Black Pumas are sharing their latest Spotify Singles work. While last time they shared a cover for the holidays edition, this time the Austin duo are releasing another cover plus a reworking of one of their own tracks.
For the cover, Black Pumas tackled the 1970 Rodriguez song “Sugar Man.” To record a new version of their 2021 Grammys Record of the Year-nominated “Colors,” they recruited Chicago’s Hypnotic Brass Ensemble. Their addition makes all the difference, with the horns giving the track a greater sense of strength as they subbed-in for the original version’s guitar. The backing vocals are a thing of beauty, making this version one of my favorite things I’ve heard in 2021 so far.
Stream Black Pumas’ new Spotify Singles release below.
Eric Burton of the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble shared about the collaboration:
I was floored to see someone take something so specific to me and unapologetically integrate an eclectic blend of hip hop, jazz, and funk to speak their piece… It felt good to be invited back to my family’s home city of Chicago in this way.
Reimagining ‘Colors’ was no easy feat, so if we were going to try it, it had to be different or it wasn’t worth doing… I heard a song by the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble on a bike ride one day and their rhythmic phrasing on it reminded me of Eric’s guitar part. They knocked it out of the park with the arrangement they sent, so we didn’t have to do much but re-sing and add some icing on the cake. It was an honor to collaborate with them.
