Truth To Power Project Press
TRUTH TO POWER PROJECT PRESS
WRITTEN BY JON BLISTEIN FOR ROLLING STONE
Black Pumas, Leon Bridges, and more have contributed to a new compilation, Truth to Power, which will benefit the Texas-based initiative, the Truth to Power Project. The compilation is set to arrive on Record Store Day, June 12th.
The compilation was curated by Eastwood Music Group, and accompanying the announcement is the vocal quartet the Sha La Das’ charmingly woozy cover of Darondo’s early-Seventies underground favorite, “Didn’t I.”
All proceeds from Truth to Power will benefit four nonprofits that help underrepresented and underserved communities in Texas: the Music Forward Foundation, For Oak Cliff, Joppy Momma’s Farm, and Young Leaders, Strong City.
The Truth to Power tracklist will also feature Bridges’ previously released collaboration with Keite Young, “Like a Ship,” which is a rework of the 1971 song by Pastor T.L. Barrett. Other contributors include Elliott Skinner, Holy Hive, Bastards of Soul, Ghost Funk Orchestra, Sarah Jaffe and Sam Lao, and Badbadnotgood, who remixed the Black Pumas’ “Black Moon Rising.”
Truth to Power will be released as a special triple-LP vinyl set, which was made possible thanks to a partnership with the Dallas Mavericks and FirstCom Music. Participating stores can be found on the Record Store Day website.
Truth to Power Tracklist
Side One
A1. Leon Bridges & Keite Young – “Like a Ship”
A2. Elliott Skinner – “What Does It Mean”
A3. S1 feat. Dereck Scott – “Bishop”
A4. Sgt Ira Carter
A5. Paul & The Tall Trees + Adrian Quesada – “Don’t Stay Silent”
Side Two
B1. Black Pumas – “Black Moon Rising” (Badbadnotgood Remix)
B2. N’Dambi – “Space” (NCS Remix)
B3. Holy Hive – “Kingdom of the Sun”
B4. Sha La Das – “Didn’t I”
Side Three
C1. Ghost Funk Orchestra – “Your Man’s No Good”
C2. Bastards Of Soul – “Look Me in the Eye”
C3. Flower Child – “Truth to Power”
C4. Free Blck featuring the Dallas String Quartet – “Ventilation”
Side Four
D1. Max Gerl – “Restoration”
D2. Cure For Paranoia – “Peace and Light”
D3. Ghost-Note – “Spunky”
Side Five
E1. JT Donaldson & Penelope Antena – “Colorblind”
E2. Zaftiggg! – “Sultans of Decay”
E3. Leon Bridges & Keite Young – “Like a Ship” (Niles City Dub)
Side Six
F1. Abraham Alexander – “Bridge Over Troubled Water”
F2. Sarah Jaffe & Sam Lao – “Domino”
F3. Keite Young – “Is It Because I’m Black”
CENTRALTRACK.COM SONG OF THE DAY, WRITTEN BY JESSI PEREIRA
Leon Bridges & Keite Young – “Like A Ship”
RIYL: All things beautiful.
What Else You Should Know: It’s always a good time when two strong musical entities from Fort Worth link up.
Grammy Award-winning artist and songwriter Leon Bridges teams up with talented vocalist Keite Young for a sexy and soulful cover of Pastor T.L. Bennett’s gospel song “Like A Ship”, originally recorded in 1971. Fans may be familiar with the record, as the original recording of “Like A Ship” was sampled by Kanye West in his 2016 album The Life of Pablo.
The song is part of Bridges’ forthcoming charity album, Truth to Power, a Texas-based initiative that will work with local non-profits and raise funding to highlight independent Black-owned businesses in the DFW area. In addition to this, Dallas-based Eastwood Music Group has joined forces with the Dallas Mavericks and FirstCom Music (UMPG) to curate the “Soundtrack for Empowerment” featuring various artists across genres in order to raise funds and awareness for the Truth To Power Project. The Triple LP featuring Bridges’ and Young’s “Like A Ship” will release on Record Store Day this June.
Now, of course, Leon Bridges is no stranger to sprucing up covers with his own soulful touch. (We can all agree that his cover of Ginuwine’s Pony is pretty iconic at this point, right?) Despite this being a gospel track, it’s still very sexy, rich and ultimately, extremely Fort Worth.
There’s a lot of recognizable DFW talent involved in this recording. In addition to Bridges’ and Young’s vocals, the bass you hear is courtesy of Bastards of Soul’s bassist and songwriter Daniel Balis. Oh, and that perfectly simple contour line style portrait of Bridges on the cover was done by Dallas’ very own Jeremy Biggers.
Yeah, there’s a lot of talent we can trace right back to our own metroplex making this song really feel like less of a cover and more like a piece of home.
WRITTEN BY KYLE CRAVENS FOR MXDWN.COM
American soul and R&B singer Leon Bridges recently teamed up with singer-songwriter Keite Young for a spirited cover of Pastor T.L. Barret’s “Like A Ship.” The track first debuted on TikTok as part of TikTok’s Black History Month.
Although the new cover is as heady and adorned as the original version, Bridge and Young’s adds an extra minute to the duration, adding an energetic modulation on top of more breathing room. Bridge’s silky smooth vocal melody is on top of Young’s anchored backing here, certainly encapsulating the soul of the original, as Barret once did with his perennial chorus. In shorthand, it is a real homage.
Leon, a Fort Worth native, recorded this track as part of the Truth To Power Project, a Texas based non-profit and creative endeavor. They work alongside local non-profits the to help raise awareness and money in the interest of highlighting independent Black-owned businesses. “Like A Ship” was originally recorded in 1971 and has been referenced and sampled in many hip and R&B releases over the years, including Kanye West’s Life of Pablo.
For more on Leon Bridges, check a track highlighted off of The Avalanches newest record “Interstellar Love,” which features Bridge’s vocal talent.