In her review of Normani’s first album, “Dopamine”, Mankaprr Conteh highlights the pop-R&B singer’s “creative reverence” for Black culture throughout the thirteen tracks. More than anything else, Normani made it a point to be loyal to her identity as a Black woman throughout the whole of the album. It was crucial to do so.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Normani said that she felt as if she was “showing up” for herself by embracing her Blackness. This was in response to her feeling as though she had to suppress her Blackness when she was a member of Fifth Harmony.
“Before, I definitely wasn’t able to be all that I am and have that be represented,” she told Rolling Stone, “which is why it means so much, especially when selecting records or when in the studio creating specific songs, for me to feel like I’m showing up for myself.”
“I am not only demonstrating my Blackness by turning there, but I am also aware of the fact that I am a Black woman who is involved in the pop music industry. Because of where I come from, it is also a part of my family tree,” she went on to say afterward. “I feel like I’ve had to really remind myself and have serious conversations with myself that I’m all of these things and that I don’t deserve to be limited.”
During her interview with Rolling Stone, Normani cited the several Black musicians who had come before her as sources of inspiration for her album. She especially mentioned Janet Jackson as an influence for the song “Lights On”, Brandy’s “A Capella (Something’s Missing)” for the song “Insomnia”, and Missy Elliott’s production throughout the album.
“They’re literally the reason why I do what I do and why I’m able to be in the position that I am in Black women,” said Normani in response. “Not only did they reinvent the quality of beauty, but they also revolutionized the quality of music themselves. I got the impression that Brandy and Janet have been quite disruptive in their own unique ways.
Normani’s roots are deeply embedded in her music. Born in New Orleans and displaced to Houston, Texas, due to Hurricane Katrina, she incorporates elements of Southern hip-hop and the chopped-and-screwed style into her album.
In the review Conteh wrote for Rolling Stone, she lauded the singer as a “star pupil” of the “mavens of Black culture.”
“It’s an ode to the specificity of her Southern Black womanhood, with brassy horns, chopped vocals, Mike Jones samples, references to Pimp C, OutKast, lean, and slabs, and a newly liberal use of the N-word,” according to the critic’s assessment.
Normani’s journey to releasing “Dopamine” was far from easy. She faced numerous challenges, both personal and professional, that tested her resilience.
“I’ve really been tested spiritually, emotionally, mentally, physically – like, God, what do you want me to see in all this? Is this project going to come out? Is it going to see the light of day? And it did. And so I never gave up on myself, and that to me means more than any chart or any accolade,” she told NPR in a recent interview.
Normani’s perseverance through these obstacles is a testament to her strength and determination.
The album comes four years after her mother’s breast cancer returned and three years after her father’s cancer diagnosis. During this difficult period, Normani focused on her family, finding solace and strength in music.
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“I feel like the music allowed me a sense of escapism and not only myself, but also my parents. Like, they needed that in order to look forward to something outside of what the circumstances were,” she explains.
As a brown-skinned woman, Normani has also faced colorism and racial bullying throughout her career.
“It really took a toll on my confidence. I feel like going and having meet and greets and you being the only one that nobody greets… I was also racially bullied on social media,” she adds.
This profound connection between music and healing is a central theme in “Dopamine”, highlighting Normani’s journey of self-discovery and growth. Normani’s journey of self-acceptance and empowerment is a powerful narrative within her music. She hopes to serve as a role model and vessel for future generations.
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