Source: alljoieverything.com
by Brooklyn White
Joi Gilliam is a conscious rock star. Unbound to the beaten road of pop’s trendsetters (constantly producing content and publicized struggles with sonic evolution/personal growth), she’s walked tall during her 25+ years in the music industry and shows no signs of slowing. “I get excited to pull the machete out and clear my own path,” she says in her official bio. “After all of these years, music is still a lifeline to sanity, memory, and inspiration for me. It’s the most powerful medium, for better or worse. I hope you feel what I’m doing.” Not only is Joi deeply felt, she is admired by many and her album ‘The Pendulum Vibe’ proves she is a staple in avant garde soul focused on liberation.
The singer/songwriter is a proud Tennessee native, which is made apparent by her use of the alias “Tennessee Slim Kitty.” After leaving Tennessee State University and moving to the everlasting musical-hotbed of Atlanta in the early 1990s, she crossed paths with Dallas Austin, the producer/songwriter famous for his work with TLC, Boyz II Men and Macy Gray. Together they crafted Gilliam’s 1994 debut, ‘The Pendulum Vibe,’ a cult classic adored for its feminist themes, over the course of three weeks.
“She is the truth and the most famous person I know,” -André 3000
Black feminism, particularly sexual liberation, equality and freedom from archaic ideas of womanhood, have been further explored by newer singers like Teyana Taylor, Jazmine Sullivan and Ari Lennox, with the former’s emphasis on maintaining personhood while raising a family echoing Gilliam’s. But at the time of Gilliam’s ascent, mainstream R&B was still very much married to the blues (and truthfully, cash) and while that can be looked at through a feminist lens of its own, the one used to observe Gilliam was rather limited. After issuing her debut, she was implored to be more like R&B’s biggest commercial successes, but thankfully, she pushed back and continued to allow her sense of self to guide her.
Source: alljoieverything.com
On ‘The Pendulum Vibe’s’ “Freedom,” she spoke specifically about the oppression that Black women face.
“You thought that I would never wise up/And I showed you what a Black female can do her thang/You cannot continue to keep me oppressed/'Cause I ain't goin' out like that,” she sang over the jazz-inspired cut with canned vocals. Less than a year after the song’s release, it was re-recorded for the Panther soundtrack and featured over 60 Black women in music, including Aaliyah, TLC, Mary J. Blige and SWV.
Gilliam delved into sexuality in her song “Narcissa Cutie Pie,” a loud and proud anthem about bisexuality. “I tantalize, I mesmerize, I can do whatever I want to...The other side is calling and I want to go with you,” she sings, referencing a potential sensual encounter with a woman. At the time, popular songs about queerness from Black artists were not overwhelmingly common, further setting Gilliam apart and helping her carve out her own lane as an artist and a sensual being. Decades after the song’s release, you’re much more likely to hear Black women explore their sexuality on record (Victoria Monét, Janelle Monae).
With her debut, Gilliam showed posterity how to address the worst of society’s conditioning without coming off as contrived or preachy, which tend to have serious overlap. Though she’s underground, Gilliam is the “most famous person” Andre 3000 knows, she was tapped to assist D’Angelo on his most recent tour and has even inspired Madonna. Her honesty remains refreshing, her freedom is well deserved.