Fresh from hosting the 2019 GRAMMYs, Alicia Keys has opened the envelope of new music. For, the critically acclaimed songstress has premiered new song ‘Raise A Man.’
Arriving in tandem with its video, the cut sees the singer pay homage to the guy of her dreams while mapping out the need to unite to rear the men of tomorrow.
To anchor the point of the latter, she features sons Egypt and Genesis on the track’s cover and features her youngest in the clip.
Watch the Bill Stein directed visual below…
Lyrically, this unpacks a unique narrative.
However, musically it’s hard to see where (if anywhere) this fits in the contemporary climate. For an act who – at the apex of her success – mastered the art of combining melody and message in a radio ready package, this feels a little lacking.
Indeed, it played like a somewhat verbose freestyle during jam-session rather than a “comeback” single.
Perhaps this is more of a buzz cut pending a more full-on return.
Still, even if, we’re gonna need Ms. Keys to vibrate a higher frequency of quality if she’s to again make waves in the way we know she can.