released November 27, 2020

Black Gold: The Liner Notes

I) Don’t Be Alarmed
(L. Johnson. Q. Hickerson)

Produced by Saxappeal + Dean Beanz for Saxappeal Music (BMI),
Bling Univercity (ASCAP)

Sax: Saxappeal
Vocals: Saxappeal + Dean Beanz
Key Bass: Saxappeal
Rhodes/Pads/Bells: Saxappeal
Drum Programming: Dean Beanz
Mixing Engineer: Mags
Composition/Arrangement: Saxappeal + Dean Beanz
Mastering Engineer: Dean Beanz


ii.) Swazi Tribe Vibes
(L. Johnson, Q. Hickerson)

Produced by Saxappeal + Dean Beanz for Saxappeal Music (BMI),
Bling Univercity (ASCAP)

Sax: Saxappeal
Vocals: Saxappeal
Key Bass: Saxappeal
Rhodes/Pads/Synths: Saxappeal
Drum Programming: Dean Beanz
Mixing Engineer: Cordell Walton
Composition/Arrangement: Saxappeal + Dean Beanz
Mastering Engineer: Dean Beanz

iii:) The Song That’s Called…
(L. Johnson/Q. Hickerson)

Produced by Saxappeal + Dean Beanz for Saxappeal Music (BMI),
Bling Univercity (ASCAP)

Sax: Saxappeal
Trumpet: Aaron Janik
Bass Guitar: Kamau
Rhodes/Pads/Synths: Saxappeal
Drum Programming: Dean Beanz
Guitar: Jesse Thompson
Live Drums: Buddy Brown
Mixed/Mastering Engineer: Dean Beanz
Composition/Arrangement: Saxappeal + Dean Beanz


IV:) For Mack
(L. Johnson/ Q. Hickerson)

Produced by Saxappeal + Dean Beanz for Saxappeal Music (BMI),
Bling Univercity (ASCAP)

Sax: Saxappeal
Trombone: Kenneth Gill
Trumpet: Aaron Janik
Bass Guitar: Ronald “CJ” Alexander
Piano: Zo!
Pads/Synth: Saxappeal
Strings: Saxappeal
Drum Programming: Dean Beanz
Mixing Engineer: Mags
Mastering Engineer: Slate The Creative
Composition/Arrangement: Saxappeal + Dean Beanz


V.) Red Cup, Turn Up
(L. Johnson, Q. Hickerson)

Produced by Saxappeal + Dean Beanz for Saxappeal Music (BMI),
Bling Univercity (ASCAP)

Sax: Saxappeal
Vocals: Saxappeal
Key Bass: Saxappeal
Rhodes: Zo!
Piano: Saxappeal
Pads/Synth: Saxappeal
Drum Programming: Dean Beanz
Tambourine: Dean Beanz
Mix/Mastering Engineer: Dean Beanz
Composition/Arrangement: Saxappeal + Dean Beanz


vi:) Dance The Night Away, featuring
L.G. + Kenny Wesley
(L. Johnson. Q. Hickerson)

Produced by Saxappeal + Dean Beanz for Saxappeal Music (BMI),
Bling Univercity (ASCAP)

Sax: Saxappeal
Vocals: Levoites “L.G.” Griffin, III, Kenny Wesley, Saxappeal
Lyrics: Saxappeal
Trumpet: Aaron Janik
Trombone: Kenneth Gill
Guitar: Jesse Thompson
Bass Guitars: Ronald “CJ” Alexander + Dan Zylinski
Rhodes: Cordell Walton
Drum Programming: Dean Beanz
Percussion: D. Love
Mix/Mastering Engineer: Dean Beanz
Composed/Arrangement: Saxappeal + Dean Beanz


baby girl.. 
I’ve been watching you from the other side
of the room.. 
and it’s clear to me..
that our energy’s connected.. 
Like the sky, the stars, and the moon..
so would you mind.. 
if you and I take over the dance floor? 
(daaaance floor)
and if the vibe is right.. 
then maybe I can give you just a little bit more.. 
(more and more..) 


(all these ladies in the club..)
and they don’t hold a candle.. 
to your beauty.. 
(so lemme know wassup..) 
cuz I’m tryina hold you close.. 
and wrap my hands around yo (hey, what rhymes with beauty?)

would you mind.. 
for the night.. 
if I could hold.. 
hold you tight.. 
if you don’t.. 
hey that’s fine... 
cuz you’re as sweet..
sweet as wine. 
take my hand..
come with me.. 
we’ll catch this wave..
like the sea.. 
we are one.. 
that’s okay..
dancing the night.. 
night away.. 


looking at me with those bedroom eyes.. 
got me in a daze..
got me hypnotized.. 
that’s the kinda look that’ll get you in trouble.. 
and you’re a Gemini..
got me seeing double. (HEY!)


(all these ladies in the club..)
and there is none like you.. 
that’s why you’re the one for me..
(so lemme know wassup..) 
You got me feeling good..
Makes me wanna say oooweee.. 

would you mind.. 
for the night.. 
if I could hold.. 
hold you tight.. 
if you don’t.. 
hey that’s fine... 
cuz you’re as sweet..
sweet as wine. 
take my hand..
come with me.. 
we’ll catch this wave..
like the sea.. 
we are one.. 
that’s okay..
dancing the night.. 
night away. 


VII:) These Hands, featuring Mike Ellison
(L. Johnson, C. Hodge)

Produced by Saxappeal + Rokk Mass Muzik for Saxappeal Music (BMI),
Rock Mass Publishing (BMI)

Alto/Tenor Sax: Saxappeal
Vocals: Mike Ellison
Lyrics: Mike Ellison
Rhodes/Key Bass: Barry Chambliss
Drum Programming: Corey Hodge
Mix/Mastering Engineer: Slate The Creative
Composition/Arrangement: Saxappeal + Rokk Mass Muzik


You always understood
You took the time to understand
The power in these hands
And the power of your man
These hands meet demands pounding pavement on a daily basis
Laying a foundation for generational greatness
Prayer and supplications for my babies make me fold ‘em up
Praising The Creator for His favor make me hold ‘em up
Same thing made Marvin sing make me throw ‘em up
They shake with associates but only show my soldiers love
Though in this violent nation, baby, salutations ain’t enough
So the kindness and patience you demonstrate is the greatest, Love
These hands trace your physical, the landscape is mystical
Your mind is enlightened too, I find truth inside of you
And whether the endeavor’s a tenor sax or tender sex
It’s best to play an instrument the same way we’re intimate
Listening - we connect with deep breath, release stress
Express complete trust with each touch and caress
You whisper to me blissfully, we exist in a symphony
A sacred combination of conversation and body language
Ancient hypnotic tones, grateful melodic moans
Our souls compose crescendos of indulgence known to fold toes
Sheet grabbin’ passion askin’ dammit where the covers went?
It just looks like lust, with us it’s a covenant
Fingers interlaced, dinner dates and discovery
Serving you desert by candlelight with lavish cutlery
These hands meet demands, you can have ‘em at your luxury
Any time to cleanse your mind and lather you with something sweet
I wanna give you laughter and abundant peace
For now just allow me to rub your feet
Lay down, sweetie, you can go to sleep
Unless there’s something else you need to make this evening complete



VIII:) Mamba Mentality (Homeboy)
(L. Johnson)

Produced by Saxappeal for Saxappeal Music (BMI)

Sax: Saxappeal
Strings: Saxappeal
Key Bass: Saxappeal
Guitar: Kent Crawley
Rhodes: Saxappeal
Drums/Aux. Percussion: Marquis Johnson
Mix/Mastering Engineer: Slate The Creative
Composition/Arrangement: Saxappeal


ix:) Sax’s Juke Joint, Featuring Evan Garr + Dean Beanz
(L. Johnson/ Q. Hickerson)

Produced by Saxappeal + Dean Beanz for Saxappeal Music (BMI),
Bling Univercity (ASCAP)

Sax: Saxappeal
Lyrics/Emcee: Dean Beanz
Electric Violin: Evan Garr
Trumpet: Aaron Janik
Rhodes/Strings/Pads: Saxappeal
Bass Guitar: Lawrence “BassMan” Washington
Drum Programming: Dean Beanz
Mixing Engineer: Cordell Walton
Composition/Arrangement: Saxappeal + Dean Beanz
Mastering Engineer: Dean Beanz

DeanBeanz:

Smoke a joint like the 70’s
juke em like Barry
Where we go varies
ain’t that scary
Voice that carries..
fly like its airy
Butter smooth but the jam rams like Aries
More dope artist I’m like more the marrier
I guess I’m an aircraft carrier
A genre is the wall of china we broke the barrier
Sub in the club swing
low like the chariot
We go the Sub way like Jarred wasssssss
Naaaaaaaaaa we ain’t going like jarred cuzzzz
No kids… show biz independent
Record labels hate us cause we get it … up stairs
Plus there’s
ways they can see we can up theirs
They don’t care bout what fair
all they give is bus fare
We make the tracks
do the sessions get it masters
Flyer get it faster
our own ticketmaster
Web store streaming service only losing taxes
That s how yo math go from fractions to brackets
Picking up speed and we grabbin more traction
Eating everything that we see like pac man like pacman
Ghost… I ain’t coasting till we over due it
running back with these lines
I’m just going through it
I’m just Punnin through it
You know its something to it
When you go Curry style
you run gun and shoot it
Don’t need to cuss to prove it
but I’m a sailor though
Gangsta when I need to be
but a good neighbor though
I’m State farm and napalm in one man
I stay calm in great storms on one hand...


X:) i.P.T.
(L. Johnson, Q. Hickerson)

Produced by Saxappeal + Dean Beanz for Saxappeal Music (BMI),
Bling Univercity (ASCAP)

Sax: Saxappeal
Invisible Pocket Trumpet: Saxappeal
Pads/Synth: Saxappeal
Key Bass: Saxappeal
Drum Programming: Dean Beanz
Mixing Engineer: Cordell Walton
Composition/Arrangement: Saxappeal + Dean Beanz
Mastering Engineer: Dean Beanz


XI:) The Vibe is Right, featuring
Bashiri Asad + KetchPhraze
(L. Johnson, C. Hodge, B. Asad, C.J. Warfield, C. Stanton)

Produced by Saxappeal + Rokk Mass Muzik for Saxappeal Music (BMI),
Rock Mass Publishing (BMI)
Lyrics written by Bashiri Asad, C.J. Warfield, and Chrishaun Stanton

Sax/Flute: Saxappeal
Emcee/Lyrics: Ketchphraze
Vocals/Background Vocals/Lyrics: Bashiri Asad
Trumpet: Brandyn Phillips
Trombone: Wilbert Neal
Rhodes/Pads/Key Bass: Barry Chambliss 
Guitar: Trey Preist
Drum Programming: Corey Hodge
Composition/Arrangement: Saxappeal + Rokk Mass Muzik
Mixing Engineer: SLate The Creative
Mastering Engineer: Dean Beanz


Just left the lab,
Trees in the bag,
Time to blow 'way the night.
Jus' caught a Lyft,
Time to cut the shit,
Can't wait to spent the night.
Cause I've been feenin' to pop up and see if,
You wanna take a ride
And your so inviting, that's why I can't help but, stare when you're in sight.
It's jus' that (glow in your eyes)...
That keeps me on my knees...
You've got that (spark that I like)...
That brightens up my dreams...
You're everything I want and more, when we vibe...

I'll keep moving on....
(If the vibe is right)
I'll keep moving on....
(If the vibe is right)
I'll keep moving on....
(If the vibe is right)
I'll keep moving on....
(If the vibe is right)
I'll keep moving on....
(If the vibe is right)
I'll keep moving on....
(If the vibe is right)

I'll keep movin'...


Kick off your shoes and relax your feet,
Change your work clothes, take a ride with me.
Grass in the car, car on the street,
Sax on the track baby, yes indeed!
(Ahhhh)
Just ride out, and let's be free...
(Ahhhh)
Let's ride higher than we've ever dreamed...
(Uhhhh)
No destination...
No reservation...
When we're together baby,
Who needs a vacation...
So just know that with you in my life...
Everything is alright, when we vibe...

I'll keep moving on....
(If the vibe is right)
I'll keep moving on....
(If the vibe is right)
I'll keep moving on....
(If the vibe is right)
I'll keep moving on....
(If the vibe is right)
I'll keep moving on....
(If the vibe is right)
I'll keep moving on....
(If the vibe is right)

I'll keep movin'...

Ketchphraze:

The rhyme ain’t tight
If the vibe ain’t right..
We’re easily getting blinded by the light
Naw we’re not alike
I don’t think it’s cool to act a fool for a few views
The comments and the likes..
I’m Wakandan when I fight..
A mix of T’challa & Kilmonger when I write..
I’m bright delightful insightful but I’m ignorant
I’m no doze woke but I still be on that nigga shit..
real solid figure like a prism is
Saxx made the call for me to move the pen
The mood I’m in
boy you’ll probably need some new Depends..
See I’m the doo doo..
The Shiznit, The Dookie
My flow nuts it’s coo coo
Intense hits from Pookie
I spit the Chris crack Rock for you New Jacks Swing
The flu back we need a new vaccine..
You see we got a bad cold
You better grab hold
And lend your ear like Van Gogh
For this Black Gold..


I'll keep moving on....
(If the vibe is right)
I'll keep moving on....
(If the vibe is right)
I'll keep moving on....
(If the vibe is right)
I'll keep moving on....
(If the vibe is right)
I'll keep moving on....
(If the vibe is right)
I'll keep moving on....
(If the vibe is right)

I'll keep movin'...


XII:) We’ll Figure It Out
(L. Johnson, Q. Hickerson)

Produced by Saxappeal + Dean Beanz for Saxappeal Music (BMI),
Bling Univercity (ASCAP)

Sax: Saxappeal
Vocals: Dean Beanz
Tuba: Otis Shelton
Rhodes: Antwain Kirkland
Pads/Synth: Saxappeal
Drum Programming: Dean Beanz
Claps: Saxappeal + Dean Beanz
Mix/Mastering Engineer: Dean Beanz
Composition/Arrangement: Saxappeal + Dean Beanz


XIII:) Say It One Mo’ Time
(L. Johnson, Q. Hickerson)

Produced by Saxappeal + Dean Beanz for Saxappeal Music (BMI),
Bling Univercity (ASCAP)

Sax: Saxappeal
Rhodes: Zo!
Piano: Saxappeal
Guitar: Jesse Thompson
Bass Guitar: Ronald “CJ” Alexander
Drum Programming: Dean Beanz
Mixing Engineer: Cordell Walton
Mastering Engineer: Dean Beanz
Composition/Arrangement: Saxappeal + Dean Beanz


XIV:) Black Boy Joy, featuring FattFather
(L. Johnson, S. Ford)

Produced by Saxappeal for Saxappeal Music (BMI)

Sax: Saxappeal
Emcee/Lyrics: FattFather
Vocals: Saxappeal
Special Guest Appearance: LJ The Sequel
Bass Guitar: Zo!
Rhodes/Guitar: Cordell Walton
Piano/Pad/Synth/Flute: Saxappeal
Drums/Aux. Percussion: Marquis Johnson
Mix/Mastering Engineer: Slate The Creative
Composition/Arrangement: Saxappeal

FattFather:

Love is life and life is love
when the light shines within, it ignites the sun.
The crown is in the skin you bare
walk proud - just smile if it offends who’s there
black power!
Child of god, heaven is home
if loving you is right, I could never be wrong.
Longevity prone, soul like a 70’s song
I wanna see you grow incredibly strong.
Know ya worth
stand tall while you cherish the thrown
no question that’s where you belong.
I’m so proud of ya’,
you hear the proof in the tone I speak daily
til I’m at peace up under a stone
that ain’t changing
Campaigning on behalf of you, son
I see ya face and it give me a boos t son
true king, so I had to produce one
I show up everyday
I don’t need an excuse son.
You can be in Beijing or Houston
If hard times arrive
I’ll be there when they do come


XV:) She’s As Beautiful As The Sunrise
(L. Johnson, C. Walton)

Produced by Saxappeal + Cordell Walton for Saxappeal Music (BMI),
12 Noon Music (BMI)

Sax: Saxappeal
Strings: Saxappeal + C. Walton
Piano: C. Walton
Percussion: C. Walton
Mixing Engineer: Corey Hodge
Composition/Arrangement: Saxappeal + Cordell Walton
Mastering Engineer: Dean Beanz



Moment of gratitude…

In full transparency, I never thought I would ever see this album come to fruition, but being able to write this makes it real.
I have to thank The Most High for guiding me, protecting me, and reminding me that we have different interpretations of a season,
And when it’s your season, you’ll know it for sure.
To the first woman I’ve ever loved, my mother, thank you for pouring so much love and support into me. It’s that time for that little piggy to pay off!
I’m incredibly thankful for my family; my first #1 fans, who have continued to root for me and motivate since day one. I love y’all beyond words.
Rest in power to my family members who are now beautiful ancestral angels; Uncle Mack, Homeboy Hollis, and my beautiful cousins, Shenitha Jones and Edythe Kirk.
To my Sun, The Sequel, you continue to inspire me each and every day, I’m so thankful that you chose me. You’re my Black Boy Joy.
To my bubbi Jai, thank you for tolerating me and my dorkiness at all times.
To the DOPEST kats in the universe; The Crü; thanks for rocking with me on these live shows, and creating a vibe unlike any other.
To my musical mentors, both here and now ancestors; Kenny Garrett, Yusef Lateef, Mike Phillips, Dwele, Miles Davis, Marcus Belgrave, Felton Jones, John Coltrane, and The entire Foreign Exchange family, thank you for showing me that there is no path paved for what we do, and that we must create our own destiny.
To my endorsers; Sax Dakota, Native Instruments, Fiberreeds, Drake Mouthpieces, Silverstein Works, Gard Bags, Be Wooden Bowties, Dantè Neckstraps, Xenith, Applied Microphone Technology, Ultimate Ears, and TC Helicon, thank you for believing in a kid from Detroit, and helping me create my own signature sound and look.
To the artists who blessed us with their talents and creativity for this project; Kamau, Kent Crawley, Antwain Kirkland, D. Love, Buddy Brown, Marquis Johnson, Corey Hodge, Barry Chambliss, Mike Ellison, Evan Garr, Aaron Janik, Jesse Thompson, LG, Bashiri Asad, Kenny Wesley, FattFather, Brandyn Phillips, Wilbert Neal, KetchPhraze, Zo!, SLate The Creative, Trey Priest, Mags, Otis Shelton, Dan Zylinski, Ronald “CJ” Alexander, Evan Garr, Lawrence “Bassman” Washington, & Cordell Walton, thank y’all so much for your incredible talents!! This project would not be what it is without each and every one of you! I’m forever grateful to have such talented individuals come together to create an amazing collective.
To the creative graphics team; Aaron Wilson III, Harry Lawson, Darrel Ellis, Lamar Landers, and Khris Mosby, thank y’all for your impeccable creative visions, which enhance the music beyond anything I could have ever imagined.
To my co-producer, co-arranger, and co-visionary, Dean Beanz; Thanks for all that you do, bruh. You wear a LOT of hats, and I’m honored that you tackled this project with me.. It wasn’t easy, but it’s worth it!
And of course, to my fans, followers, my Saxoholics; You all continue to push me each and every day towards greatness. I hope that you all thoroughly enjoy this experience, y’all are the BEST supporters anyone could ever ask for!

your life matters.
Black Lives Matter.
YOU are Black Gold.

-Love and Light,

Sax
🖤💛