The Motown icon rallies Rapsody, Chika, Busta Rhymes, Cordae, and Gary Clark Jr., for a pair of protest anthems.
If the signs are reading right, Stevie Wonder is mounting one helluva comeback.
Overnight, the Hitsville legend shared a pair of politically-charged songs, “Can’t Put It In The Hands of Fate” and “Where Is Our Love Song.” The former is a buoyant go-go send-up with a grip of hip-hop heavies onboard, including Rapsody, Busta Rhymes, Cordae, Chika, and Wonder’s five children. The latter is a wistful mid-tempo ballad with some six-string assistance from Gary Clark Jr.. All proceeds from “Where Is Our Love Song” will be donated to Feeding America.
What’s more, the tracks mark the launch of the icon’s new label, So What The Fuss Music, which is distributed by Republic Records/Universal Music and named after a collaboration with En Vogue and the late Prince from Wonder’s 2005 studio album, A Time to Love. “I was thinking about how this is most crucial time. … not just Black people or people of color but young people everywhere are going, This is not acceptable… change is right now. We can’t put it in the hands of fate. Ain’t nobody got time to wait,” Wonder said in a press conference announcing the imprint. He noted, “Where Is Our Love Song” is a track he’d begun working on at just 18-years-old, adding that both songs would be included on an upcoming EP or his next full-length studio album, which is tentatively titled, Through The Eyes of Wonder.
On his departure from Motown, Wonder claimed the bond is eternal, hoping to release a gospel album dedicated to his mother. “Even though I have left Motown, I never leave Motown. That’s Detroit. So I’m sure that we can figure out how we can do some things at Motown. Maybe I’ll do my Gospel Inspired by Lula with Motown. We’ll work it out.”
Hear Stevie Wonder’s new songs below. Hold tight for his next dispatch.