Moving to New York City to attend The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, he was mentored by and recorded with both the legendary drummer Chico Hamilton and the pianist Junior Mance. There he also met his first ensemble that would form the studio and international touring band for his 2008 debut album “The Dreamer” (Jan 2008, Brownswood).
A chance meeting in London with international tastemaker and DJ Gilles Peterson led to a record deal on Peterson’s Brownswood Recordings label. Drawing upon diverse influences such as Freestyle Fellowship and Rahsaan Roland Kirk, “The Dreamer” was an international critical success, with José performing at venues such as the North Sea Jazz Festival, Billboard Live Tokyo, The Hermitage Museum, and Central Park Summerstage. “The Dreamer” was voted #21 Critic’s Pick of JazzTimes Top 50 Jazz Albums of 2008.
His sophomore release “BLACKMAGIC” (Feb 2010, Brownswood) explored the worldwide underground, featuring production from Flying Lotus, Moodymann, Taylor McFerrin, and DJ Mitsu the Beats. “BLACKMAGIC” also featured James’s live band in new territory, covering dubstep pioneer Benga’s “Emotions” and exploring a soul/hip-hop version of the R&B classic “Save Your Love For Me.” “BLACKMAGIC” toured in over 30 countries, at venues such as the Montreal Jazz Festival, Ancienne Belgique, Melkweg, and Lincoln Center. “Love Conversation” (produced by Taylor McFerrin), “Save Your Love for Me,” and “Desire” (from The Dreamer) were featured in Fox Searchlight Pictures 2010 “Our Family Wedding” starring Forest Whitaker, America Ferrera, Carlos Mencia, and Lance Gross.
Signing to Verve/Universal in 2010, James’s third studio album “For All We Know” (May 2010, Impulse!) was released on the legendary “Impulse!” label, home to many of John Coltrane’s masterworks. Largely recorded in a single day at the famed Galaxy Studios in Belguim, “For All We Know” is a deep and timeless duo album of jazz standards featuring Jef Neve on piano.
Winner of both the Edison Award and L’Académie du Jazz Grand Prix for best Vocal Jazz Album of 2010, “For All We Know” was James’s most intimate project to date, with performances in premiere concert halls such as L’Olympia, Royal Festival Hall, and De Roma, as well venues such as the Umbria Jazz Festival, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola and Cotton Club Tokyo.
The collaboration between James and Jef Neve continued with an ambitious ongoing live project “Facing East: The Music of John Coltrane.” Conceived and directed by James “Facing East” made its worldwide debut at Ancienne Belgique, Brussels, and continued on to venues such as the North Sea Jazz Festival, Nice Jazz Festival, New Morning, and Ronnie Scott’s.
As a featured guest José has recorded albums with Junior Mance, Chico Hamilton, Nicola Conte, Bassment Jaxx, Jazzanova, Toshio Matsuura, J.A.M., DJ Mitsu the Beats, Timo Lassy, Taylor McFerrin, and Flying Lotus.
Recent projects include guest performances with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra’s “A Tribute to Billy Strayhorn” at Rose Theater, as well as touring internationally with McCoy Tyner’s “The Music of John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman.”
He was recently voted 2011 DownBeat Critics Poll “Rising Star Best Male Vocalist” and is currently working on his fourth studio album “No Beginning, No End.”
http://josejamesmusic.com/
Blackmagic
José James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wanna know what it is make the boys want more!
Is your lover playing on your side?
Said he loves you,
But he ain't got time.
Here's the answer.
Come and get it
Hey!
Full of honey,
Just to make him sweet.
Crystal balling,
Just to help him see
What he's been missing.
So come and get it,
While you've still got time.
Hey!
Get your boy on his knees
And repeat after me, say
Take a sip of my secret potion,
I'll make you fall in love.
For a spell that can't be broken,
One drop should be enough.
Boy, you belong to me,
I got the recipe
And it's called black magic
(And it's called black magic)
Take a sip of my secret potion,
One taste and you'll be mine.
It's a spell that can't be broken
It'll keep you up all night
Boy, you belong to me,
I got the recipe
And it's called black magic
(And it's called black magic)
If you're lookin' for Mr. Right,
Need that magic
To change him over night.
Here's the answer.
Come and get it,
While you've still got time.
Hey!
Get your boy on his knees
And repeat after me, say
Take a sip of my secret potion,
I'll make you fall in love.
For a spell that can't be broken,
One drop should be enough.
Boy, you belong to me,
I got the recipe
And it's called black magic
(And it's called black magic)
Take a sip of my secret potion,
One taste and you'll be mine.
It's a spell that can't be broken
It'll keep you up all night
Boy, you belong to me,
I got the recipe
And it's called black magic
(And it's called black magic)
All the girls on the block knockin' at my door!
(I got the recipe)
Wanna know what it is make the boys want more!
(Now you belong to me)
Take a sip from my secret potion,
I'll make you fall in love.
For a spell that can't be broken,
One drop should be enough.
Boy, you belong to me (hey!)
I got the recipe.
And it's called (black magic), and it's called, and it's called black magic!
Take a sip of my secret potion,
One taste and you'll be mine.
It's a spell that can't be broken
It'll keep you up all night
Boy, you belong to me (belong to me)
I got the recipe
And it's called black magic
(And it's called black magic)
Falling in love (hey!)
Magic!
This song is a seductive, mesmerizing call to love and power, using imagery of magic and potions to make the singer's love interest fall under their spell. The opening lines describe women coming to the singer's door, seeking the same power over men that the singer claims to possess. The lyrics go on to suggest that men may not be trustworthy or committed, offering up the singer's love potion as a solution to this. The singer urges her love interest to submit to her and her black magic, promising that it will keep him up all night and make him belong to her.
The lyrics of "Blackmagic" are full of esoteric symbolism and references to magical traditions. The concept of the love potion or spell is a common one in folklore and pop culture, and the use of crystal balls and honey as ingredients suggests a combination of ancient and modern magical practices. The repeated refrain, "I got the recipe," emphasizes the idea that the singer is in control of the situation, and her love interest is merely a passive recipient of her power. At the same time, the song's playful tone and catchy beat create an atmosphere of joy and seduction, making the idea of falling under the spell of "black magic" seem like an irresistible pleasure.
Overall, "Blackmagic" is a sophisticated and provocative exploration of romantic power dynamics and the allure of forbidden knowledge. By using the imagery of magic and spells, the song taps into primal archetypes of desire and power, while also commenting on the complexities of modern relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
All the girls on the block knocking at my door!
Many girls are interested in me because they want to know what makes me attractive to boys.
Wanna know what it is make the boys want more!
They want to know my secret to make boys crave for me more.
Is your lover playing on your side?
Is your partner trustworthy and loyal to you?
Said he loves you, But he ain't got time.
Your partner claims to love you, but doesn't prioritize you and your needs.
Here's the answer.
I have a solution to your problems.
Come and get it At a knocked down price.
You can have my secret at a reasonable cost.
Full of honey, Just to make him sweet.
I'm acting sweet towards my partner to make them fall for me deeper.
Crystal balling, Just to help him see What he's been missing.
I'm showing my partner what they've been missing by not being with me through my actions and words.
So come and get it, While you've still got time.
Take advantage of the opportunity while you still can.
Get your boy on his knees And repeat after me, say
Make your partner submit to you and repeat after you.
Take a sip of my secret potion, I'll make you fall in love.
Try my secret potion, and I'll make you intensely infatuated with me.
For a spell that can't be broken, One drop should be enough.
Only a small amount of my potion is enough to cast an unbreakable spell on you.
Boy, you belong to me, I got the recipe And it's called black magic (and it's called black magic)
You are now under my spell, and I hold the secret to my power.
It'll keep you up all night Boy, you belong to me, I got the recipe
My spell will keep you obsessed with me all night long.
If you're lookin' for Mr. Right, Need that magic To change him over night.
If you want to turn your partner into 'Mr. Right,' you will need my black magic spell to do it quickly.
All the girls on the block knockin' at my door! (I got the recipe) Wanna know what it is make the boys want more! (now you belong to me)
Many girls ask me for the secret to attract boys, but I only share it with those under my spell.
Falling in love (hey!) Magic!
My potion is so powerful that it seems like magic and can make people fall deeply in love with me.
Contributed by Daniel P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
iherb herr
In the darkness
In the darkness
In the darkness
We make love
In the darkness
In the darkness
In the darkness
We make love
Black magic, the promise, the premise
The airless, the sea we travel onto
Arrive at the very beginning
Of where we started
Journeying onward into the light
And deeper into shadow
Life will bring trust, it will bring
And stole the memory you unravel
You messing with my emotions (messing with my emotions)
You messing with the way I feel about you (way I feel about you)
You messing with my devotion (my devotion)
To what I know (to what I know)
And what is real (and what is real)
Your love, your love (your love, your love isn't)
Your heart, your heart (your heart, your heart brings the)
Black magic, the promise, the premise
The airless, the sea we travel onto
Arrive at the very beginning
Of where we started
Journeying onward into the light
And deeper into shadow
Life will bring trust, it will bring
And stole the memory you unravel
I feel so close to you (I feel so close to you)
I feel so close to you (I feel so close to you)
I started with the feeling of together (started with the feeling)
So why do I fear getting close to you? (So why do I fear getting close to you?)
Losing you would mean the worst had come true (come true)
Holding you is all I seem to want to do
Black magic, the promise, the premise
The airless, the sea we travel onto
Arrive at the very beginning
Of where we started
Journeying onward into the light
And deeper into shadow
Life will bring trust, it will bring
And stole the memory you unravel
In the darkness
In the darkness
In the darkness
We make love
In the darkness
In the darkness
In the darkness
We make love
In the darkness
In the darkness
In the darkness
We make love
In the darkness
In the darkness
In the darkness
We make love
iherb herr
In the darkness
In the darkness
In the darkness
We make love
In the darkness
In the darkness
In the darkness
We make love
Black magic, the promise, the premise
The airless, the sea we travel onto
Arrive at the very beginning
Of where we started
Journeying onward into the light
And deeper into shadow
Life will bring trust, it will bring
And stole the memory you unravel
You messing with my emotions (messing with my emotions)
You messing with the way I feel about you (way I feel about you)
You messing with my devotion (my devotion)
To what I know (to what I know)
And what is real (and what is real)
Your love, your love (your love, your love isn't)
Your heart, your heart (your heart, your heart brings the)
Black magic, the promise, the premise
The airless, the sea we travel onto
Arrive at the very beginning
Of where we started
Journeying onward into the light
And deeper into shadow
Life will bring trust, it will bring
And stole the memory you unravel
I feel so close to you (I feel so close to you)
I feel so close to you (I feel so close to you)
I started with the feeling of together (started with the feeling)
So why do I fear getting close to you? (So why do I fear getting close to you?)
Losing you would mean the worst had come true (come true)
Holding you is all I seem to want to do
Black magic, the promise, the premise
The airless, the sea we travel onto
Arrive at the very beginning
Of where we started
Journeying onward into the light
And deeper into shadow
Life will bring trust, it will bring
And stole the memory you unravel
In the darkness
In the darkness
In the darkness
We make love
In the darkness
In the darkness
In the darkness
We make love
In the darkness
In the darkness
In the darkness
We make love
In the darkness
In the darkness
In the darkness
We make love
The Day Ones
Gracias. Ty🔥✌🏽🇩🇴
iherb herr
@The Day Ones De nada :)
ultrasonicpriest
I remember tracking this down 4 or 5 years ago, after hearing this with the D. Brown sample. the LP is pretty good w/ Kenny Dixon, Taylor McFerrin, FlyLo on production.
Iambent
This used to be the soundtrack of our love between me and my girlfriend. Now I’m listening to is as the soundtrack of our break up, which happend yesterday.
sandrah rivera
The best dedicated love song...💕
dreadeye
i dig it
Julian Cortes Valencia
Flylo is a fucking master in production
Veisnue51
Awesome cut.
Carla Creech
THIS.......smh so dope!