Shelley Nicole's blaKbüshe 

Shelley Nicole—the mainspring behind Shelley Nicole’s blaKbüshe—is simultaneously a product, a witness and architect of Black-on-Black love, a calling that has informed all of her work as a singer, writer, composer, actor, poet, musician and a healer. It is the tap root of her latest work, I Am American, a collection of songs written by her and produced by award-winning guitarist, composer and producer Vernon Reid of the band Living Colour.

I Am American is a testament to both Shelley’s vision and her band/collective blaKbüshe that she’s presided since 1999. Combined with Vernon Reid’s guidance and her extended family of exceptional creatives who lent their talents and love to the project. I Am American harkens back to the Golden Age of classic albums that embraced collaborative energy from diverse, paramount artists.To that end, I Am American, the third blaKbüshe release, is Shelley’s sonically and topically valiant mission statement of self-empowerment, self-determination, self-love and self-care.

The album is a genre-defying blend of rock, soul, blues, jazz and funk that tells a story of women reclaiming their cultural identity, their psychic refuge and their personal agency. The project is part of the continuum of audacious, self-confident and eclectic Black sisterhood that extends from Rosetta Tharpe to Nina Simone to Betty Davis to Labelle to Joan Armatrading to Meshell Ndegeocello.

Hosted by Taiia Smart-Young.

B-Side is BRIC TV's live in-studio music series and screening, featuring performances from emerging and established musicians -- free of charge. The in-studio seating is very limited and is FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED. RSVPs do not guarantee entry and are used solely for measuring attendance. These performances are open to the public, however our studio space is limited. For this reason, the performance will be broadcasted on the Stoop simultaneously.

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