Esperanza Spalding - Black Gold (OFFICIAL)

Please use the SHARE button above to pass this song around - Thanks!

Check out Esperanza on iTunes and Amazon for Radio Music Society


From the beginning of her life to her current success as a creative musician, Esperanza Spalding has charted her own course. The young bassist/vocalist/composer was one of the biggest breakout stars of 2011—not just in jazz, but in all genres of music. Her receipt of the 2011 GRAMMY® for Best New Artist was unprecedented—the first time a jazz musician had won the award— but Spalding continues to make the unprecedented the norm.

Born in Portland, Oregon, Spalding grew up in a single-parent home and learned early lessons in the meaning of perseverance and moral character from the role model whom she holds in the highest regard to this day -- her mother.

But even with a rock-solid role model, school did not come easy to Spalding, although not for any lack of intellectual acumen. She was both blessed and cursed with a highly intuitive learning style that often put her at odds with the traditional education system. On top of that, she was shut in by a lengthy illness as a child, and as a result, was home-schooled for a significant portion of her elementary school years.

However, the one pursuit that made sense to Spalding from a very early age was music. At age four, after watching classical cellist Yo Yo Ma perform on an episode of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, the roadmap was suddenly very clear. "That was when I realized that I wanted to do something musical," she says. "It was definitely the thing that hipped me to the whole idea of music as a creative pursuit."

• Category

  Music

[Jason Yun]

This is honestly my first time ever hearing an Esperanza Spalding song, and all I can say is that this is amazing. Her and the rest of the band are very talented!

[FfejTball]

If you think all rappers are horrible public figures maybe you should take a peek at the priesthood of the Catholic church, not to mention the figureheads of various other religions. Or what about our politicians? What about actors and actresses (Lindsay Lohan? I mean, come on), and musicians that *aren't* rappers? It seems pretty foolish to single out rappers like they're the only ones "ruining lives". Especially because you're ignoring rappers like the Blue Scholars, Mos Def, Big K.R.I.T, etc.

[Jakob Rasmussen]

but please note that I understand your point of view completely. But my ancestors in scandanvia where never in power, or did slavery, we were just farmers in the cold north... i quess im a bit tired of being judged racist because of my color

[Jakob Rasmussen]

Equality only comes with acceptance and respect on both parts... is not only white people who has to remember that... please dont judge white people all around the globe for what racists and rednecks in america do and say ;)

[Jakob Rasmussen]

My point is that when black people claim that white people ere mean and evil, and racists Than it is paradoxically. Because then they have prejudices and then they are the racists. Please say that your not that ignorant, that you cant understand my point.

[Jakob Rasmussen]

Privilege and power. Im sorry, power over who? Im european. There is no black people in Denmark. To who am i more privileged? I know that the situation in America, is that there is a lot of white people who hate on the black. Today power and privilege comes with money not color. A black rich man, is just as powerful than a white. I did not grow up poor, so of course there are people in africa and asia, that are less privileged. You can always find people, less or more privileged than yourself.

[Torey Broderson]

black and proud refers to proud of the accomplishments of a race that has historically overcome oppression; white and proud gives a connotation of being proud of having privilege and power. you can be proud of yourself and your accomplishments as a white person, but you need to also be cognizant of the privilege and power you have been given as a white person and its effects upon your life and accomplishments

[Damonm68]

Many people here are complaining about this being a raciest song, when in fact all it’s doing it not ignoring the history of the suffering that the African slaves went though here in the west, this song is inspiring and giving validation to the black race as so much damage was done. I agree we are all humans as in the future we will all be of mixed origins. But still this song is beautiful (both in it’s melody and lyrical context). I love Esperanza and all her music. (posted by a white man).

[rosapbl763]

Er Fantastisk vild med den!

[Goooooon84]

Racist

[Lukas Ohlsson]

The thing is that we don't have anything to be proud of. We're all just people.

[Whayleejay]

I like the afrocentric dad in the beginning, maybe not lying but definitely exaggerating stuff lol.