Music Mastering Authenticity: A 4-Part Series

Exploring four albums and how their contagious authenticity refreshed the music industry.

I used to tell people that my favorite songs always found me; I never looked for them, and that is still true to an extent. I've never been the person adventuring out for new music. Maybe it's the Taurus in me, but I've always kept to the oldies, but goodies from my mother's CD collection of R&B hits (Teena Marie, Luther, Janet, you know the rest), my early 2000s baby-making music (if you know, you know), pop hits, and the inevitable rock phase we all went through. 

It wasn't until I met my husband, a poet, writer, and singer-songwriter, that I was willing to branch out in my musical taste and curiosity. It's like going to a wine tasting and not being completely lost. I now can appreciate the flavor and embedded vocals in the background; I can sense the production value and how superior mixing has enhanced the flavor; I can savor the beat and instruments' teamwork and storytelling skills. I hear songs for the first time whenever he points out another minute detail I consistently overlooked or couldn't hear. I now have a palette that can appreciate the landscape these artists paint their stories on. 

This newfound curiosity and appreciation have allowed me to take full advantage of this recent revolution of authenticity in hip-hop. Or I'm just tardy to the party, and it's always been there. But now my eyes (and ears) are wide open, and I can digest not only an artist's album but also have a response to their body of work that leaves me better off than before I listened to it. It's a beautiful way to relate to music. In this 4-part series, I will dive in with my newfound knowledge and appreciation for artists who have inspired me always to be a student of the pen rather than taking it to the bank to see how much the world thinks it's worth. 

1. Andre 3000's New Blue Sun: A Testament to Being the Artist You Need, Not The One They Want 

2. Bando Stone and the New World: A Dedication to Artistic Fluidity & Heart (1/10/25)

3. Tyler the Creator's Chromokopia: When Artistic Audacity is Contagious (COMING SOON)

4. Kendrick Lamar: God, Rage, and Angels-- I'm Here for It! (COMING SOON)