Solange Reveals How a Conversation Between Two White Men Inspired 'A Seat at the Table'
By Soraya Joseph
We already knew Solange knows how to make a hit record, but she also knows a thing or two about getting the last laugh.
As most know by now, Solange's A Seat at the Table, was one of this year's most talked about albums, and rightfully so. The therapeutic collection of soulful tunes even earned the 30-year-old artist her first ever Grammy nod for the beautifully conscious "Cranes in the Sky."
However, what most don't know is that Solange's A Seat at the Table, was actually inspired by another seat, at another table, that she declined to sit at.
During a recent conversation on Q2 Music podcast, Solange revealed to host Helga Davis that her latest album was inspired by a "haunting" conversation between two white men, in which she was the topic of discussion.
It all started back in 2013 when Solo took to Twitter to express her disdain over white journalists reviewing R&B music if unfamiliar with certain records. After being met with some backlash, the singer was invited to The New York Times podcast to clear the air, but opted out.
Still, this didn't stop Times podcast host, Jon Caramanica, and another guest, a white writer, from dissecting Solange's controversial tweets. Things took a turn for the critically worse after the writer implied that Solo's audience was majority white, and went on to say that the singer shouldn't bite the hand that feeds her.
Solange told Helga:
"That [comment] was kind of the turning point in the transition for me writing the album that is now A Seat at the Table... It haunted me, and it haunted my mother to hear someone telling her daughter, 'Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.' And also the racial subtleties—are not so subtle—of what that encompasses when you say that to a Black woman."
Solange also revealed that ironically, being told to "shut up," is what made her want to speak up more for her fourth studio album. Solo even revealed that the remarks were the inspiration for her hit track, 'Don't You Wait.'
Now that's how you flip a negative into a positive like a BOSS!