Lalah Hathaway '47th Street' - The Industry Cosign

lalahhathaway · 47th Street (feat. J. Ivy)

GRAMMY-WINNING ARTIST LALAH HATHAWAY RELEASES NEW SINGLE “47TH STREET”

A MUSICAL LOVE LETTER TO HER HOMETOWN CHICAGO

OUT NOW VIA HATHAWAY ENTERTAINMENT/SRG-ILS/VIRGIN

Today, 5x Grammy Award-winning soul singer, songwriter, and producer Lalah Hathaway releases a brand-new single, “47th Street” — a love letter to the Chicago street where it all began for her — out now via Hathaway Entertainment/Srg-ils/Virgin. The song takes shape along the pavement where her father and his family lived, and where she first felt the energy and love that would make Chicago her forever home. The opening horns are full of the bustling energy of Sunday family dinners, the musings of grandparents and great-grandparents moving through the home, and the hopes and dreams of Black families spilling out onto the city’s urban landscape. Grammy Award-winning poet J. Ivy opens the track, narrating the story of Black migration (TO) from the South to Chicago — a movement that would lay the foundation for the family’s musical legacy: “They headed north down to lay down their root / The train was filled with hope / From the freight cars to the caboose.”

On “47th Street,” Lalah takes listeners through her old stomping grounds: “Every streetlight hums your name, Every corner burns the same,” she sings. The song nods to her grandfather Hosea and her father: “If only these streets could talk, That’s where my daddy laid his hat down, Sweet Hosea wore the crown.” It’s a bittersweet love letter to what was and what has become of her city, closing with a reminder of the imprint that can never be erased: “You can occupy these streets, But you can’t evict what lives in me.” Of the song’s inspiration Lalah says:: “That’s where my father’s family lived. My grandfather Hosea—we pronounced it Hozee—together with his mom and dad were always welcoming. In my mind, going back to 47th Street regenerated the pulsating urban vibe of my beloved hometown.” Listen to “47th Street”

As the daughter of Donny Hathaway, soul, jazz, and R&B have always been second nature to Lalah. Known for her smooth, deep low register and vulnerable songwriting, Lalah quickly carved her own lane outside of her father’s legacy, sharing the record for most Best Traditional R&B Performance Grammys with none other than Beyoncé. She has shared the stage with legends like Prince, Stevie Wonder, and Herbie Hancock, and collaborated with countless artists, including Chaka Khan, Kendrick Lamar, Esperanza Spalding, Tarriona “Tank” Ball, Pharrell Williams, Anderson .Paak, Robert Glasper, Moonchild, and more.

Lalah Hathaway received her first record deal while studying at Berklee College of Music. Her self-titled debut album featured her first hit single “Heaven Knows”, and her unique tone and songwriting were immediately celebrated by R&B fans. From then on, Lalah collaborated with jazz and soul artists to craft records that deeply resonated with the genre’s audience. In 2004, her #1 single was a live cover of Luther Vandross’ “Forever, For Always, For Love.” Her fourth solo album, Self Portrait, debuted in the Top 10 on Billboard’s R&B charts, with the single “That Was Then” earning her her first Grammy nomination.

With rich, velvety live vocals, Lalah Hathaway has enthralled jazz and soul audiences around the world for over 20 years, performing everywhere from Tokyo to Cape Town — a career spanning eight studio albums, from her self-titled 1990 debut to 2024’s VANTABLACK. Her live cover of Anita Baker’s “Angel” went on to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay chart 11 years later, in 2015, and her live collaboration with Snarky Puppy on “Something” showcases her scatting and breathtaking polyphonic technique. As Jennifer Hudson said of Lalah’s ability to sing polyphonically, “No one else is capable of doing that.” Lalah Hathaway has a voice that transcends time and space, keeping the heartbeat of classic R&B alive while continuously raising the bar for jazz and soul vocalists.