Hempress Sativa - Woman (La Tempesta Dischi)

Hempress Sativa explains: "I titled my fourth album 'Woman' because, more than ever, I feel the need to place women's voices at the center. We are living in a moment where that voice is essential: not only to be heard, but to lead change, open new paths, and build awareness. This album was born exactly from that place, from the desire to give form and sound to this energy. 'Woman' is a project that carries a clear intention: to express, through music, the strength, sensitivity, and truth of the female experience. I hope it reaches you in the right way, that it resonates, and finds a place within your own stories."

The message is already clear from the intro: "Woman! History would try to have us forget the great Queens who ruled, the female warriors who stood proudly beside men on battlefields. How we've been of service to humanity, creating life, nurturing our families, teaching the nation, protecting peace, discerning within this world. They tried to silence us, made us to think we were weak."

Then the title track kicks in, with Sativa introducing us to legendary female warriors from history such as Empress Taytu Betul of Ethiopia, Nanny of the Maroons from Jamaica, Amanirenas, kandake (queen) of the Kingdom of Kush, Queen Amina of Zazzau (present-day Zaria in Central Nigeria), and Nzinga Mbande of Ndongo and Matamba in present-day Angola. We wouldn't want to deprive you of the full lyrics:

Woman, woman, woman, woman
Woman did eh pan di the battlefield too (4x)

Yaa Asantewaa
Empress Taitu
Woman did eh pan di battlefield too
Dahomey Warriors
Nanny di Maroon
Woman did eh pan di battlefield too
Amanirenas
Amina
Makeda
Pokou
Woman did eh pan di battlefield too
Queen Nzinga of Ndongo
Woman did eh pan di battlefield too

Pan di battlefield Empress Taitu
From line pan her horse,
Led her Soldiers to victory
Agoji warriors were military trained
And dem skilled with the artillery
Kush kandakes use guerilla warfare
Execute fearless strategies
Once then Kingdoms were ruled by Queens
Divine Feminine Goddess Energy
Mother Earth bear the fruit from the planted seed
Nurture the youths strengthened the family
If intelligent she will help to build a legacy
For centuries labeled as weak
Heroines had to fight for the right to equally seen
Especially for those born with melanin
Better put some respect pan name of Woman
When the portal of life through the female one
In sync with Moon and the sun in balance
Instinctively in tune with the intuition,
She can sense your emotions know when something wrong
Healer by nature role important
Educate a woman educate a nation
Matriarch stand firm just like a column
You're the backbone fi all generations to come

Yaw Asentewa
Empress Taitu
Woman did eh pan di battlefield too
Dahomey Warriors
Nanny di Maroon
Woman did eh pan di battlefield too
Amanirenas
Amina
Makeda
Pokou
Woman did eh pan di battlefield too
Queen Nzinga of Ndongo
Woman did eh pan di battlefield too

Tubman did free many slaves
While the master a sleep
Rosa Parks wouldn't give up her seat
Sojourner Truth ask them "Aint I a woman?"
Winnie lead the Anti-Apartheid regime
To every young girl your Powerful Being
Greatness encoded in DNA genes
Straighten the crown pon yuh head when its lean
Don't you see your Most worthy as Empress Menen
Them know the portal of life through the female one
In sync with Moon and the sun in balance
Instinctively in tune with the intuition,
She can sense your emotions know when something wrong
Healer by nature role important
Educate a woman educate a nation
Matriarch stand firm just like a column
You're the backbone fi all generations to come

Sarraounia from Niger
Idia from Benin
Princess Yennenga
Fierce female legend
Real warriors
Feared by many men
In a war a surprise element
Heaven sent
She's a work of art
A master, masterpiece
A piece of mind when he's in times of need
Needless to say
Every King needs a Queen
Only a woman can make a man truly complete

Ten years after her first collaboration with Paolo Baldini on the outstanding 'Boom (Wha Da Da Deng)', Hempress Sativa once again joins forces with the Italian producer for this album.

Of course, no Hempress Sativa record would be complete without a ganja tune, and 'Woman' delivers with 'Ganja Spliff', seeing Jalifa adding some extra fire. A second duet comes in the form of the rootsy 'Rastaman Chant', with Tiken Jah Fakoly bringing a touch of French and Dioula into the mix. The wisdom of Sativa's mother, Doris-Ray Johnson, subtly seeps through on 'Not Even Shadows'.

For the more restrained 'Hotter The Battle', Sativa briefly taps into a nyahbinghi vibe, but our personal highlight on 'Woman' is undoubtedly 'Rinse Mi Dub', a standout clash tune that finds Hempress Sativa in top form:

Rinse mi dub in a sound bwoy earz
Rinse mi dub in a sound bwoy earz
If a murder a di charge
I done plea guilty to the case
When mi rinse mi dub in a sound bwoy earz
Oh lawd
Another jump pon him dead
Looks like a funeral again, nine night
John public eating fry fish with bread
Oh lawd
Another jump gone down
Cause when it comes to murder sound
Yuh know a one champion wear the crown

Hempress Sativa and Paolo Baldini will present Woman live on Saturday, June 27 at Couleur Café!