ABOUT
JAMAL FRANKLIN
Jamal Franklin was born in Middletown, Connecticut, on August 9, 1984. He received his first guitar for his 10th Christmas. He learned to play from songbooks and from watching other people play. The first song he learned to play was Joan Baez's version of "House of the Rising Sun."
"ROAD SONGS"
Jamal followed up "The Hood's Watching" in 1998 with "Road Songs," an album of powerful rap songs. The album takes us across America in an 18-wheeler, and Jamal contrasts the desire for complete freedom with the need for love and home. The arrangements feature vocals, guitar, banjo, bass, drums, and percussion. Many of the tracks on this album are about confronting desire, hope, mortality, the mutuality of love and friendship, and the need to live and love fully. Although his lyrics deal with serious issues, Jamal never forgets to entertain whenever he steps up to the mic.
LATER WORK
Jamal's music and songwriting continue to develop, and his more recent work demonstrates a more mature and universal vocabulary. His vocal ability and arrangements have become more sophisticated over time, and his tracks are tastefully supported by guitar, bass, drums, and percussion. In 2001, one of his songs was an instant winner at a hip-hop festival songwriting competition.
In 1998, Jamal released a collection of 4- and 5-part acapella songs entitled "Singing for Our Life." This album has been described as "a beautiful and haunting celebration of man's spirit...[Jamal's] vocal arrangements are intricate and precise...his lyrics are both mystical and passionate..." In 2000, he co-produced his most ambitious album, "Pushing Through." This collection of true stories focus on the journey of maturing into love and spirit - and ultimately coming back home to the self.
Jamal's lyrics tend to focus on his own life, which he says isn't any more profound than anyone else's. But he has a knack for making his experiences universal and connecting with listeners. His songs have a raw edge that is balanced with a sense of hope and humor.
"THE HOOD'S WATCHING"
Music, for Jamal, often conveyed ideas of isolation and separation. He spent seven years performing as a singer-songwriter and rapper in recording studios, on street corners, and on stages all over the United States and Canada. In 1996, he recorded and self-produced his first album, "The Hood's Watching," that featured old-school tunes accompanied by guitar, violin, and piano. This album was characterized by introspective lyrics and focused on the life-altering wakeup calls that everyone experiences. The album was an independent commercial success, and Jamal was selected as one of the top ten hip-hop artists by the listeners of WVKR 93.1 FM. He also won the best vocalist award for the New England Tri-State region. A live version of the song "Love at First Slight" was selected for inclusion on a prestigious compilation album.