A seat at the table review

Solange Knowles is earthy, soulful, relatable and Beyoncé’s little sister.

As Beyonce’s little sister, many would think she’s living behind the shadow of her older sister but let’s not be mistaken here, Solange Knowles is behind no one’s shadow.

With the release of “A Seat at the Table,” Knowles has shocked everyone and produced a hit album that listeners will love.

The album took nearly four years for Knowles to complete with guest features from Lil Wayne, Tip, The-Dream, Kelly Rowland and more.

The artistry throughout the album is what sticks out most about this piece of work and it begins with the title itself.

The saying goes that if you are not at the table then you are on the menu. The Knowles’ sisters have created their own table to sit at in the music industry while also expressing their love for their African-American culture and making others feel slightly uncomfortable by it.

Throughout the album, Knowles takes listeners through her journey as a black woman.

On the interlude, “Chosen Ones” by Master P, Knowles allows him to speak “We come here as slaves/ but we’re going out as royalty/ enables us to show that we are truly the chosen ones.”

She continues to throw powerful statements throughout “A Seat at the Table” on the track “Mad,” featuring Lil Wayne.

Knowles expresses that it is okay to have the emotions you have because it’s your right as a human being to have these strong emotions. “You got the right to be mad/ But when you carry it alone/ you find it only getting in the/ way they say you gotta let it go.”

Another track that stands out is “Interlude: Tina Taught Me” by Solange’s mother, Tina Lawson.

“Part of it is accepting that there is so much beauty in being black and that's the thing I get emotional about. I've never wanted to be anything else,” Lawson says on the track. “There is so much beauty in being black. It upsets me when we are not allowed to express that. Because you celebrate black culture doesn't mean you don't like white culture. It just means you are pro-black.”

This statement alone sums up what Knowles is trying to prove with “A Seat at the Table.” It’s okay to be black and be proud of it, no matter what anyone has to say about it.

Not only are the lyrics of the album something to look forward to but the whole concept behind the album makes it worthwhile.

Each track has a melody that puts listeners in the mind of old-school African spirituals or the soulful music one would hear during childhood, going to a Baptist church with your grandmother.

It’s soulful, yet modern, R&B. Listeners are able to hear each instrument as if they are physically there while Solange is recording comparable to an open mic jazz performance.

To top off the release of this album, Knowles also released two music videos that complement the album.

With “A Seat at the Table,” Knowles has shown audiences that she can keep up with her sister, that she is an artist to look out for and that she isn’t afraid to show off her pride in being an African-American woman.

At a time like this, Knowles has joined other artists like her sister in using their platform as a way to make people talk about the problems they see occurring in America, to make people think about the struggles African-American people have gone through and most importantly make people proud of who they are and their culture.