Speaking to the Denver Post, he said: “She’s my age, and I asked her, ‘What’s the one thing that’s really disturbing to you?’ There was no question about it – it’s how this new rap music is really harmful to the black race. The seven Grammy nominations for “Acoustic Soul” would be the first of many, as well as some wins later on.įrom her debut, Arie was infusing social commentary into her lyrics as in the body positive lead single for 'Acoustic Soul,' 'Video.Peaceful World was written by John Mellencamp, who later explained that he’d got the idea for the song from a conversation he’d had with a member of his backing band, Pat Peterson. A Motown music talent scout discovered Arie in 1999 and her debut album 'Acoustic Soul' was released in 2001. That doesn’t stop her from creating music that is culturally and politically aware.Ī robust, athletic voice and sensitive songwriting gave Arie a large local following in Atlanta when she was a teenager, often performing solo, accompanying herself on guitar. Her work joins the growing collection of contemporary protest music emerging with the Black Lives Matter movement from artists like Kendrick Lamar, Beyoncé, D’Angelo and Blood Orange.Īrie hit her performing and recording stride in the early 2000s, and is now more on the periphery of the pop music limelight. 3, is carving out a place for herself in this realm today. R&B and soul singer-songwriter India.Arie, who is performing at Berklee's MLK celebration on Friday, Feb.

The roles of musician and activist often overlapped in people like Elaine Brown and Nina Simone, giving the movement a repertoire of protest songs. and the civil rights movement, but King described music, specifically freedom songs, as the 'soul of the movement.' 'They are more than just incantations of clever phrases designed to invigorate a campaign they are as old as the history of the Negro in America,' King said. The marches, speeches and philosophy of non-violent resistance were important facets of Martin Luther King Jr.

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R&B and soul singer-songwriter India.Arie.

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