It’s hard to believe that it’s been two years since Lalah Hathaway released her 2024 effort VANTABLACK. Perhaps it’s because the veteran singer-songwriter has made sure that her presence is felt with a deluxe edition, routine touring and various collaborations. She’s ready to begin her next era now, though, and she’s paying tribute to her Chicago roots with her latest single “47th Street.”
With this song being a nostalgic look to her past, its musical foundation is as soulful as can be. It begins with a burst of horns that capture the feel of ’70s soul. They soon give way to a lush sound bed of horns, guitar, bass, congas and drums. But the song’s intro doesn’t truly begin until poet J. Ivy offers a few well-chosen words about Chi-Town. The seasoned wordsmith paints a picture of Black culture with his words, taking us from the Great Migration to the Black metropolis that the city eventually became.
Lalah comes through as soon as he’s done, giving us a slice of her upbringing. She sings of the streetlights and corners that saw her grow up and the legacy of the people that made her. Though she’s singing of her hometown, the sentiments are enough to invoke a nostalgia in anyone reminiscing about the place that they once called home. Lalah then punctuates all of it with a refrain that’s both personal and political, singing, “You can occupy these streets / But you can’t evict what lives in me.”
“47th Street” is a beautiful return for Lalah Hathaway, and one that signals that the singer will be coming with a new project in the near future. While we await the official word, this one will definitely be on repeat around these parts. Get even more acquainted with the song and Lalah’s Chicago memories when you check out the lyric video below.
