Raphael Saadiq, BJ The Chicago Kid, Lee Fields Discuss The Meaning of Soul With E&J Large
Yesterday the world got a little glimpse at Raphael Saadiq, BJ The Chicago Kid and Lee Fields in E&J Brandy's new Generations of Soul series. Now the first full episode has arrived and Okayplayer is proud to present its premiere. In the two minute clip, the soul triumvirate sit together at a booth and dig into one vital question: "What is soul?"
All three have more than earned their right to take on such a question. Saadiq, of course, has been a vital source of songwriting and show-stopping performance in the modern R&B movement, dating back to his connections to Q-Tip and J Dilla in The Ummah collective, while Fields currently fronts The Expressions band and has been performing in soul groups almost non-stop his entire life. Although less experienced, BJ The Chicago Kid represents a crucial voice in the discussion--that of a rising newcomer who is in the thick of nailing down his own sound and artistic identity.
"I think soul means, to me, just heartfelt. Something that you know everyone else will feel. You take a chance and just go out, and walk out on faith," Saadiq says, kicking off the conversation. For Fields, it seems, that faith notion goes even further, and the Genesis story of God breathing life into Adam comes across as the source of power behind soul. For his part, BJ seems aware of his role as the young student in the presence of masters, adding simply "Soul is everything to me...it's colorless and it's all colors at the same time."
Many more episodes of E&J's Generations of Soul series, featuring Saadiq, BJ The Chicago Kid and Fields will be premiering soon, some of which feature more group conversations, as well as others that home in on each individual.
