Track 2: Black Beamin'
Photography by Jessica Dunston
“I’M IN LOVE WITH MY SKIN / I LOVE EVERYTHING BLACK / ALL THIS PAIN MADE US KIN / I DON’T CARE WHAT THEY SAY”
Black Beamin’, lyrically, is the unapologetically black anthem off the GFOS album. That unapologetic embrace of identity comes through in the bold, unwavering facial expressions throughout Jessica Dunston’s photo-set for this single; the theme is even further emphasized of course through the black wardrobe — truly loving everything black. Another important aspect to the photos is Pat not being the solitary figure as he was for Golds In. With the anthem being for the community, it’s only right for Pat to be surrounded by his people.
Instrumentally, the song still has a jovial bounce and upbeat feel with the trap drums and melody, coinciding with the positive message of Black pride and self-love. Though most of the expressions around Pat — including his own — are more sternly uncompromising in many of the photos, Pat still sneaks in his golden smile to capture that celebratory, bright vibe; showing his fronts, in its own way, is a proud display of his blackness and shows the joy in being unapologetic about his identity as well.
The airy pads and vocal harmonies on Black Beamin’, especially in the intro of the track, have you floating into what feels like a cloud-like atmosphere as a listener — getting slowly beamed up into the sky. Jessica’s intentional inclusion of the sky as the backdrop, especially in the individual shots where it has a lot of prominence in the background, conveys that emotion perfectly; it almost gives the feeling of our blackness being endowed as a gift from the heavens — which it is!
Hear a bit more about Jessica’s intentionally direct and meant-to-be-understood approach with the Black Beamin’ track art:
