nikki Giovanni, novelist James Baldwin, famed actress Eartha Kitt and author Zora Neale Hurston, among others.
Woods cast incredible artists and musicians Nitty Scott, Saba, theMIND, Jasminfire, and Nico Segal for the empowering journey that takes on trauma, memory and strength.
“With this album, I had to think about how I could sample things in a way that’s innovative in terms of lyric writing – citing interviews with some of these people, or referencing essays or poems, as opposed to making allusions in my singing,” Woods told DAZED magazine earlier this year. “I didn’t want to write about people who inspire me, but have them in the room with me. That definitely gave the writing more strength, and a reference to memory,”
LEGACY! LEGACY! comes ahead of her spring tour named after the album. Woods kicks off the North American trek on May 22 in St. Paul, Minnesota at Turf Club.
Stream LEGACY! LEGACY! below.