In 2001, Alicia Keys delivered her critically acclaimed debut album Songs in A Minor. Fifteen years and as many Grammy Awards later, she returns with her latest album Here.
When asked why he had chosen her for the cover, our Publisher/Editor in Chief BE’N ORIGINAL stressed the role her music played in his career and the importance of her overall contribution to black music.
“I wrote Alicia’s first music review for Songs in A Minor in The Source Magazine in 2001. While some of my colleagues felt my praise of her debut album was a little bit more than due, I defended the accolades I gave. It would later win her first five Grammy’s including Song of the Year, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, and Best R&B Song for “Fallin'”, Best New Artist, and Best R&B Album. No one has questioned my opinion since.
“Unlike a vast majority of artists who have emerged after, Alicia Keys has avoided the use gimmicks and public stunts, relying solely on her gifts to remain relevant. Simply put, Alicia Keys is the heart and soul of authentic black music and arguably its greatest talent. In the most meaningful ways, she makes us proud as she represents the very best of us. She is both incomparable and uncompromising.”
Written by Trisha Vaughn, the feature praises the singer, songwriter, producer and actor for both her artistic and social commitment, not only to the black community but the world as a whole.
