Editorial
NEO SOUL is a revival of old energies surviving and stirring new faces in different places and in a time called now. NEO SOUL and the NEO SOUL MOVEMENT is the voice of an artistic people embracing responsibility and positive awareness through the art of creative expression in any form.
I write this epistle to YOU ALL, who take offense to the term NEO SOUL. I have heard things like, "Neo Sold Out" and "how can a soul, which lives on be new?" To that I say, "An old energy can not be new, but the way it is manifested through the never seen before faces, combined with the new places makes it something that is new for right now." "Also the term itself is not new. I am from the old school. I first heard the phrase applied in the early seventies making reference to vocal artist and musicians such as Marvin Gaye (What's Going On), Stevie Wonder (Songs In the Key of Life), Herbie Hancock (Chameleon), Cymande (Bra) and many others. Later artist like The Black Byrds, Isaac Hayes, Earth, Wind & Fire, Ramsey Lewis, Roy Ayers, Gil Scott Heron, Minnie Ripperton, Me`shell Ndegeocello and the goes on. The marketing folk didn't know how to label the artist style because, at that time, there was nothing let it, bringing about the word new (neo). And their works are so heart felt and addressed topics the masses in the industry stayed away from, because the powers that be didn't think the music enjoying audience would buy reality, truth, and heart felt passion (soul). So all of the artists listed above have been called NEO SOUL ARTISTS. I do not know how they felt about being called a NEO SOUL ARTISTS, but they are all known and we all know that their works reflect something that was not the norm for a particular time.
NEO SOUL is a name or a label and I don't believe that it is a bad thing. It is necessary for identification purposes like the Blues, R&B, Gospel, Rock, Hip Hop to Classical and each of those genres can be broken down and categorized even further so one can communication their style of listening pleasure.
Until the new world order takes place, corruption will always be with us. What is meant for the good, unfortunately, can also be used for evil and exploitative purposes. I can only speak for me and what NEO SOUL (the program) stands for. NEO SOUL is a place where the otherwise unheard, can be heard. And I will not bore you any more for now with what we're about because it is stated in the mission statement (check it out). NEO SOUL is a labor of love by a group of Atlanta based poets attempting to move the craft to another level.
We aint pimpin' no body ova here!
So to those of you who do not like the term NEO SOUL, that's cool, just understand (overstand) where I'm coming from and stay prayerful and careful to all of the sharks of the game out there. Stay true to your art form and get yourself an excellent entertainment lawyer to protect you and your interest.
Sometimes in life, you have to gracefully agree to disagree, respectfully and push on.
NEO SOUL is a labor of love. GOD SPEED.
A note from the Creator / Producer,
Tracy Crews
.