Note To Self - The Album

Note To Self; An Album for the Self

This newest body of work is the latest installment in the story of Jah9, which now houses two wholesome volumes; New Name and 9. Notes To Self is the saga in which she details the most important work of self development. As frequently quoted in her earlier recordings; the words of the King Haile Selassie, beckoning us to become members of a new race, ring out in the teachings offered by 9 on this project.

Covering themes of intimacy, introspection and the sometimes scornful work of making ourselves better. Jah9 takes us on a cyclical journey using many of the different means by which she herself combats the rising need for a tomorrow full of better human beings. On this album we get a rare and curated, but authentic and insightful look into the real and true life of Janine Cunningham. From tracks like “I'm going to be Ok” featuring Chronixx, which establishes a personal note taking tone, she sets the mood for listeners to go inward. Once there, the yogi uses the time to speak on things that affect how we better ourselves, like nourishment, food security and mental health. She is found detailing how health and feeling good correlate, things which take the forefront in tunes like “Maat(Each Man)” & “Heaven”. Jah9 masterfully tackles themes like community, and the importance of coming together to revel in our common being with tunes like “Ready To Play” & “Hey You”. An urgency and importance about this especially can be sensed in the way she speaks to how women and children are often treated poorly.

She even deals with the topic of love itself in many ways; from self love, platonic, and even romantic, albeit with a cautious and observant nuance that is sorely lacking from most contemporary love stories. Evidence of this can be found in tunes like “Highly” & “Love Has Found I” where she is both accepting, and critical of love. A keenness only bested by the effort she puts into exploring her own identity with tunes like “Could it Be” which questions the difference between her real self and how she may be perceived by the public. With this new album, Jah9 broaches the tough work of preparing the body, mind and spirit, with a grace, ferocity and complexity that only a woman in all her powers, might harmoniously encapsulate.