Happy 20th Anniversary to Lucy Pearl’s eponymous debut album Lucy Pearl, originally released May 23, 2000.
There’s nothing like being self-quarantined inside your home for a few weeks as a result of a global pandemic to remind you of the healing power of music. Our everyday interaction has been disrupted, as we try our best to avoid COVID-19, which has subsequently put many out of work and others stuck indoors to go stir crazy as we practice social distancing from one another.
If you’re anything like me, you are probably self-prescribing long sessions of music therapy. The more intense sessions reach far beyond the contemporary playlist and delve into the archives of our own personal lives’ soundtracks. With plenty of time to reflect on the songs that have always been there to add warmth to the most important moments in our lives, hip-hop classics like “Check the Rhime” from my favorite group A Tribe Called Quest’s 1991 LP The Low End Theory stand out as the apex of songs that summon my fondest memories.
The longer that musical journey down memory lane and surely the average urban ‘80s baby will be triggered with thoughts of childhood and young adult sweethearts when we hear songs like “Feels Good” and “Me and You” from the group Tony! Toni! Toné! The Oakland-bred trio comprised of Raphael Saadiq, his brother D’wayne Wiggins and his cousin Timothy Christian Riley not only turned up the heat in bedrooms, but assuredly etched their way into the hearts of an entire generation, making slow jams and funky grooves that helped highlight proms, house parties, and date nights throughout the ‘90s.
This is all what made the formation of the supergroup Lucy Pearl so special. Saadiq’s vision was originally planned to be a collaborative project between him, A Tribe Called Quest’s Ali Shaheed Muhammed, and D’Angelo. As fate would have it, Dawn Robinson of En Vogue would ultimately complete the trio because of the busy schedule D’Angelo already committed himself to in promoting his Voodoo LP released in January of 2000.
Although D’Angelo and Saadiq proved to have incredible chemistry on the 1995 Brown Sugar album as well as Voodoo, the addition of Robinson perhaps more fittingly kept the theme of ‘90s memory makers, creating one of the first big musical moments of the new millennium. As a quarter of the original lineup of the legendary group En Vogue, Ms. Robinson was a household name to fans of R&B and soul music as well. En Vogue’s four-part harmony along with the vibrance that exuded from their lyrics helped define sexiness and create anthems for young women who were coming of age in the ‘90s.
The addition of Robinson’s feminine energy exceeded piquing curiosity and added a new dimension to the possibilities of contemporary soul at the time. The souring soprano that led “Don’t Let Go” from the 1996 film Set it Off’s soundtrack contrasted with Saadiq’s smooth falsetto, with hip-hop cuts and scratches to accessorize the production, aspired to create a new standard of soulfulness for the new millennium.
The very first song on the Lucy Pearl LP, “Lucy Pearl’s Way” introduces the group’s synergistic chemistry and immediately exposes the brilliance of Saadiq as a maestro. On the soundtrack to the 1995 film Higher Learning, Saadiq made his formal solo debut with “Ask of You,” which captured the on-screen passion between the characters Malik (played by Omar Epps) and Deja (Tyra Banks), and here, he recycles the song’s lyrics. Muhammad also interjects his talents onto “Lucy Pearl’s Way,” scratching in the instrumental from A Tribe Called Quest’s 1993 jam “Electric Relaxation” from their third LP Midnight Marauders. The sprinkling of Robinson’s vocals affirmed that the voyage of Lucy Pearl would uncover all the aspects of soul we had grown to love during the previous decade.
For instance, Lucy Pearl’s lead single “Dance Tonight” is an aural treat and one of the best produced songs of 2000, which helped earn the trio a GRAMMY nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group the following year. The celebratory lyrics transport listeners to the most nurturing environments such as a family reunion in a park or cookout at grandma’s house, while the flirtatious hints of seductive grinding are almost hidden within the rhythm and catch your ear like subtle whispers.
The song “Lala” is another highlight, not only for the neck-snapping production, reminiscent of the production trio The Ummah comprised of Muhammed, Q-Tip and Jay-Dee (a.k.a. J Dilla), but also the simplistic but efficient songwriting. A great example of less being more, the lyrics aren’t overly introspective which helps you focus on the sweetness of Robinson’s range alongside Saadiq’s buttery notes throughout the song.
Slowing the pace, “Good Love” touches almost all auditory erogenous zones for the most sensual song on the LP. Robinson’s resume with En Vogue no doubt helped her deliver the sultry lyrics “now I'm speaking as a woman / raised with a mother's love / she said you better recognize / the truth from lies / it's in the eyes.” A veteran at driving home poignant lyrics as well, Saadiq adds “When you find that honey, honey / that touches you on sight / you should never fight that feeling / 'Cause good love's so right.” Likewise, Muhammad’s experience, particularly with ATCQ’s The Love Movement (1998), again confirmed that this trio was a perfect match to help usher in the sound of soul music for the new millennium.
As an album, Lucy Pearl went on to become both a commercial and critical success. The LP’s sophomore single “Don’t Mess with My Man” journeyed to become an international hit, faring better in the UK and France than in the US. “You” featured hip-hop icons from opposite coasts, Snoop Dogg and Q-Tip respectively, who both added star-power to satisfy the palates of the rap fans who tuned into the Lucy Pearl experience.
In retrospect, the album is mostly a testament to the brilliance of Raphael Saadiq. It helps bridge his renowned run with Tony! Toni! Toné! and his breakout as a solo phenomenon. Similarly, Lucy Pearl illuminated Muhammed merits from the shadowy perception of being Q-Tip’s silent production partner, to showcase the musicianship of the sometimes-underappreciated turntablist. Additionally, Robinson was given some additional microphone time with this LP, further proving her value as one of the premier female vocalists of her generation.
Released on the heels of the anxiety catalyzed by the Y2K bug, this soulful trio helped us party in the first summer of the century and set the tone for neo-soul’s evolution in the new decade. On its 20th anniversary, Lucy Pearl can be celebrated as an exciting extension of the litany of unforgettable hits we received from Tony! Toni! Toné!, A Tribe Called Quest, and En Vogue that can never be erased, even during the woes of an unprecedented pandemic.
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