Album mixes poetry, music

by Allison Cayse
For The Post

Amethyst Rock Star, the latest album from Saul Williams, is a musical journey through the darkest recesses of the artist mind.

Whatever he might be, above all, Saul Williams is a poet. For a man who has published three books and lectures at Ivy League schools about the art of writing, it makes sense that the dominant characteristic of his album is its lyrical rhymes.

Putting words to beat, Williams explores themes that normally are ignored by more mainstream rappers. His lyrics delve into deep issues such as fatherhood, spirituality, slavery and black-American culture.

He is especially critical of mainstream rappers, whose violent speech and selfish materialism he views as retroactive. 

"Why you rhyme about being hard-core? Be heart-core," he sings. "…decoys, decoys. Send in the true b-boys, the true b-boys. Be men….be men."

Unlike the predominantly misogynist standard of contemporary rap, Williams is reverential of women, and identifies them with strength and courage in his songs.

In "1987," a song dealing with his heritage and slavery, he sings "She the first born daughter of water, faced darkness and smiled, took mystery as her lover and raised light as her daughter."

Williams cites influence ranging from Hendrix to the Roots and his range in style reflects this. Varying from song to song, over layers of dub or hip beats, rock guitar, and cello and violin harmonies, he delivers his poetry with passion.

The result is music that resembles work from Living Color and Rage Against the Machine to more classic hip-hop and dub tunes.

Every track conveys the strong emotion of their creator and is highly tempestuous.  Once gothic and melancholy cellos give way to shouting drums and screaming guitars.  Slow dejected tempos spin full throttle into harsh and angry beats.

Amethyst Rock Star is a thoughtful journey of self-exploration: touching, emotional, heartfelt, vulnerable and honest. Williams presents the audience with all the feelings he has to offer.  He is unashamed and unapologetic. What he says in one short album speaks volumes.

"I presented my feminine side with flowers.  She cut the stems and placed them gently down my throat… and these two lips might eclipse your brightest hopes."