Hard-Hitting, Relevant and Creative
Posted August 01, 2017
By BPence,
Baraka follows up his groundbreaking 2016 release The Narrative with a surprise EP. The Narrative Volume 2, featuring four new songs and two remixes from The Narrative. Here are a few brief comments about each song:
Pedantic – This song is written by Amisho Baraka Lewis, Thomas Joseph Terry and Bryan L. Winchester. It includes soundbites from an interview with Denzel Washington and is produced by Braille. The song features a good drum beat throughout and an excellent guitar solo. Information is a theme throughout. Key lyric: I had information but did I have wisdom?
Pianos in Jericho. This song features Sean C. Johnson. It is written by Amisho Baraka Lewis, Thomas Joseph Terry and Bryan L. Winchester and produced by Braille. The song features a driving drum beat, piano and some backing vocals. The wall is a theme throughout. Key lyric:
Man, I think I've let my problems become my savior
I've taken focus off the Lord and focused on my anger
I think I've let my opposition define who's my neighbor
Piano Bars – This song is written by Amisho Baraka Lewis, Thomas Joseph Terry, Bryan L. Winchester, Ron Sararana and Jamie Portee. It features record scratches by DJ Efectho and is produced by Braille. Sho raps over a great beat, driven by piano. Includes some humor and a reference to his music being removed by Baptist owned bookstores for mentioning a male body part. Key lyric:
He's moving between thugs and seminary professors
He writes with intelligence and honors his heritage
The bottom line is he is changing the narrative
Pluralism – This song is written by Amisho Baraka Lewis, Thomas Joseph Terry and Bryan L. Winchester. It features background vocals from Lauren Michael and is produced by Braille. The song features piano and drums. Key lyric:
But be careful how you share your views
Cause they'll protest you
Maybe Both. This song, which was included on The Narrative, features James Portier. DSTL does the remix, which features a great beat and percussion. It is written by Amisho Baraka Lewis, Thomas Joseph Terry, Bryan L. Winchester, Daniel Steele and Jamie Portee. The song is loosely based on Malcolm X’s “Ballot in a Bullet” speech. He critiques both political parties, and looks at how we can use Jesus to promote our own agendas, but understands that Christ is pretty complicated. A key lyric: Are they killing with a pistol or a vote? Or maybe it is both.
Here – This song, which was included on The Narrative, features Lecrae. Coutland Urbano does the remix. It is written by Amisho Baraka Lewis, Thomas Joseph Terry, Bryan L. Winchester, Lecrae and Courtland Urbano. This is a stripped-down version of the version on The Narrative, which featured piano and horns, and has excellent percussion. The song has powerful lyrics, about justice, equality, holding politicians accountable, love over hate, faith, etc. Key lyric: I promise there's healing for your hurt now.
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