T. Calmese – Time And Time Again [album] (Magestik Legend, Josh One, Black Opera and more)
It’s been hard to keep track of time in this pandemic. A lot of people have been trying to find ways to escape the matrix. For some, the current issues and events are no surprise. For this reason. T. Calmese’s Time and Time Again is a fitting album title right now more than ever.
Once again Black people are fighting for justice and equality, one cycle we do not want to see repeat but somehow we always end up right back here. The title also fits the current global climate, most essential workers don’t have the luxury of paid time off or the ability to work from home during this pandemic. For them it’s business as usual, the working class continues to get up and go to work, time and time again; risking their own safety and their family’s safety, just to keep food on the table and keep our entire society functioning.
But on the hip hop landscape, returning to raw rap is more celebrated than it has been in a long while. Beats and rhymes with no extras is as buzz-worthy as ever, a trajectory that suits Time and Time Again perfectly. With the awaiting a moment to exhale a sigh of relief and with an album ready for release, here’s a little more into into Time and Time Again from T himself:
“This body of work is special to me. Recorded over the span of a few years, each song represents a different but very real moment in time for me, on a personal level. Those few years were a time of self-discovery, a time of seclusion, a time of asking myself those “hard questions†and a time of creative freedom. I came to a point creatively where I decided to do nothing, but tell my truth…T. Calmese, unfiltered.
In the past I’ve released projects, almost rushing, and on my own personal deadlines. With this one, we wanted to make sure we gave it the time that was needed to fully execute the sound and the vision. For the first time, I literally looked at this as art. Literally, Art.
In the spirit of art, I’ve always been really into documentaries and movies. I’m a big thriller, horror, and sci-fi fan. I’m also a longtime fan of Marvel, DC, and just comics in general. Recently I’ve been inspired by shows like Game of Thrones, Westworld, Lovecraft Country, Dark, The Watchmen and several of DC’s animated movies.
It was only right to incorporate that storytelling aspect on this project. We knew going into this that “Time†would be the theme. I wanted to keep it very much ME, but also have that “otherworldly†feel as well. We wanted to bring the listener into my universe and give them a full experience. It’s the story of realizing your power through trials, tribulations, wins and losses. And, finding your strength through the vulnerability of self-discovery. It’s the story of the everyday man.
Time and Time Again…†– T. Calmese