Kemba Rap About ‘The New Black Theory.’
Acclaimed New York rapper KEMBA (formerly YC The Cynic) just released the lead single, titled “The New Black Theory,” to coincide with the announcement of his new album coming this Summer.
Produced by Frank Drake, the powerful track is about the term “The New Black,” made popular by Pharrell Williams, infamously saying “The New Black doesn’t blame other races for our issues. The New Black dreams and realizes that it’s not a pigmentation; it’s a mentality.” The song is inspired by this empty distinction between marginalized people and the undertones of victim-blaming, while also speaking about respectability politics: the theory that conforming to more mainstream sensibilities will stop black people from being harassed by police, women harassed by men, etc. The single artwork (pictured below) is just as controversial. KEMBA describes it as “A portrait of the oft tone-deaf, oft-offensive, torch bearer of the New Black theory Raven-Symoné.”
KEMBA’s new album titled Negus , marks the 25-year-old Bronx native’s fifth release and will be independently released on all digital platforms on July 22, 2016.
