The Wiz: Ben Harper - Black Beauty (Single)

Ben Harper has released a new song, "Black Beauty", as part of the soundtrack to "Black Boys", a film exploring Black masculinity in the United States.

An upbeat funk and soul track, less typical of his recent work. The lyrics are deeply optimistic, focusing on empowering African American boys and men and celebrating their potential.

https://youtu.be/R24ThLz5mLU

The film trailer:

Harper, a gifted singer and guitarist, more often works in blues and gospel territory. Last year, he even released an entirely instrumental album.

Just him and his lap-steel guitar: 15 relatively short, slightly melancholic pieces named after places around the world. They bring slow soul and folk elements into his gospel and blues vocabulary. Listen to the album on Spotify:

For more about Harper, including his deep family roots in the guitar world, here is a post I wrote earlier:

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