Lo Village: 'Lost In America' Review
- Tucker Cargile
- Feb 15, 2021
- 3 min read
Lo Village’s recently released EP Lost In America is poignant, enthralling, and damn good. The exceptional trio consisting of multi-talented artists Kane, Ama, and Charles Tyler approach music with a uniqueness that works to blend genre and challenge traditional approaches. The group’s funk inspired production and diverse vocal style is apparent on some of their earlier tracks, including the 2019 single “NERD” and the 2017 track “Lil Mama”, but Lost In America has exceeded all expectations.
Lost In America. The project’s title stirs up a handful of preconceived thoughts about the content with ideas of systemic racism, finding meaning in life, and navigating this nation as a black person coming to mind. Throughout the 5-track EP these themes are discussed through riveting lyricism and well-selected samples that make for an attentive listening session.
The EP begins with “Sick”, an eerie yet soulful song that discusses the police brutality that black people face on a daily basis. This track doesn’t waste any time, as it opens with a gripping and catchy intro that makes your stomach turn. The rest of the song is filled with sharp verses that cut deep and illustrate what is a reality for many black Americans. While this track blatantly discusses the murders of innocent black people, other issues of systemic racism are also highlighted. On the final verse of the song, Kane raps upon the miseducation of black Americans with a subtle flow that questions what is being taught in the classroom:
“James Baldwin on my shelf
I never heard of Mark Twain
In the schools they should teach how
Emmitt Till was framed”
The second track on the project, “Terry Crews”, is more lighthearted and boasts fun verses from all three artists. Ama takes this single to another level with her divine voice that makes you dance uncontrollably over some quality production. This song also works as an effective transition into the third track “Lost In America”, where the group pays homage to music legends Bob Marley and Erykah Badu. This hard-hitting song serves as Lo Village’s commitment to thrive in a world where their history has been lost and one where they must fight for the justice that they deserve.
The next song titled “Run” opens with a rhetorical question, “Do you know how it feels to be a black person in America?”. After this blistering question, Ama continues with a monologue that illustrates both the passion and anger that people have felt after watching innocent lives be taken by police officers. Kane follows by spitting a compelling verse about taking action against a system that reflects inferiority and overt racism, while Charles Tyler speaks upon the harsh realities that transform life into “a dark twisted fantasy”. “Run” ends with a hidden gem, as they use a sample from an empowering speech by Black Panther Party leader Fred Hampton:
“We might not be back, I might be in jail, I might be anywhere But when I leave, you'll remember
I Said
With the last words on my lips, that I am a revolutionary
I am a revolutionary
I am a revolutionary”
“Out The Window” is the final track on the EP and the trio’s funk-inspired style reemerges. With a solid chorus and an upbeat tempo, this song feels hopeful and each of the three voices empowered. It ends perfectly with Charles Tyler muttering the phrases “I might tear the city down/Shit, we might tear the city down”, speaking for the millions of people that believe we must completely rebuild to eliminate our dangerous roots.
Black artists are the face of music, the voice that has blended genre, and the talent that continues to defy expectations. Lo Village defies all expectations on this short EP and is able to convey more authenticity through five songs, than some artists convey in their entire career. Throughout Lost In America Ama, Kane, and Charles Tyler speak for the voiceless, fight for the victims, and have together created one of the most compelling projects out there.
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