Love Is the New Black [Gold Vinyl]

by Anthony Hamilton

Overview

Anthony Hamilton intended to stock his first self-released album with material in support of the fight for racial equality and in honor of Black lives taken by racist actions. As he was writing and recording, he opted to ease up somewhat to cover a broader range of emotions. Love Is the New Black is not without songs that convey a message. "Mercy" is a sorrowful but tough ballad in which Hamilton, seemingly consumed with grief, sings with his chest like never before. In the following low-slung "Safe," his voice switches from dispirited to determined, from "It's gettin' gutter 'round here/I lost my brother 'round here" to "Justice, we gon' get it back/Our families, we gon' get 'em back." Those two songs lead the way to the finale, where Hamilton assures his mother like a visiting absent son taking a short break from hustling for survival. The Trouble Man theme seeps into some of the preceding love songs, such as the shaming "Threw It All Away," a weary if elegant ballad that integrates a sample from Tom Brock's Barry White-produced "I Love You More and More." Elsewhere, the sweeter "Coming Home" could pass for a cover of a mid-'70s Isley Brothers classic, all the way down to the fiery guitar solo, and "I Thought We Were in Love," another powerful pleader, got its sway from Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes' "I Miss You." Speaking of soul classics, Hamilton and Jennifer Hudson pair up for a reading of "Superstar" modeled after -- and distinct from -- the Luther Vandross version. Hamilton also delivers one of the hottest-blooded slow jams with "White Hennessy," and dips back into hip-hop soul with the testimonial "Real Love" -- an original, not a Mary J. Blige cover -- produced to neck-swinging effect by 9th Wonder. The contributions of Rick Ross and Lil Jon are unnecessary, but the same most definitely cannot be said about Jermaine Dupri, a factor as co-songwriter and co-producer on most of the highlights. Dupri hadn't worked on a Hamilton album since the breakthrough So So Def recording Comin' from Where I'm From. So, in a way, Love Is the New Black is both a full-circle moment and a fresh start for the newly independent singer. ~ Andy Kellman

Product Details

Release Date:	05/20/2022
Label:	BMG Rights Management
UPC:	4050538719956

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Anthony Hamilton   Primary Artist
Jennifer Hudson   Primary Artist
Craig Brockman   Piano,Strings
Eric Essix   Guitar
James Poyser   Keyboards
Lil Jon   Featured Artist
Rick Ross   Featured Artist
The Tones   Vocals (Background)
Ramon Montgomery   Vocals
Marq Jefferson   Bass
James Tillman   Vocals (Background),Vocals (Background)
Kim Scott   Flute
Billy Odum   Guitar
Jose Pomier   Guitar
T. O. Crivens   Guitar
Jack King III   Vocals (Background)
Jack "JK" King   Vocals (Background)
Regina McKoy   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Andrew Robertson   Engineer
Bob Relf   Composer
Kenny Gamble   Composer
Bonnie Bramlett   Composer
Kelvin Wooten   Composer
James Wiggins   Composer
James Poyser   Composer
Delaney Bramlett   Composer
Robert Relf   Composer
Robert Diggs   Composer
Robert Holmes   Composer
Roger Hatcher   Composer
Jermaine Dupri   Composer,Producer
Nathan Smith   Vocal Engineer
9th Wonder   Engineer,Producer
Anthony Hamilton   Composer
Tom Brock   Composer
Manuel Seal, Jr.   Composer,Producer
Leon Russell   Composer
Leon Huff   Composer
Phil Tan   Engineer
Rick Ross   Composer
Charles Hamilton   Producer,Composer,Composer
Larrance Dopson   Composer,Producer
Christopher Steven Brown   Composer
Ramon Montgomery   Composer,Vocal Arrangement
Ira Parker   Arranger,Engineer,Drum Programming
Roosevelt Harrell   Composer
Adeline Retamar   Vocal Engineer
Eric G.   Producer
Christopher Brown   Composer
Gary Grice   Composer
Joe Bozzi   Engineer,Mastering Engineer
Russell Jones   Composer
Mayfield Small   Composer
Mook   Producer
Clifford Smith   Composer
Billy Odum   Composer
William Roberts   Composer
Brody Brown   Producer
Robert L Holmes   Composer
Patrick Douthit   Composer
Jonathan H. Smith   Composer
Wu10   Producer,Drum Programming
Carl McCormick   Composer
Jonathan Smith   Composer
Bink! Humble Monsta   Producer
Bill Zimmerman   Engineer
Jerard Wiggins   Composer
Cardiak   Producer
Eric Gabouer   Composer
Tevin Revells   Composer
Brayon Nelson   Composer
Drum Dummie   Producer
Regina McKoy   Vocal Engineer
Devonta Williams   Composer
J. Manifest   Producer
Symphony Williams   Producer