By Alison Block
The fourth installment of the LAMN Jam series welcomed underground hip-hop artist Aloe Blacc to the North Hollywood Library on the afternoon of July 25th. Blacc, who is also a multi-instrumentalist and a singer/songwriter, entertained the room of children and adults alike with his infusion of Reggae, Latin, soul and dance music.
Showing his diversity as an artist, Blacc performed to fully produced tracks streaming from his computer, played the trumpet, rapped in Spanish, lead an audience sing-a-long and even sang A cappella.
PHOTO: Aloe Blacc
Blacc showed the kids that there is another side to hip-hop music than what most are used to hearing on the radio and MTV. His songs conveyed messages about the trials behind falling in love, the journey of a young man growing older and the power of expression: “I write the words and I give them away.”
One song called “I’m Beautiful” was written for his young niece to show her the importance of believing in inner beauty and personal strength.
“Celebrate life,” he said to the children. “Life is beautiful.”
Blacc talked about the range of influences and inspirations that lie behind his music, showing the young audience that knowledge and education are just as important to making good songs as beats and tracks.
His musical influences range from Negro spirituals to folk legends such as Cat Stevens to gospel singers like Al Green. He named philosophers Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson, as well as authors such as James Joyce, as inspirations behind his writing style and the messages that lie at the core of his art.
Blacc, who started playing the trumpet in the third grade and later picked up the guitar and the piano, said he liked “helping kids learn about music.” If you love music, Blacc said, “music loves you back.”
Blacc will return to the library next week for an American-Idol style contest between past LAMN Jam performers. For more information, go to www.lamn.com. For more information about Aloe Blacc, check out www.myspace.com/aloeblaccmusic.
