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The release of Common’s 11th studio album comes at a heated time in the American political and social sphere. In the midst of the election and continuation of the Black Lives Matter movement, Common’s new effort falls in line with the resurgence of political rap from the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Chance the Rapper and J. Cole. Black America Again springs forward as a much needed protest album with the title of the album proving a subtle kick to Trump’s presidential election slogan “Make America Great Again”. The title track “Black America Again” is an obvious standout with powerful lines such as: “I know that Black Lives Matter, and they matter to us” and  “the new plantation, mass incarceration.” Stevie Wonder ends the song by repeating the line, “we are rewriting the black American story.”

Clocking in at just under an hour, the album is a grand collage of jazz, R’n’B, soul and old school rap. There is an over-arching cinematic feel, most likely thanks to Common’s contribution to the soundtrack of Selma. At times the album drags with some songs like “Rain” and “Love Star” being lyrically weaker compared to the more politically charged tracks.

Certain songs on the album add a personal touch to the theme of protest, acting as a nice counterbalance to the more raw and aggressive numbers. “Little Chicago Boy” proves an intimate portrayal of his late father growing up, with a spoken word passage written by his father himself. Nonetheless, the closing songs of Black America Again make it not only a protest album, but one of celebration. “The Day Women Took Over” praises the likes of Oprah and Beyoncé for paving the way for women of colour to take up positions of power.

Black America Again is by no means a perfect album and it can be perceived that its message surpasses the music itself in terms of merit. However, this is what makes it such a vital album at such a crucial time. In an age where protest music is needed more than ever, this album comes with an authenticity that is hard to match.