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Tweet, Southern Hummingbird
circa April 2002
... Everyone this side of Mary J. Blige knows pain pressed into music makes for great material. Of course, talent is ten-fold, but a range of understanding with regard to the realities of life is most necessary.
Tweet lives there and her debut as Missy Elliot�s newest prot�g� signifies a bit of separation as she steps under the industry magnifying glass to make her own space. She does so with such subtle purpose and panache.
She had the audacity, though, of introducing her original work to us through a rhythmic riddle explaining the monumental moment most ladies approach with the same resistance she recites before succumbing to one of nature�s calls. The Timberland produced, "Oops (Oh My)," is currently blazing the airwaves, as is the other of the three tracks made by one of music�s most noted men behind the boards.
"Call Me," Tweet�s ode to whipped woman will have you bouncing before you know it. She says with verve, "Baby you da' man/cause you put it on me � I got another man but he ain�t like you/and I can�t be your baby�s momma/though I�d like to." The only shame: the song is less than three minutes long.
On other cuts, her bold and brashness of language continues to make a statement as she blames her one boy for her bad habit ("Smoking Cigarettes") and chastises him for being with another ("Motel") before pondering her loneliness with the help of a bottle of gin in "Drunk."
Southern Hummingbird is dance, prance and dogged romance. The
Rochester, New York native opens her bottle of smell-good to also share a scent of surreal sensibility in songs like "Complain" and "Best Friend," a duet with another talented artist, Bilal. The former, truly wraps the reality of losing a lover into one significant phrase, "if I had you back, I wouldn�t complain," though she extensively appears to thank the Creator for helping her through.
There are lines being crossed on this work, because this new up-and-coming artist holds no punches when she tells her story. Tweet is a talent. She holds down writing and production credits throughout. Her play of the acoustic guitar is the near perfect backdrop for the aforementioned "Motel" and on the tenacious, but tempting "Always Will." Here she cockily confides: "You keep telling me that I�m way too sure/of you loving me long time/but I bet you always will."
If that is not enough, there are a couple of bonus tracks thrown in with the help of Elliot. The only question is why a northern native would call herself a southern hummingbird. Apparently, her roots allow the pass like so many northerners who now want to acknowledge the bottom. After a listen one would not know the difference. What is noticeable: the pain and love she has obviously endured, only to share it with the world. It is great stuff. Only those who comprehend will feel it. Raise your hand if you are there. Then, go buy the album