Sunday (Old) School Session I - Message in the Music

(For this week, Monday is the new Sunday)

Music greatly reflects cultural progression and evolution in a way that is both linear and cyclical. I believe understanding this is crucial to the enjoyment and application of the art. The linearity of music resembles the familiar evolution picture where a monkey is pictured straightening into common man. Speaking of the hip hop music we behold today, it "grew up" from African decent, through Jamaican progression, into soul, jazz, rhythm and blues, and finally to the popular music of our current era. Music evolution is also cyclical as music of any era borrows sounds and styles from previous generations to build upon in creating their own sound. This cyclical evolution has been growing heavily with music producers in the form of sampling. Sampling music is the method of taking parts of an original song, whether it be vocals or rhythms, and manipulating them to create a totally new song.

One original group that has been heavily sampled throughout recent history, and who will be the feature of this Sunday (Old) School session, are The O'Jays. The O'Jays, who released their first album in 1972, are a rhythm and blues group from Canton, Ohio and are responsible for creating many many hit records. Their knack for creating classic music has landed them in the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, as well as the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. The O'Jays not only made popular music, but they made it with a clear goal in mind and realized music is more than just entertainment and a reason to dance. This is evidenced not only in their lyrics, but explicitly on their liner notes. This note from group member Kenneth Gamble can be found on their notes from the album "Message in the Music."


"In this day of confusion, we must find the root of the problem in order to solve it. The problem is a lack of truth and communication among man and woman.Therefore, the wrong interpretation of life and life's purpose has been exposed. The word with music is one of the strongest, if not the strongest means of communication on the planet Earth.Music is the first means of communication known to man. It is the only natural science known to man. We choose to "make a joyful noise unto the Lord" only to help vindicate His name. So His will can be done. The word with music can do its part to calm the savage beast that lives in every man.
The message is PEACE
The message is LOVE
The message is WISDOM
The message is UNDERSTANDING
The message is UNITY
The message is dedicated to truth and justice for all mankind.
Man Understanding Spiritual Information Clearly
'Understand while you dance'"


While the song, "Message in the Music" is very simple and non-assuming. It speaks volumes to the true understanding of the responsibility entertainers and musicians have to those that hear their works. All too often do we fill the airwaves and ultimately people's brains with lies and fantasies simply to obtain money without realizing the true impact it has on individuals and our society as a whole. When listening to the O'Jays one can only appreciate the fact that they are cognizant of their role as creators and use their medium to convey true and positive sentiments rather than follow the norm in the pursuit of success. Using their music as a light post in the community, they not only achieved great fame but also great influence on those they speak to.
I've eluded to this before, but it is a great truth from hip-hop pioneer Doug E. Fresh that can never be overstated... "Hip-hop is supposed to uplift and create, to educate people on a larger level and to make a change." This is true for all forms of music and communication and the O'Jays for one have embraced that challenge and reminds us all of our responsibility in word.

Check out the simple yet profound lyrics while listening!