2/26/2021

'The American Negro' - Powerful New Album from ADRIAN YOUNGE Out Now via Jazz is Dead

ADRIAN YOUNGE
‘THE AMERICAN NEGRO’

New Album featuring Music & Spoken Word Out Now via Jazz is Dead

Takes an Unapologetic Critique Detailing the Systemic & Malevolent Psychology Afflicting People of Color, from Multi-Instrumentalist Composer, Producer and Jazz Is Dead Co-Founder

‘Invisible Blackness’ Podcast Also Available Now via Amazon Music
& ‘T.A.N’. Film Due Next Week via Prime Video


“In Adrian Younge’s Ambitious New Project, James Baldwin Meets Marvin Gaye” - Vulture

‘The American Negro’ Front Cover (download) & Back Cover (download)

THE GUARDIAN: “Younge’s album puts luscious orchestral arrangements and spoken-word interludes to use in creatively unfurling the development of structural racism in the US” 

SPIN: "composer/producer Adrian Younge who gives an impassioned speech and takes you through a dreamy jazz sequence in 'The American Negro'"

BROOKLYN VEGAN: "The very talented psychedelic soul/jazz/hip hop/etc musician Adrian Younge..."

FLOOD MAGAZINE: "More down to earth, dirtier, politicized, riveting, and sad in regard to its wrenching emotive politicized outlook is Younge’s bold, new The American Negro." 

VANCOUVER SUN: "an important contribution to the canon of African-American political music and a heavy listen."
Adrian Younge just released The American Negro via his Jazz Is Dead label. The powerful album features music and spoken word from Los Angeles-based multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer and sees Younge sharing an unapologetic critique detailing the systemic and malevolent psychology that afflicts people of color. Younge not only wrote, but played every instrument of the album’s rhythm section; he also orchestrated a 30-piece orchestra and recorded them in his analog studio. Hear previously released singles “The American Negro” and “Revolutionize,” and stream The American Negro here: https://jazzisdead.lnk.to/AdrianYoungeTAN

The album is part of his multi-multimedia project released in conjunction with Black History Month -- his most ambitious and deeply personal project to-date. To better explain the intricacies of the album’s message, he has released the Amazon Music-exclusive podcast Invisible Blackness with Adrian Younge including episodes featuring Chuck D, Digable Planets’ Ladybug MeccaKeyon Harrold, and more; and short film T.A.N., which will be available on the Amazon Music mobile app and Prime Video.

The American Negro is a powerful, multifaceted statement that reflects perennial injustices and serves to act as a lever of change during a time of mass disillusionment: an album for the people that details the evolution of racism in America. The American Negro is not for the faint of heart, including the album cover art--a recreation of “Lynching Postcards” that became celebrated the murder of African Americans at the hands of White Americans as vigilante justice at the turn of the last century, with no judicial reprisals. Modernly, death by asphyxiation is a tool Police officers have used in killing innocent Black Americans: the lynching of the Black Americans has to stop. 

Adrian Younge is a member of The Midnight Hour and has produced for entertainment greats ranging from Jay Z, Kendrick Lamar and Wu-Tang Clan. He’s composed for television shows such as Marvel’s Luke Cage (with Ali Shaheed Muhammad), and films including Black Dynamite. He owns the Linear Labs boutique record label and analog studio, and is co-owner of Jazz Is Dead. When he’s not working on scores for major studios or networks, he’s making albums that speak to his own artistry. 
HEAR "REVOLUTIONIZE" VIA YOUTUBE
"Revolutionize" - Adrian Younge

HEAR "THE AMERICAN NEGRO" VIA YOUTUBE
"The American Negro" - Adrian Younge

FOLLOW ADRIAN YOUNGE & JAZZ IS DEAD 
 Adrian Younge: Instagram * Twitter * Facebook 
Jazz Is Dead: Instagram Twitter * Facebook * YouTube * Bandcamp

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