Timbaland

You can dust it off and try again, try again

Aaliyah. "Try Again." Romeo Must Die: The Album, Blackground Records, 2000.

🎶  It's been a long time, we shouldn't have left you
Without a dope beat to step to
 🎶 

What Timbaland said ☝️️.

Those of you paying attention might have noticed that we've been on hiatus for a hot minute as the world seemed like it was crumbling into oblivion over the past month.

But, January fades away and in comes February, and with it the celebration of Black History Month. So much of the music that has touched my life has come from this rich culture and history, and this month I'll be sharing one track every day in that spirit of celebration.

The divine Aaliyah's life was taken far too early, but she left us some incredible music in her short time on this planet, not least of which is this track, which feels particularly appropriate in these times.

(Some of you might be wondering why the song below doesn't agree with the music video for today's post. That's because Aaliyah's catalogue currently isn't available on streaming and digital download services like Tidal, Spotify, iTunes, Amazon, etc. Stephen Witt over at Complex breaks it down in more detail here for inquiring minds.)

I'm a bit too dangerous, if you want me you should just...

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.