My Poetry Writing Playlist: An Angel Haze Compilation
By: Latonya Pennington
Photo by Malte Wingen on Unsplash
Angel Haze is a hip-hop artist and singer who has been extremely influential on my poetry since 2012. Their honest and empowering original songs and covers have discussed topics such as sexual abuse, anti-queer bigotry, and depression. Whenever I listen to Angel Haze, I want to bare my soul on the page. I want to journal about my feelings in an unfiltered way. I want to write poetry about the pain I can't talk about aloud in order to acknowledge my experiences and turn hurt and angst into beauty. Now, here are a few of my favorite Angel Haze songs.
"Smiles N Hearts"
Released on their 2012 mixtape Reservation, this song is about how hard it is to keep going when the world keeps breaking your heart and spirit. Every time I hear it, I want to word vomit all my inner turmoil with a pen. A notable aspect of this song is how Haze combines hip-hop and spoken word influences, especially when the beat cuts out for a moment and you hear the interlude spoken. My favorite lyrics from this track goes:
“Dancing with the demons, lips that rarely speak the truth
Acclimated by what we’ve been through, the mind is a terrible thing to waste
And at the same time it’s a terrible place to wait”
"Same Love" (Macklemore Cover)
When I heard this song from Haze's 30 Gold series of cover songs, I wish this had been the official version of "Same Love". The way Haze weaves their experience with anti-queer rhetoric from her family with the hate and suicidal ideation experienced by LGBTQ youth is seamless and brilliant. This song planted the seed that would lead me to eventually write about my own queerness in poetry. My favorite part of the song is when Haze says:
“And so I stand for the boy who died by his hand
To the sound of his father screaming “woman loves man”
This is Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve
And I stand for the girl with the cuts up her sleeve
And the heart in her hand and a chip on her shoulder
And I stand for it all until ignorance is over”
"The Eulogy"
Haze has a knack for making songs about love, romance, and heartbreak feel universal to any relationship. This track from the 2015 mixtape Back To The Woods is no exception, showcasing Haze's sweet singing voice. I really liked how Haze worked their real name "Raeen" into the song as metaphorical rain. Favorite lyrics from this track are:
“My heart’s a soaring kite, in your sky
The wind’s getting too strong
Thought it was do or die, fail or fly
Can’t wait on me too long”
"Weapon"
When the band Bastille decided to feature Angel Haze on this track, I was completely blown away by the sheer force of Haze's flow and lyrics. Their voice becomes a metaphorical weapon, aiming and shooting words into the listener's ears with rapid-fire precision. Whenever I need a reminder of the personal impact that I could have as a poet, I always listen to this song. My favorite lyrics are the following:
“Breathe in insanity’s grip
Words from insanity’s lips
Falling from sanity’s cliff
Watching your vanity slip
No more fallin’ to pressure
No more failing acceptance
Throw all your Hells towards the Heavens
’Cause your voice is a weapon”
With these powerful songs and more, Angel Haze has become one of my biggest poetry muses. Their authenticity and vulnerability has encouraged me to acknowledge my negative emotions and pain. With Angel Haze’s music as catharsis, my poetry transforms hurt into healing.
*****
Latonya Pennington is a prolific freelance pop culture critic and poet. They’ve written articles for places such as Gamercraft, Brian Mills Press, and Comics MNT. Their poetry has been published at The Asexual Journal, Color Bloq, and Fiyah Lit Magazine among others.
