DA ngelo

AND THE
VANGUARD
BLACK
MESSIAH

SIDE A

Aint That Easy

Black Messiah is a hell of a name for an album. It can be easily
misunderstood. Many will think its about religion. Some will jump
to the conclusion that Im calling myself a Black Messiah. For me,

Lyrics by DAngelo, Q-Tip and Kendra Foster

Music by DAngelo
Published by Ah Choo Music Publishing (ASCAP)/12:00 AM Music (ASCAP)
(administered by Universal Polygram International Publishing),
U Betta Like My Muzic/Songs Of SMP (ASCAP), Ear Kandy Music (BMI)

the title is about all of us. Its about the world. Its about an idea
we can all aspire to. We should all aspire to be a Black Messiah.

Its about people rising up in Ferguson and in Egypt and in

Occupy Wall Street and in every place where a community has
had enough and decides to make change happen. Its not about
praising one charismatic leader but celebrating thousands of them.

IOOO DEATHS
Lyrics by DAngelo and Kendra Foster
Music by DAngelo
Published by Ah Choo Music Publishing (ASCAP)/12:00 AM Music (ASCAP)
(administered by Universal Polygram International Publishing), Ear Kandy Music (BMI)
Contains a portion of the audio from the film The Murder of Fred Hampton
used courtesy of Chicago Film Archives

Not every song on this album is politically charged (though many

are), but calling this album Black Messiah creates a landscape
where these songs can live to the fullest. Black Messiah is not
one man. Its a feeling that, collectively, we are all that leader.

The Charade
Lyrics by DAngelo and Kendra Foster
Music by DAngelo and Questlove
Published by Ah Choo Music Publishing (ASCAP)/12:00 AM Music (ASCAP)
(administered by Universal Polygram International Publishing),
Legendelphia Music LLC/Universal Music-Careers (ASCAP), Ear Kandy Music (BMI)

Sugah DaddY
Lyrics by DAngelo, Q-Tip and Kendra Foster
Music by DAngelo, Pino Palladino and James Gadson
Published by Ah Choo Music Publishing (ASCAP)/12:00 AM Music (ASCAP)
(administered by Universal Polygram International Publishing),
U Betta Like My Muzic/Songs Of SMP (ASCAP), Ear Kandy Music (BMI),
Onip Songs/BMG Bumblebee (BMI), Gadtoon Music (BMI)

Really Love
Lyrics by DAngelo and Kendra Foster
Music by DAngelo
Published by Ah Choo Music Publishing (ASCAP)/12:00 AM Music (ASCAP)
(administered by Universal Polygram International Publishing),
Ear Kandy Music (BMI), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI)
Contains a sample from We The People Who Are Darker Than Blue
written and performed by Curtis Mayfield, published by Warner-Tamerlane
Publishing Corp. (BMI), under license from Warner Bros. Records, Inc. by arrangement
with Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group company

SIDE B

Back To The Future (Part I)

Lyrics and Music by DAngelo
Published by Ah Choo Music Publishing (ASCAP)/12:00 AM Music (ASCAP)
(administered by Universal Polygram International Publishing)

Till Its Done (Tutu)

Lyrics by DAngelo and Kendra Foster
Music by DAngelo
Published by Ah Choo Music Publishing (ASCAP)/12:00 AM Music (ASCAP)
(administered by Universal Polygram International Publishing), Ear Kandy Music (BMI)

Prayer
Lyrics and Music by DAngelo
Published by Ah Choo Music Publishing (ASCAP)/12:00 AM Music (ASCAP)
(administered by Universal Polygram International Publishing)

betray my heart
Lyrics and Music by DAngelo
Published by Ah Choo Music Publishing (ASCAP)/12:00 AM Music (ASCAP)
(administered by Universal Polygram International Publishing)

The Door
Lyrics by DAngelo and Kendra Foster
Music by DAngelo
Published by Ah Choo Music Publishing (ASCAP)/12:00 AM Music (ASCAP)
(administered by Universal Polygram International Publishing), Ear Kandy Music (BMI)

Another Life
Lyrics by DAngelo and Kendra Foster
Music by DAngelo and Questlove
Published by Ah Choo Music Publishing (ASCAP)/12:00 AM Music (ASCAP)
(administered by Universal Polygram International Publishing), Ear Kandy Music (BMI),
Legendelphia Music LLC/Universal Music-Careers (ASCAP)

PIANO, ORGAN, KEYBOARDS AND SYNTHESIZERS: DANGELO

GUITARS, STEEL GUITAR AND NYLON GUITAR: DANGELO, ISAIAH SHARKEY,
JESSE JOHNSON, SPANKY ALFORD AND MARK HAMMOND
SITARS: DANGELO, PINO PALLADINO AND ISAIAH SHARKEY
BASS: PINO PALLADINO AND DANGELO
DRUMS: AHMIR QUESTLOVE THOMPSON, JAMES GADSON AND CHRIS DAVE
DRUM PROGRAMMING: DANGELO AND AHMIR QUESTLOVE THOMPSON
TRUMPET, CORNET, FLUGELHORN, BRASS AND HORN ARRANGEMENT: ROY HARGROVE
BACKGROUND VOCALS: DANGELO, KENDRA FOSTER, JERMANE HOLMES AND AHRELL LUMZY
SPOKEN VOCALS: GINA
STRING ARRANGEMENT: BRENT FISCHER
STRINGS AND WOODWINDS: ASSA DRORI, ANATOLY ROSINSKY, ELIZABETH WILSON,
MAURICE GRANTS, CHUCK BERGHOFFER, ALEX BUDMAN AND BILL REICHENBACH

EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY KEVIN LILES AND ALAN LEEDS

MIXED BY RUSSELL ELEVADO
ADDITIONAL MIXING BY BEN KANE
ENGINEERED BY RUSSELL ELEVADO AND BEN KANE
ADDITIONAL ENGINEERING BY TONY RAMBO
ASSISTANT ENGINEERS: MIKE LAYOS, NICO ESSIG, MIKE BODEN, CHRIS SOPER,
NOAH GOLDSTEIN, MARTIN COOKE, JUSTIN GARRISH AND RICKY BEGIN
RECORDED AT M.S.R. STUDIOS, HYDRA SF, HENSON STUDIOS,
THE PLANT, SEAR SOUND, AVATAR STUDIOS AND QUAD STUDIOS
MIXED AT M.S.R. STUDIOS AND HENSON STUDIOS
MASTERED BY DAVE COLLINS

No digital plug-ins of any kind were used in this recording.

All of the recording, processing, effects and mixing was done
in the analog domain using tape and mostly vintage equipment.
For best results, listen at maximum volume.

MANAGEMENT: Kevin Liles, KWL Enterprises, Inc.

AND Alan Leeds, Shelltoe Entertainment
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT: Joshua Klein and Keri Weaver,
Monarch Business and Wealth Management, LLC
LEGAL REPRESENTATION: Paul Rothenberg, Samantha Shipp
AND Lena Kasambalides, Rothenberg P.C.
PERSONAL ASSISTANT TO DANGELO: Malcolm Fernando Kee

Perpetrators
beware say a prayer
if you dare for
the believers
With a faith at the
size of a seed enough
to be redeemed
Relegated to savages
bound by the way
of the deceivers

THANKS to Peter Edge, Tom Corson, Jocelyn Cooper, Matthew Morgan,

Michelle Ryang, Irene Sourlis, Carolyn Williams, Erwin Gorostiza,
Theola Borden, Junko Takeda, Annie Meaher, Beth Hawkins, NAT PASTOR,
Roe Williams, Ashish Chutei, Heathcliff Berru, Scott Mantell, QuestLOVE, Q-TIP,
Bill Reeves, Lou Barber, Roxane George, Mark Jenkins, Tina Farris, Cecilia Ramirez,
The Vanguard (past and present), Little Homey, Dominique Trenier

Questlove appears courtesy of Def Jam Records

Roy Hargrove appears courtesy of Groove And High Records

RCA Creative Director: Erwin Gorostiza

FOREWoRD BY NELSON GEORGE
ART DIRECTION AND DESIGN BY EXPOSURE AMERICA AND AFROPUNK FOR MULTIPLY
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BARRON CLAIBORNE
LIVE PHOTOGRAPHY BY CARINE BIJLSMA

d-angelo.com facebook.com/dangelo twitter: @dangelo_music rcarecords.com

88875-05655-2. Z & V 2014 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. Marketed and distributed by
Sony Music Entertainment, 550 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10022-3211. All rights reserved. R Marca(s)
Registrada(s) RCA Trademark Management S.A. Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws.

88875-05655-2