This Black History Month has been a wild one for sure. But the celebration Black culture continues thanks to our NOLA faves Tank And The Bangas and the latest single from their upcoming album Red Balloon. The quartet links with fellow musicians Alex Isley and Masego to celebrate all things Black with their song "Black Folk."
"Black Folk" uses simple-yet-interesting production that sounds similar to early 2000s neo-soul as they set the scene for a spoken word piece about being Black and what that sounds, looks, feels and smells like. "I love Black folk," singer and rapper Tarriona "Tank" Ball begins her poem. "Black look like a revolution / Look like a family reunion in the park." She goes on to name a few things, both good and bad, that make Blackness in America the unique thing it is.
Adding into the mix are Alex and Masego. Alex is heard throughout the song as she provides backing vocals with cloud-like coos and ahhs that help take the song higher and higher. Masego takes a more forward role by popping up toward the end of the song with a quick verse, singing, "Black don't crack / I love your skin / I don't see that from other kin / It's today, any day / I see me and mine doing different times."
We're here for any artist that takes the time to show love to the people, but this collaboration is done so well that it might need to be on our played every Black History Month from here out (and throughout the rest of the year, too). Listen to "Black Folk" below and also peep the song's creative lyric video.
Tank and The Bangas will release Red Balloon on May 15th.
