Lion Babe. "Treat Me Like Fire." Lion Babe EP, LION BABE LLC, under exclusive licence to Outsiders Recorded Music Ltd. / Polydor Ltd. (UK), 2014.
When we caught The Roots play Oakland's Fox Theater just after Christmas 2014, I had no idea we'd be in for a serious treat care of their opening act. Singer Jill Hervey -- daughter of the stunning Vanessa Williams -- came out on stage with her wild mane, legs for days, a voice reminiscent of Erykah Badu, and a mesmerizing stage presence. "Treat Me Like Fire" instantly got inside my head, as I tried to place the sample (The Guess Who's "These Eyes"? Not quite.), the sultry and soulful "At The Hotel" by Eunice Collins. Production by Lucas Goodman, inspired by the late great J Dilla, Flying Lotus, and Timbaland, is on point (with some help from Pharrell).
Lion Babe returns to the Bay Area for a benefit concert this Wednesday, September 14th with Common at the Masonic. Tickets are $40 and all proceeds support Black Girls Code.