Jeezy Speaks on Revisiting 'My President Is Black' and How to Keep It Moving During Trump's Presidency

Originally published on BET.com, February 9, 2017. 

A common ideology throughout show business, as glorified best in old glamour Hollywood films and perhaps now a bit cliché in real life, is the concept that an exclusive selection of people curiously inherited a quality referred to as "star power."

While it is an elusive and desirable characteristic that is naturally hard to explain, when someone has it, it is just known, felt and universally agreed upon. In the case of Atlanta heavyweight Jeezy, he was born with something else — a spin-off of star power that is arguably more influential, combining an undeniable cool factor with unrivaled street savvy, rounded out with a keen business sense. It's an essence that is truly unique to him and something that can be felt immediately upon his entering a room.

While sporting sunglasses — despite it being 7 p.m. on a breezy Wednesday night in New York City (Feb. 8) — Jeezy, dressed to the nines and casually sipping Tequila Avión, is exuding both his personal brand of star power and the wealth of wisdom he's collected over the course of two decades in the rap game. Over the years, Jeezy has become something of an unexpected motivational coach, an element not part of his initial job description as an artist and one that he organically gravitated toward through his music and by keeping older company. From rapping on what he's experienced to speaking on what he knows, Jeezy has elevated his own career while making history and captivating audiences simultaneously.

His anthem and ode to Barack Obama, "My President Is Black," became a movement in and of itself by praising the very movement that was as necessary as it was groundbreaking for American culture and history. When asked if he feels, in Trump's new regime, that a sequel to that track, perhaps titled "My President Is Still Black," is inevitable to manifest itself next, Jeezy's balance of confidence and cool factor isn't convinced.

"That was history," he states, in regard to the very song that ended up soundtracking such a meaningful and important moment in our country, one that grew into a legacy much bigger than the Obama family themselves. "We gotta leave that where it's at. I think it's time that somebody else step up."

"You know, I like YG's song, though," Jeezy says, laughing. "He's got a real good song about Trump. You know the one."

"It's almost like, you know Obama, to me, was a politician," Jeezy continues, diving into how he feels about our current political leader in comparison to the godsend that was Obama. "He is someone who handled himself in a presidential manner. Always. And in just my personal opinion, Trump, you know, he's a businessman. So he doesn't care about anybody's feelings as long as the business gets done. And, to me, that's the difference between the two.

"Trump acts as though his view on the country is the only view, as if he's the only one that lives in the country," he says. "A lot of the things he's doing are irate and it's our first time to ever see somebody in office that's difficult and outspoken like that. We usually go about things together as a nation, you know what I mean? At least we try to. And now we have to just see how it all plays out."

From there, it's almost reactionary to next touch on Trump's recent executive order, the controversial Muslim ban, with Jeezy reflecting on the horrific reality that the president's recent action is capable of doing some severe damage.

"I've never been racist, you know," he adds. "White, Black, Catholic, Buddhist, Muslim, whatever, you know what I mean? You gotta be right. But I just think a lot of the things he's doing, he's turning the people against the integrity that we built. You know what I'm saying? Now it looks like we're built on some bulls**t, so to speak."

While Jeezy is in a position where he has a platform to unapologetically discuss what is making headlines in Trump's sinister presidency, he's not hogging the mic either.

"I think with social media, the younger generation sees a lot of this stuff we didn't get a chance to see, or we didn't care to see," he says. "But it's all on the same platform now, so they all constantly hear about it. You know, they see what [Trump’s] saying on Twitter and a lot of it would offend anybody, maybe even a seven-year-old. So you have to expect that more and more younger artists are speaking on these topics in their music and day-to-day lives. These up-and-coming cats, they're young and rebellious and they don't care to hold their tongue. They don't care to be politically correct. They're gonna say what they feel."

Jeezy is someone who has kept it 100 throughout his entire career, owning what he needs to own and learning from his past mistakes. That’s part of why he's now at an incredible stage in his career where he's able to adapt with the times instead of participating in the age-old arguments surrounding generational rap while also encouraging intelligent conversations about politics finding their way into their music in ways that may surprise people in general to see that the youth is paying attention and is involved. Such is the case with YG's smash single, "FDT."

"By the way, they're not really into politics, this younger generation," Jeezy continues. "They're into people. So if you show somebody a side of you or show somebody a flaw, that means that flaw truly exists and people, like I said, these up-and-coming cats, they can detect it. So they don't have to bite their tongue because they've got their own outlets to put their music out now. They don't have to go through the labels or go through all this red tape. So, like, if someone says, 'Yo, I don't like him. F**k that guy,’ you have to respect it. That's their opinion and this is their generation. This is what's important to them." 

When it comes to assuming the role of being a mentor, something that he's transitioning into directly while working with the likes of YG, recruiting Lil Durk and YFN Lucci to join his upcoming Trap or Die 3 tour and working with Tequila Avión to be a guide and resource for select rising artists, he's a seasoned vet who knows he has a lot to offer those willing to listen. Supported by his extensive resumé and in his words, he's always been a boss. So for Jeezy, it's just about saying what he feels is right for the situation and being honest when giving feedback or insight.

"What I've learned about people's opinions is that you take enough of it for it to make sense to you and apply it to what you were already thinking. That's how you move forward," he says. "So you can't just take everything everybody says for face value and think that's it, that's the end all be all. That's where I come in. A wise man once told me that you learn from somebody else's mistake, not your own."

At the end of the day, despite all of the headaches, anxiety and fear of the unknown that has come as a package deal with this election, Jeezy is here to remind us that this year still holds the potential to be great, and therefore it's going to be something special, save for the Atlanta Falcons losing the Super Bowl.

"I just take my time, you know, keep my mind balanced," he says of how he stays sane during trying times such as present-day political turmoil. "Keep staying in shape, eat good, drink good. Grind, get your stack, stay out of the way. That's what I say."

"Other than the Falcons, it's going to be a great year," Jeezy says with conviction. "You know everybody's in they pocket. Everybody's got their game face on. For everything that I'm affiliated with and a part of, business-wise, music-wise, we're going push it through the glass ceilings. It's going down this year. It's going to be a great year, for sure."

Once again, Jeezy's tried-and-true ability to keep it calm, cool and collected shines through, all without losing credibility for keeping things conscious at the same time. Yup, that's what star power is by definition and he's got enough to go around, lifting up an entire generation and, against all odds, inspiring others to do better along the way.

When The Snowman says it's going to be a great year, so it will be. He's sure to make a believer out of the most reluctant of optimists, leading by example and getting his jabs in when he needs to.

Sampha's 'Process' Is a Hauntingly Beautiful Debut

Originally published on BET.com here.

There is a magic behind collaboration that Sampha has not only mastered, but has also kept close to his chest since the beginning of his career in music. Finding a new calling in the shadows of the studio, the 28-year-old Londoner has spent the past five years providing his talents to some of today's most influential artists, including Drake, Kanye West, Frank Ocean, Solange and SBTRKT. But as more and more listeners fell under his spell and first learned of his name, many began to wonder how strong he could stand on his own once it was his time to step into a lone spotlight.

With the release of Sampha's highly-anticipated debut album, Process, those keeping a watchful, critical eye can take a reclining seat; this isn't an album designed to impress or please, but rather to inspire those listening to be present and still. Much like his portrait on the cover suggests, this is a project best indulged in with eyes closed, a warm tea in hand and an open mind. Inhale, exhale and be ready to be pleasantly surprised.

Finding success in navigating his vulnerabilities, Sampha cautiously and carefully reveals different layers from his once safeguarded perspective and experiences, hinting that although he's been through hell and back, he hasn't lost sight of the fact that there's a peaceful calm that arrives after the storm passes. It's in these moments of honest self-discovery that Sampha not only finds strength, but also is reborn through his artistry, doing so in a way that also holds as much of a healing power for others inevitably captivated by his story as it does for the recording artist himself.

While the UK native doesn't put all of his tragedies in front of his handshake, it's clear as we get to know Sampha through his music that the devastating loss he's encountered throughout his life — such as losing both of his parents to cancer years apart — hasn't left him unscathed. It's a complicated heartbreak that doesn't quite ever leave, but Sampha embraces that lingering sorrow in a way that allows it to exist as his elixir, transforming his misfortunes into a saving grace, consequently enabling him to rise above the ashes as if his spirit were that of a phoenix.

The music itself presents a stark contrast proving Sampha is unassumingly in full control, with beautifully haunting melodies creating a curious parallel from the sometimes-grim lyrical content. Sampha masterfully juxtaposes pleasure and pain, with comforting reminders of home found on "What Shouldn't I Be?" balancing out the loneliness and tragedy he explores on "Kora Sings." Guided by his lush falsetto, it's only fitting that Sampha's dynamic, quiet world is best explored through multiple listens, each stirring up different complex emotions amplified by his love affair with the piano and his forward-thinking approach to electronic-leaning production.

The album's 10 tracks set out to expose the innermost conflicted corners of his private, imperfect mind, neatly and carefully ripping pages out of his diary for the first time just to realize that the conversation he's been having within himself this whole time has been pushing him closer and closer to the edge. Sampha has patiently waited to tell his story, even being hesitant to dive in at times, fully aware that you can't clean up an oil spill just by admiring its vexed beauty from a distance. By getting his hands dirty, Process becomes as therapeutic as it does meditative, with the tracks blending into one another at times. The meticulous effort is one to be commended, with beating drums, dramatic piano and delicate synths helping to craft what at times feels like as much as a concept album themed around grief as it does a first introduction to his identity. By addressing his past, he makes room for the future — an optimism he didn’t necessarily warm up to overnight.

As exemplified throughout the ambitious album, there is a degree of madness found in grief that doesn't always change or go away once you address its looming presence. Sampha faces his demons in the most artistic way possible, and by doing just that, he not only exposes his pained soul but invites us to welcome the process of doing the same. He doesn't have everything figured out, reminding us Process is just that — a process— and one that Sampha holds sacred. After all, from rot, grows life.

While Sampha is still stretching and warming his muscles in advance of the next race, if Process is any indication, there’s nothing quite like being lost in the right direction.

#Repost: Billboard.com x Spotify - New Music Friday

Originally posted on Billboard.com.

Imagine Dragons - "Believer"

A common theme in this week's #SpotifyNMF is perseverance, with the important and necessary reminder not to give up the good fight carefully woven into a generous handful of today's new releases. With Imagine Dragons seeing beauty through the pain on their track "Believer," the underlying theme of not giving up takes on many inspiring forms, with the quartet's powerful new song beautifully soundtracking that very sentiment. Lead vocalist Dan Reynolds reflects on the power that exists behind having the ability of being able to turn pain into power, something he sings he has done since being "broken from a young age." With marching drums, electric timbres and Reynolds behind the wheel, the track is a whimsical-yet-authoritative anthem sure to turn even the most hesitant of optimists into a believer. Adding to the charm of the group's victorious underdog mentality, those tuning into the Super Bowl this weekend may also catch their new song as featured in a commercial for Nintendo Switch. With the song doubling as a presumed teaser off of Imagine Dragons' forthcoming third studio album, it's evident that while good things come to those who wait, epic things come to those who believe.

Sampha - Process

With the release of Sampha’s debut album, Process, many are quick to call him London's best kept secret. However, after lending his talents to Drake, Solange, Kanye West, SBTRKT and Frank Ocean, it's arguable that while the secret has been out he's an artist wise to keep an eye on, his own story remained untold. With his first solo project, Sampha lets listeners in for the first time, but masterfully manages not to give too much away or put only his tragedies in front of his handshake. As we get to know Sampha, it's revealed that while he's been through devastating heartbreak and tragic loss throughout his life, with both of his parents passing away after battling cancer years apart, he still hasn't let go of hope. Perhaps it's only natural that the 28-year-old's music holds a healing power, with his lush voice delicately navigating themes of detachment, strength, self-discovery, sorrow and vulnerability in a way that, despite frequent travels into the unknown, carries the comforting reminder, "You can always come home." As exemplified through tracks such as "Reverse Faults," "Kora Sings" and "Under," Sampha's dynamic, quiet world is best explored with eyes closed, transporting listeners into a meditative state with his falsetto guiding the way, showing that there is solace to be found throughout the process.

Skip Marley - "Lions"

Carrying the legacy his family name stands for is something that a now 20-year-old Skip Marley is ready to fully embrace. Considering he is the maternal grandson of the revolutionary Bob Marley, it shouldn't come as a surprise that Skip feels as though his desire to pursue music was engrained in his destiny. However, he also is wise beyond his years, fully aware that he has much to learn and discover about his own identity, as well as knows he has his own path to carve. With the invaluable guidance of his uncles, Stephen, Damian and Ziggy, as well as his mother, Cedella, Skip is poised for greatness but not entitled to it, exemplifying on his new single "Lions" that he has much of a fight brewing in him as ever and that he was born to lead the way. Simultaneously, his new track acts as a modern-day protest song that would without a doubt make his grandfather proud, singing with conviction, "We are the lions / We are the chosen / We gonna shine out the dark / We are the movement / This generation / You better know who we are." With a determined Skip Marley finally being handed the torch, it's exciting to see just how ready he is to carry it next.

Syd - FIN

Vocalist Sydney Bennett, best known as Syd (and once known as Syd Da Kyd,) carries within her multiple identities, and on her debut solo album, has stripped down to occupy a space all her own. The Internet’s frontwoman previously referred to her new project as "an in-between thing," an album she casually wanted to make, stating that, "This album is not that deep, but I feel like this is my descent into the depth I want the band to get to." Now that it's been released to the world, one can't help but want to celebrate those "in-between" spaces, where what can happen next feels limitless. From Odd Future to The Internet to FIN, Syd's strengths remain consistent, with her voice commanding the spotlight with ease and in a way those unfamiliar wouldn’t expect. As each track strengthens the case that she's a star, Syd's chilled-out nature allows for a playfulness to find a happy home, all without compromising the fact that with this album, she's not only going to be taken more seriously than ever before, but she's ready to be. The album reflects growth, owning one's sexuality and giving a subtle middle finger to the world, doing so without coming off as corny, braggadocios or overly trendy. Syd's self-determination to stay true to herself and compromise nothing makes for an inspiring takeaway that even if her intention wasn't to create a "deep" album, this collection of 12 songs is anything but shallow.

Big Sean - I Decided.

Big Sean has infamously made some bold statements through his music over the years. From once demanding Kanye West listen to him freestyle in the hallway of a radio station to dominating the charts with the fiery message found in "IDFWU," Big Sean has been building up to the moment of claiming his destiny and pushing all his chips out onto the table. With his new album, I Decided., he does exactly that. Throughout the album's narrative, he showcases how he's not only been chosen for this life, but he chose it right back. His third sophomore album is full of clarity and conviction for the rapper, declaring how not only does he intend to live life to the fullest from this point forward but this project also represents a rebirth of sorts, one that is taking no prisoners without abandoning or discrediting his past. With lead singles such as "Bounce Back," "Moves" and "Halfway Off The Balcony" helping to build anticipation, Big Sean's latest offering is already being thrown into the ring of debate as his best work to date, with many also cheering on his manifested collaboration with Eminem, "No Favors," as one of the strongest songs in the multifaceted, skit-laden 14-track collection. With I Decided., Big Sean is sure to win over a new assortment of lifelong fans, refreshingly including himself in that category as well. In regards to taking what’s rightfully his and inspiring others to do the same, Big Sean not only finds success, he finds meaning. It’s been a long time coming, too.