Songs in the Key of Black Life: A Rhythm and Blues Nation

233 Pages·2003·21.037 MB·English

by  Mark Anthony Neal

S NGS II\J
I-IE I(EY F
-I
BI_ACI( I_IFE
This page intentionally lelt blank
5 \jGS \j
- - E (EY
F
FEF E
B_/\C(
A RHYTlim Ano BLUEJ nATion
mRRli RnTliOny nERL
First Published 2003 by
Routledge
Published 2013 by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017, USA
Routledge is an imprint ofthe TayloT & Francis Group, an informa business
Copyright © 2003 by Taylor & Francis Books, Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form
or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including
photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permis
sion in writing from the publisher.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Neal, Mark Anthony.
Songs in the key ofblack life : a rhythm and blues nation / Mark Anthony Neal.
p.cm.
Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index.
ISBN 0-415-9657.0-5 (hard cover: alk. paper) - ISBN 0-415-96571-3
(soft cover: alk. paper) ISBN 978-0-415-96571-2 (pbk)
1. Rhythm and blues music-History and criticism. 2. Mrican Americans-Music
History and criticism.
ML3521 .N42 2003
2002153219
Dedicated to
Gloria Taylor-Neal
Misha Gabrielle Neal (Ya-Va)
Camille Monet
and
AC and Lil' Lena
In Memory of
Willie B. Taylor
and
BenjaminJames Moore (BJ)
you be like damn, it's that big man we all love to like
game air tight, while you caught in the hype
-Heavy D, "Big Daddy"
conTEnTI
Acknowledgments ix
Pmlogue xiii
Introduction 1
RliYTHm
1. Revolutionary Mix Tape ....................................................... 9
2. Grown-Ass Warnen ........................................................... 23
3. Diggin' the Scene (wirh the Gangsta Lean) ........................ .43
4. Habermas in the Hood ....................................................... 55
5. Oh My! (The Sexual Healing Interlude) ............................. 65
6. Tbe E-Double and theTrouble Man .................................. 69
7. BeUbonoms, Bluebelles, and the Funky-Ass White Girl ..... 79
8. Nuyorican Nostalgia ......................................................... 101
9. Same Otha Shit ................................................................ 117
vii
viü
AnD BlUEI
10. Radio Free Soul ................................................................ 137
11. Big Pimpin' ...................................................................... 151
12. But It's Not a Rap CD ...................................................... 163
13. Three the Hard Way ......................................................... 179
Notes 191
Index 201
RCHnOWLEDGmEnTl
Initial props to my editor, Matt Byrnie--this is YOUf world now. Ta my
homie publicist Patty Garcia, thanks for holding it down for thern "Soul
Babies"; now's the time for some next-Ievel "shit." As always, peace to
Bill Germano, who ftrst peeped bruh's work a while ago.
Ta my UAlbany peeps Randy Craig, Don Byrd. Jeff Berman (who
gets a special shout out), Cary Wolfe, Pierre Joris, Jennifer Fleischner:
thanks for representing for a bruh on the professional tip. Much luv to
my UAlbany running partners Bret Benjamin and Mike Hill (and therr
respective Lauras). Qyick shout to the "Warnen ofWomen's Studies,"
Vivian Ng, Janell Hobson, and my B-Lo-bound homie Lillian
Williams. Most thanks though to my Blackalicious partner in crime Ms.
Lisa "L-Boogie" Thompson, who has brought all the flava to UAlbany's
English department. ~ick holla to my students past and present, Ms.
Nicole Renee July (who still thinks I work for her), Sanjay (you coming
up in the world, bruh), Ms. Karima Fitzgerald (like Cee-Io say, you "get
tin' grown"), Cariann Colman, my blues "nigga" Lon Normadin, Heidi
Xu (she of the perfect score), Habiba Ibrahim ("whose world is this?" it's
yours, it's yours, it's yours), Mrs. Wendy Taylor (who during many
moments during the course of a year reminded me why I do this in the
first place), Ms. Ozioma and finally Ms. Faith "I can't call you baby-girl
no mo'" Corbett, who should know by now that it's her world now.