The album begins with "Hard Times" featuring Black Thought. The song is a perfect description of the current state of the economy and the mindsets its people: "Although I'm filled with love, I'm afraid they'll hurt my pride..." There are many so of us walking around with fear and hate in our hearts that we are unable to lend a helping hand to our struggling brothers and sisters. This is the tone that is carried throughout the entire project. The lead single, "Wake Up Everybody" featuring Melanie Fiona and Common is exactly the type of attitude and call that we need to hear. "Wake up everybody, no more sleeping in bed..." is the push that we as a nation need to realize what is going on around us. Keeping our eyes open and learning that we are the only way that change can come about is pertinent. This album continues to show forth talent and inspirational lyrics on tracks such as "Our Generation", "Hang On In There" and "Shine".
There are few tracks that stand out to me. The first track that grabbed my attention was "Humanity (Love The Way It Should Be)". This carib inspired rhythm, coupled with lyrics on love and life, is sure to send the listener into eargasmic tranquility. "What happened to the love that they're all talking about? It's nothing but useless words coming from out of their mouth..." We have to be more than just SAY we will help and love, we actually have to DO these things. The next song, which may just be my favorite on this project, would be their rendition of Marvin Gaye's "Wholy Holy". What I like most about this song is that regardless of your spiritual beliefs, the message is the same: "We should believe in each other's dreams, we've got to come together because we need the strength...we can conquer this thing called hate forever". The world would be a much better place if we stopped focusing only on ourselves and our situations and learn to love one another.
Overall, this album is igniting. There is very clear message: love one another and practice selflessness. Wake Up is amazing, hands down. We all can be the change that we want to see. We were able to change the "Yes We Can" to "Yes We Could". Now...let's make a "Yes We Will" into a "Yes We Did". Be good to one another and yourselves.
