Moor Mother unveils her brilliant new studio album, The Great Bailout, which continues her exploration of historical atrocities, shedding light on the obscured narratives of exploitation and displacement.
“Like a blossom emerging from between the floorboards of a slaughterhouse, Moor Mother’s music is an act of transcending a violent, intolerable present.” - The Fader
For The Great Bailout, Moor Mother, born Camae Ayewa, enlisted a diverse array of producers including Mary Lattimore, Lonnie Holley, Vijay Ayer, Angel Bat Dawid, Sistazz of the Nitty Gritty, Aaron Dilloway, and more. Recognized as "the poet laureate of the apocalypse" by Pitchfork, Ayewa's musical compositions blend an eclectic mix of instruments, voices, and cacophony, drawing inspiration from Afrofuturism and collective memory, while paying homage to the traditions of jazz, hip-hop, and beat poetry.
Her recently released single, "All the Money," is a haunting exploration of the profits derived from the enslavement of Africans in Great Britain. Co-produced by Ayer and featuring Alya Al Sultani, the song intricately weaves together sampled elements provided by both artists, creating a chilling narative that underscores the ongoing legacy of exploitation and erasure. Accompanying the release is a striking music video directed by filmmaker and multimedia artist Cauleen Smith, whose work is also deeply rooted in Afrofuturism and Black feminism. Through eerie imagery of British royalty, landmarks, and politicians, the video offers a visceral visual accompaniment to the song's thematic exploration.
At the heart of The Great Bailout lies a profound meditation on the 1835 Slavery Abolition Act - a landmark legislation that saw the British Government borrow a staggering sum of money to "compensate" slave owners for their lost "property." A debt that was only settled in 2015, with taxpayers - including descendants of the enslaved, such as the Windrush Generation - bearing the burden.
The Great Bailout serves as both a reckoning with historical injustices and a celebration of resilience in the face of adversity. Through her evocative storytelling she challenges listeners to confront uncomfortable truths while finding solace in the enduring power of Black poetry and music.
“Moor Mother’s work is often stark and excoriating … Camae Ayewa forces the listener to confront blood-soaked history and the bottomless sorrow of multi-generational mourning, coming at you like a priestess of the apocalypse.” - Stereogum