Contrary to the title of the fiery Gil Scott Heron tune, not only is this "revolution televised," but it is also recorded as well. The neo-soul "revolution" has begun and is growing stronger with each song, video, and accolade. Although Kedar Massenburg initially coined the phrase as a means of describing the revered enchanting music of his one time artist D'Angelo, neo-soul has expanded into its own genre. If you think about it, the entire concept seems somewhat contradictory. Neo is defined as "new," yet the foundation of the genre is built upon the blueprint our r&b legends designed. It is a throwback to our soulful roots, when the sensual sounds of Marvin Gaye or the smooth drifting voice of Smokey Robinson filled the airwaves. The revolution is being spearheaded by the likes of multitalented artists such as D'Angelo, Erykah Badu, Maxwell, local (and national) favorite India.Arie, Musiq Soulchild, and Jill Scott to name a few. I have found three focal points about the genre that stand out and help to carve its niche: the music, the mentality, and the message.

By intertwining a multitude of different genres such as r&b, jazz, hip hop, blues, and even folk music, neo- soul music has the ability to embrace, sedate, seduce, and uplift all in one song. A lot of the artists tend to stray away from excessive, if any, sampling and create original music using live instrumentation. Being that the music is so diverse, it can reach a wide array of people. Also, it appears to give the artists confidence in taking more chances musically and not feeling pressured to conform to the "fit the mold."

The mentality and the message go hand in hand. After speaking with a number of neo-soul artists, it is evident that many live the "neo-soul" way of life. Many of the artists deviate from the flashy jewelry, clothes, and gimmicks and stay humble. Some even take it back to the roots with the afrocentric attire, dreads, head wraps, and etc., noting that it is all about the message and not the messenger. They draw from life experiences and portray it through their lyrical content. The lyrics are reality laced and heartfelt painting such vivid pictures. Whether telling stories of struggles and strife or pleasure and plight, you are left with a sense of self-empowerment. With lyrics digging deeper than just the superficial and materialistic topics, it is as if they are motivational speakers telling you, " look where I have come from and where I am going." In speaking with Motown recording artist Lathun, the neo-soul newcomer stated," The most rewarding part (of being an artist) is if you've written a song and someone comes up (to you) and says 'that really touched my life or I was feeling what you were going through'."

Not to be outdone, Atlanta has a lot of talented neo-soul artists that are eager to join the revolution as well. Local club circuit favorites King Malachi, Jjason Blackwell, and Jonz give packed clubs their money's worth and have created a buzz for themselves. King Malachi captured the essence of the neo-soul foundation in one sentence: "I just want to make music that people are going to feel deep down in their soul." With the present state of the world today, that's not a bad a philosophy to have at all.