What makes Your Queen Is a Reptile by Sons of Kemet notable?

The album received widespread critical acclaim, earning a nomination for the Mercury Prize in 2018, which highlighted its cultural relevance and innovative approach to jazz. It has been praised for its celebration of influential Black women in history, contributing to conversations around representation in music and the arts. Released in January 2018, Your Queen Is a Reptile marked Sons of Kemet's third studio album, following their acclaimed previous work, Lest We Forget What We Came Here to Do. By this time, the band had solidified their presence in the UK jazz scene, blending traditional jazz with Caribbean influences and engaging political commentary.

How many songs are on Your Queen Is a Reptile?

Your Queen Is a Reptile has 9 tracks, running approximately 55 minutes.

Your Queen Is a Reptile

Sons of Kemet · 2018

55 min · 9 tracks · jazz

A vibrant fusion of jazz and Afrobeat rhythms, underscored by potent political themes and powerful horn arrangements.

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Top tracks — play these first

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My Queen Is Harriet Tubman — This track stands out for its powerful tribute to Tubman's legacy, combining driving rhythms with a haunting melody that evokes her courage and determination.
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My Queen Is Angela Davis — This song encapsulates the spirit of activism associated with Davis, fusing spoken word elements with dynamic instrumentation that reflects her impactful legacy.
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My Queen Is Yaa Asantewaa — The track honors Asantewaa's role as a fierce warrior queen, employing commanding brass lines that echo her strength and resilience in the face of colonialism.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

72 /100

Alpine

Higher than 95% of albums we've rated

The album combines strong thematic composition with cohesive arrangements, making it both engaging and thought-provoking.

What we noticed

Each track features a distinct horn arrangement that highlights the individual themes of the historical figures referenced in the titles.
The album maintains a consistent tempo across most tracks, with rhythmic shifts that reflect Afrobeat influences.
The final three tracks gradually decrease in intensity, creating a reflective conclusion to the album's political statements.

Composition 25% of the score: 8/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 8/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 8/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 My Queen Is Ada Eastman 6:41
2 My Queen Is Mamie Phipps Clark 5:31
3 My Queen Is Harriet Tubman 5:40
4 My Queen Is Anna Julia Cooper 5:06
5 My Queen Is Angela Davis 6:35
6 My Queen Is Nanny of the Maroons 6:43
7 My Queen Is Yaa Asantewaa 7:04
8 My Queen Is Albertina Sisulu 5:19
9 My Queen Is Doreen Lawrence 6:48

What to play next

Listen next

Black to the Future

2021

Go back to

Lest We Forget What We Came Here to Do

2015

Full Sons of Kemet discography Artists like Sons of Kemet

jazz

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata