The World of Neo-Soul and what I learned

When I was 15, I started following my own rules when it came to my musical taste. I was in summer school, and the teacher allowed us to listen to music as long as it was only on Spotify. I logged in and saw a recommendation on a playlist called Neo-Soul Cafe. I clicked it and was introduced to black artists like Floetry, Erykah Badu, and Common. This opened my eyes and even motivated me to start writing poetry. I want to share with you my favorite songs, as well as how Neo-Soul changed me in my teens.

An Introduction to African Boho Aesthetics

I've always into earthy aesthetics ever since I was in middle school, but this was fairly different. I wanted to pursue a more afro-boho vibe to my aesthetics. At this time, I wrapped my hair in colorful scarves and was VERY dedicated to my natural hair growth and patterns. I was also learning to be bright in colors while also trying my best to be conservative in my clothes. I admit, my mentality then vs. now was still a little insecure because I was still closeted and was very scared to be myself around people. So at home, I would pick daisies and drink molasses with milk while listening to Erykah Badu, and at school, I would act all tough and forced myself to ONLY listen to top trending songs.

It wasn't like boho fashion wasn't in at the time, because it totally was, alongside hipster and indie fashion. But I honestly wanted to discover a part of myself by dressing how I truly wanted to dress.

Erykah Badu and The Roots

She's studying film in photo flash focus record

Said she working on a flick and could my clique do the score

She said she love my show in Paris at Elyse Montmartre

And that I stepped off the stage and took a piece of her heart

Lyrics from "You Got Me" by The Roots.

I grew to love The Roots and Erykah Badu. Erykah Badu is one of the queens of the Neo-Soul scene. Her aesthetics give the vibes of an Indigo Child. She doesn't really seem to be phased because she's very different from everyone else. She was the main reason I started going to school wearing a scarf, a protective style for school.

Junior year, I wasn't able to wear a headscarf. I was literally stopped and sent to detention and told never to wear a scarf again. Which was absolutely insane, but I can save that story for another time. But I was very interested in expressing my blackness into my aesthetics. Bag Lady was the true inspiration behind that.

The Roots presented a different aesthetic. It was more in touch with my Saturn or the way I express my "love." Before I even realized it, I was dancing in my living room every time I heard "The Seed 2.0" playing. Different vibes of the black soul but expressed with an amazing lyricism that drew me in.

My Love for Slam Poetry & Jill Scott

Ah yes. Slam Poetry. My love for poetry grew because of Neo-Soul. I didn't really have a phone until I was 18. In high school, I was journaling a lot, from my goals to diary entries. One of my favorite things I liked about the journal was slam poetry.

I was pretty much a kid who was very sad and filled with internalized rage. So slam poetry to me was a good outlet to release those emotions.

Slam poetry is more than just yelling out words, though. It's an art of why you're feeling so strongly about something. It doesn't necessarily have to be the rage. For me, I could yell about the fact that I wish the future doesn't feel imprisoned in my own damaging thoughts, or I would express how I was upset that the black community was mistreated and ridiculed. Writing and expressing how I felt made me feel free. But, I was afraid to share my thoughts with people. I tried to once, but felt embarrassed, as they compared my poetry to that of a preacher by my high school friends.

Jill Scott's "A Long Walk" is something that pushed me to be more comfortable with myself when it came to my words and how I expressed myself. That song, in particular, is beautiful in its own way. The lyrics a form of how she truly is interested in her love interest. It motivated me to express since I've had issues expressing how I felt, especially when I wasn't the happiest.

Though it's been 3 years, I am thrilled to be introduced to this genre of music. It shaped me and allowed me to express myself while I was at my lowest. I thank the artists, style, and songs that inspired me to truly be myself.

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