Artist spotlight: Dr. Cornel West

Ebony, June, 2004

DR. CORNEL WEST branches out from his life and career as Princeton professor, theologian, activist and prolific author to bring his thought-provoking message of empowerment to disc with Street Knowledge (Roc Diamond Records). On the two-disc set, Dr. West showcases his talent with the spoken word set against a fluid backdrop of soulful jazz.

On "From the Birth," he extols that "music is our fate, music is our destiny," and "freedom is not free, stay true to the music ..." On several cuts, he and colleagues (Tavis Smiley, Dr. Michael E. Dyson and Or. Marcia Dyson) discuss the "N Word" and all of its ramifications. Dr. West adroitly weaves a collection of topics, teachings, musings, anthems and lyrics into a set that is challenging, provoking and enlightening, and which appeal to youth as well as more mature minds.