Joel Culpepper: Celebrating 'Black Boy' Joy

Fresh off his incredibly moving performance on 'Later with... Jool's Holland' showcasing 'Tears Of A Crown', Joel Culpepper must be on quite a high. The artist who is full of soul and poetry, has been taking his time to carefully build a fanbase and curate a body of work over the last two years and is finally a month away from releasing his debut album: 'Sgt Culpepper' (July 23rd). Inextricable from Joel's life, soul and community, 'Sgt Culpepper' will certainly evoke powerful feelings in the listener, lighting a candle for anyone in a dark place.

The message of this album is a lesson for anyone, but Joel is specifically talking to young people, especially young black boys whose creativity is often stifled by stigma and social inequality. Designed as a textbook, a guide for self-healing and acceptance, Culpepper's storytelling embraces an approach of radical positivity towards masculinity and sensitivity.

The main focus of 'Sgt Culpepper' is to take the audience through Joel's personal experiences to learn and grow from them. He is a teacher and a role model at his core and using music is a beautiful way to shine a light on often less-spoken subjects. Having worked as a learning mentor with young people himself he's seen first-hand how institutions and educational settings fail those labelled as 'complex'. With the track 'Black Boy' for example, he speaks about a young man who was both rebellious and 'brilliant', words that often don't go together when referencing black youth. More often than not, those young people gifted with fierce creativity can't flourish in a restrictive whitewashed curriculum.

'You give me joy, black boy... you give me hope for tomorrow'.

Joel Culpepper has a deep understanding of the barriers in place that stop black boys from reaching their full potential. He also speaks on protecting this spark and nurturing it. In a time when their innocence is under attack and scrutiny, the artist hopes that his music can bring happiness and joy to brighten any dark days ahead.

'We spend our whole adulthoods trying to find ways to be that uninhibited, and he’d cracked it at 10 years old.'

Joel explains “I feel there have been so many important songs that address black men, but I wanted to hear a song that universally celebrated being a black lad with an upbeat Minnie Riperton vibe. When I was writing I kept going back to this one memory of a boy I worked with, just this one morning when he was running late, bowling through the playground with such a confidence and an air about him. He had his older sister's leopard-print coat, a pink lunchbox, these ankle-swinger trousers with no socks on. Some of the kids were saying stuff, but he was just head forward, bowling through, didn't care. I'll never forget me turning around to the other teachers and them going 'he's got it, int he?' Like fair play mate, you've sussed out life. That lived with me; we spend our whole adulthoods trying to find ways to be that uninhibited, and he’d cracked it at 10 years old. I just wanted him to have that message, and kept thinking, I don't just want to be the guy that just spoke about doing music – I want those kids to see me doing it.”

To celebrate the release of 'Black Boy', Joel wrote a letter to his younger self. Something he hopes will encourage young black creativity. Another teachable moment from Culpepper.

Dedicated to the 10 year old you...

You don’t need to be tall or light skinned. Your laugh and crooked smile will gain all the attention you need from women young man.

Try to live inside the laugh, your dad's laugh. It’s a beacon to the party animals of the world who understand what good rum tastes like.

Heartbreak is an unavoidable passage but you will get through and over it.

Experience doesn’t need to leave a chip but take the tips, when people tell you who they are (like Instructions) listen, carefully.

While she’s still here, tell your granny you love her just a little bit more. I think she’d love that.

To think deeply is a beautiful thing but be careful not to capsize in the ocean of thought, take time and go to shore often. Good friends will reveal themselves by waving you in, trust the ones concerned.

Music is the pulse in your heartbeat. Don’t be afraid to follow it when it races. It’s the key of life. Remember it’s your drum, it’s not for everyone to march to, looking left or right too hard will make you out of tune. Looking forward will keep you in time.

Beautiful black boy, you’re enough. Be proud.

(And try learning to save in school…)

Dedicated to the 16 year old too …

Thank God for the rose that grew from concrete, who knew 2Pac would be the one to teach. Letters of rebellion, love and pain…turns into your own pen and the ink stains.

You wrote a letter to mum, saying you were lost out at sea, the anchor she gave you pulls you back in…around 20

Sipping E&J after church bible studies bears only the weight of memory, Gods judgement grows for those consciously unconscious…truly.

Keep self-medicating with Jill Scott and Jazzy Jeff the Magnificent. The second trip to New York makes you here back home relevant.

Grieving naivety, flowers on its grave. The people who let you down only serve,

it made you brave.

Lastly, dedicated to 27 minus 2...

The year of party and booze

The year we lose… nothing bad but inhibitions glued.

Self love, self love, It’s the rule

Your name is Culpepper… that’s now cool.

Your cousin is your best friend, try to keep him close when the nights end.

Blue lights pull over black men in cars day and night. Know your rights, bet you didn’t know a black man invented that traffic light!

Coco butter is the smell of her, overdose in zen until the last bit in the tub can’t even spread across your hands.

Give the keys to your affection, held in a locker

and in return enjoy the spoils of kisses

and Calvin Klein boxers.

Sound clouds have moved from my space,

embrace it and let the music levitate.

Kill the ego daily

Detach from negativity…

You’re doing ok, even when you’re not ok

25 is no age

Be kind to yourself and don’t be phased

This dedication is for a man who’s worthy

of some praise.

Just like at 10 try not to overthink

FYI, you will never be able to handle your drink.

Joel Culpepper is a teacher in every sense of the word. He's someone that would never discount or disregard someone else's voice. Through his experiences, he hopes others will take the lessons and grow to reach even bigger potentials. When he came across Prince as a young music fan he learnt that 'the most powerful thing you can do as a performer is to allow yourself to be free in the moment - just do you and be present' and once Joel owned these words his life as a creative took shape. You can do the same.

Photo credit: Michael Augustini

Stream Joel Culpepper's latest tracks here. Sgt. Culpepper, the album coming July 23rd. Pre-Order here.