Cam Be + Neak – ‘a film called black’ [Album Review]

The project opens with “Life in Black,” which features a host of individuals who share their thoughts on what being black means in the grand scheme of things. This leads into the Gospel-tinged “Wade In The Water,” which sets the stage with its rich soul/hip-hop production. The theme revolves around the rich heritage of Black America and the deep Southern roots that found the foundation of Black America. Next is “EyeWonder- Intro Flip” featuring Skyzoo, a chilled soulful boombap jam that brims with vivid lyricism about black culture, racial discrimination and the black effect. On “KIng_sSpeech,” the duo bring singer/songwriter Elisa Latrice and fellow rapper Add-2 and together they explore themes of resilience and black royalty in its finest forms.  Some of the lyrics explore the daily struggles of the black man and his journey to self-actualization in an environment that doesn’t seem to favour him, but regardless, he keeps pushing on while it also deals with love, nostalgia and family values. The record is bolstered by a soulful and solemn backdrop ripe with warm and joyful pads, nostalgia-inducing horn passes and a sparse drum groove that serves as the perfect canvas for vivid lines like “A righteous path, devils lie at the road that you gotta pedal pass/filled with doom like the man with the metal mask“.

“Salutations” features long-time collaborator Oliv Blu for a heartfelt celebratory track that pays homage to blackness through music that encapsulates and weaves together the black experience through different generations. The track is a layered, genre-bending piece that fuses retro Motown soul with funk and a dash of hip-hop and modern R&B and sees the artists in their element delivering heartfelt melodic runs and insightful rap verses. J. Ivy and singer Johnny Burgos join the crew on the uplifting “Buttafly,” where they celebrate the dynamic black experience. On “Take7,” they reflect on the never-ending struggle from the black lens and how they traverse a system that is created to stifle their creativity, while “God Complex” is an insightful discussion on the black psyche and conditioning that led to new ideologies. It’s a way of shedding the old without abandoning the forebearers, with the hope of moving things forward. The theme is taken up a notch in “Change,” a sublime piece brimming with lush strings, cinematic jazz textures and an undeniable groove. This forms the foundation for another look at how time has changed for Black folks in the USA. From the pros to the cons and the in-betweens, Cam Be and Neak explore it all.

Throughout the project are tiny snippets that tackle different aspects of being black and feature commentary from various individuals. From  “Identity in Black,” “Celebrations in Black, “Paradigm in Black,” “Transitions in Black,” and “Spirit in Black,” listeners can be led through a series of commentaries, monologues that explore the true meaning of being black from different aspects of life. “Better” features Yaw and Rashid Hadee (Of Chapter 13 fame), a reflective piece that explores self-growth. The final track “Motherland” is a posse cut that recruits Yaw, Nashon Holloway, THISISSHEBA and Simone Yael, and together they deliver a soul-lifting jazz-soul piece ripe with layered melodies with an hypnotic effect and lyrics that center on black spirituality and connection to the Motherland. The track has a Gospel-soul element encapsulated by the choral-styled vocals with a heavy soul influence.

Overall,  A Film Called Black offers a compelling and poignant reflection on the Black experience in America. from themes of identity, systemic challenges, and cultural pride, the project is a necessary and impactful body of work that elevates voices and shines a light on important social realities.