Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.John Legend is the secret weapon behind several of R&B's current successes; his voice, lyrics and piano skills are all over albums by the likes of Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, Black Eyed Peas, Lauryn Hill, Common, Talib Kweli and, most recently, his mentor, Kanye West. Legend's story is a testament to perseverance: after four independently produced albums, and a nine-year tenure as choir director of a Philadelphia church, he's finally making this major-label debut, which pivots elegantly on the cusp of classic, Seventies soul and modern hip-hop and R&B. Tracks like "Stay with You", "Live It Up" and "She Don't Have to Know" betray the influence of Curtis Mayfield, Bobby Womack and Sly Stone respectively, while the brittle beats and cyclical, West African-style guitars of "Refuge" offer a more contemporary soul flavour. Lyrically, his concerns are split between cheating songs of various stripes - he's usually either apologising, protesting his innocence or eyeing up a new conquest - and songs which refle
John Legend is the secret weapon behind several of R&B's current successes; his voice, lyrics and piano skills are all over albums by the likes of Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, Black Eyed Peas, Lauryn Hill, Common, Talib Kweli and, most recently, his mentor, Kanye West. Legend's story is a testament to perseverance: after four independently produced albums, and a nine-year tenure as choir director of a Philadelphia church, he's finally making this major-label debut, which pivots elegantly on the cusp of classic, Seventies soul and modern hip-hop and R&B. Tracks like "Stay with You", "Live It Up" and "She Don't Have to Know" betray the influence of Curtis Mayfield, Bobby Womack and Sly Stone respectively, while the brittle beats and cyclical, West African-style guitars of "Refuge" offer a more contemporary soul flavour. Lyrically, his concerns are split between cheating songs of various stripes - he's usually either apologising, protesting his innocence or eyeing up a new conquest - and songs which reflect his gospel roots, such as "It Don't Have to Change", a nostalgic yearning for a simpler time "when the family was everything", sung with several generations of his own family. Quite literally, practising what he preaches. A household name by Christmas, I reckon.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments