Last fall, PopMatters premiered “On Aging”, a unique tune that brings together the spoken word of the late, great Maya Angelou with hip-hop and funk instrumentation. That track is one of many on an album called Caged Bird Songs. In a continuation of this unique project that pays tribute to the powerful legacy Angelou left the world, a lyric video has been made for the Caged Bird Songs number “Pow Pow”, which finds Angelou’s thought-provoking words and playful delivery met by a spare hip-hop beat and electric guitars whose tone brings Nile Rodgers to mind.
Before her passing in May 2014, Angelou had this to say about Caged Bird Songs: “This project is important. It’s woven into the tapestry of our lives, and we’re being serious, giving, and kind about it.”
Caged Bird Songs is out now via Smooch Music, in both Standard and Deluxe editions.
This release is part of the Caged Bird Legacy, which collects the various interests and passions of Angelou for all to view on the web. The site also links to the charities established in Angelou’s name, including Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity.