Just a bit of boring/interesting(whichever u choose) info ’bout me and my new album...and, by the way...i didn’t write all this shit ’bout myself...someone else did, thankfully. Enjoy/or don’t(whichever u choose).
Ursula Rucker Maat Mama (!K7194CD)
release date: January 30th 2006
Ursula Rucker has never been afraid to take it there. There, that place, deep, inside, up and above, where she carves emotion with piercing lyrical cadence. There, where poetry and music intertwine, melodies and words mingle. On her third album, Rucker sets her sights There, aspiring towards an ancient Egyptian kemetic principle, the foundation of universal order and balance maat truth. Hence the album title: maat mama.
Ma’at is also the name of the goddess whose power works to keep this truth, this balance, ever present and functional, she muses at home in Philadelphia, surrounded by her four children, all under age of 12. Some believe she is at the top of the hierarchy of Egyptian gods and goddesses, for without universal order there is nothing but chaos and destruction.
Mother of four, Rucker has reached a personal balance that is evident in maat mama. It has been something I keep in my heart, something that is beautiful, simple, powerful and a guide through this crazy life, she explains of the balance between motherhood and living as an artist. Now that I am a mama of four black boys in America, I need all the strength to raise them and do my best to achieve good human being-ness, so I can show them the way. Supa Sista has evolved into ma’at mama.
From her native Philadelphia, Ruckers affinity for crafting words catapulted her message into hungry ears when she began to read publicly in 1994 at Zanzibar. The Temple University journalism graduate struck a chord in Phillys soul that reverberated around the world with her mezzo-soprano speak. Her recordings with the Silent Poets, Jamaaladeen Tacoma and Josh Wink captured the publics imagination, so when Ahmir ?uestlove Thompson asked her to compose the final cuts on three consecutive Roots albums, she found an eager international following.
In 2001, her !K7 debut Supa Sista featured production by 4Hero, King Britt and Jonah Sharp and introduced Ursula Rucker as a talented poet and solo artist with a strong lyrical voice. Backed again by an assembly of diverse, top shelf producers that included The Roots, Louie Vega and Jazzanova, her 2003 release, Silver and Lead further extended her exploration of self, race and femininity. With maat mama, Rucker shows a new level of maturity in her writing.
As usual she does not mince words, exposing various personal insights and truths with steel-cut precision.
Then, theres her lifelong love of Prince. If I would go through a hard time I would listen to something otherworldly, godlike, so sexy and so fine. It was all I needed, she says with pride.
Princes musical influence is more clearly recognizable in maat mamas production style than on previous releases, as Rucker is joined by vastly talented producer Anthony Tidd who uses traditional African percussion, raucous guitar, and slinky synthesizers to create his sound. She worked with a handful of other producers as well, but the sound remains consistently impassioned, whether melancholy or upbeat.
While her perspective as a proud mother informs much of the content, her understanding of her own upbringing drives this project. Im really taking into account who my parents are and what their life is like. My father is black and hes from Lynchburg, Virginia. My Mother is Italian, born in this country. They got married in 1952, which when I think about it, it took so much courage. They met at a luncheon with a jukebox and a counter down on Market street in Philly.
True to form, Ruckers albums are poetry in motion, guided by a time signature that speaks to the human experience with honesty and poignancy. Sensuality oozes without abandon in Black Erotica. She kicks straight goodness in the acapella Church Party, an ode to the glory days with clear imagery. "They all stand in a buffalo stance/B-boy posin/Skin and style pressed up against church hall wall/3-D graffiti hit/Somebody say, Exotic! Exotic!"
Wise listeners should keep liner notes on hand.
These connections are made through intense outpourings of emotion, at times surprisingly subdued, then more overtly pronounced. Poon Tang Clan is one of such power pieces, exploring a womans reality in a mans world. Why am I so raw? Cause I dont fuck with protocol or propriety.
Its something thats been around for awhile. Its my baby.
Rucker does not shelter her audience. Shes honest, vibrant, heartfelt and at the core true. She ends For Women with a grand declaration. Call me crazy, divine, Maat, true honeybun, Supreme Pontifica, electric lady, holy prostitute. I dont care what you call me. I know who I is.
Rucker, a global activist, enlightens in the recording studio and at her powerful live shows. Recently she has performed at FREEDOM Festival in Australia, to raise awareness for Amnesty Internationals global Stop Violence Against Women campaign. By her own definition, she is maat mama to the core.
Oh yes, shes gone there, to that place.
Tracklist:
01. humbled produced by tim motzer/featuring sonia sanchez
02. rant (hot in here) produced by anthony tidd/featuring malene younglao
03. black erotica produced by anthony tidd
04. i ain’t (yopunk ass bitch) produced by anthony tidd
05. sols intro produced by sol green & anthony tidd
06. children’s poem produced by anthony tidd
07. libations produced by anthony tidd
08. church party produced by anthony tidd
09. uh uh produced by soenke duewer
10. spiri-chant produced by anthony tidd/featuring gary smalls 11. for women produced by tim motzer
12. broken produced by robert yancey III
13. sudans intro produced by sudan green & anthony tidd
14. poon tang clan produced by anthony tidd
15. l.o.v.e. produced by anthony tidd/featuring vicki miles
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............KICKIN’ IT WITH MY T-DOT FAM! "1 MILLION WAYS TO BURN"
Hey Ursula- Playing with youall was the highlight of my spring. Lookin great, soundin great (as always). Thanks for everything, hope to see you again soon. Love from the other side of the Atlantic -py
Hey Mrs. Rucker. Long Time No Talk. I hope all is well wih you and yours. I just wanted to stop by and show u some love. Well, yesterday was my senior banquet, and next Friday is the prom. I can't wait. I also wanted to wish you a Happy Mother's Day. I hope you have fun tomorrow, and i hope you stay blessed as well. TTYL!! ya biggest fan...
Thank you for the kind words, Urse. You killed it, last Sun. Sleep deprived or not, you're the only one that can cause me to taste a tear on smiling lips. Love you, Kase.
Japanese-youkoso / English-Welcome!, Nice to see you!
happy friday lady! that really means shit to those that do the weekday slaveslots...hehehe..and then it ain't funny. sending love to you and fam...trust all is well.
"FIDELITY EP" will be more electronica hip hop! FIDELITY and STRESSED OUT tracks, inspired by the 90's and all abstract hip hop style will be a pleasure for Ninja Tune fans.
Then Jazzy Lovers will enjoy the CHARISMA track, where Dj BLOCKBASS use his best talent to make u bounce playin a vinyl bass on a LEE MORGAN pure loop and dope beats made by FULGEANCE himself!
And for all the rap groovers, Don Da None, the french juggling MC, will give u his more inspired Lyrics on VIE ETERNELLE (Eternal Life!!!)!!
BIG UP TO ALL THE ELECTRO NEW HIP HOP LOVERS!!!
Get ready to buy soon the NEW Connecticut EP called "FIDELITY" STAY TUNED
Sup sup! Ursula! Your Brooklyn homie always gotta show love even when I'm away from Philly. I hope your well. I haven't seen ya since ya came to Fortgreen park. Its nuts out here now. Its getting warmer and Its getting more crowded with folk moving to the hotness of Brooklyn. Well Bk is hot all day but Illadeph is always where I lay my head down at ease. For sure. Stay up stay well catch you soon.
