Single Review: Tuac’s ‘Higher Ground’

Behind his silky-smooth voice, Tuac’s “Higher Ground” is an R&B track infused with a Motown flavor that quickly induces a smile. For a singer that has collaborated with artists the likes of The Roots, Citizen Cope, Common and Wu Tang Clan, this track is the polar opposite.

It’s not a misogynistic or gloating anthem that has no other purpose than to make money. This is a track of positivity, of hope. A reminder that life isn’t perfect and we all need help on the way to our own path to happiness.

If you’re someone looking for catchy, brainless hip-hop debauchery, then you’ll be sadly disappointed with “Higher Ground.” But, if you’re in the mood for some catchy retro-soul, it’ll give you something to listen to on a sunny walk to the train.

The many comparisons Tuac receives to the legendary Marvin Gaye are, without a doubt, warranted. KC Price’s and music lyrics could also easily be classified as Sam Cooke- esque; the healthy hook drives the song, but the continuity in the verses and gospel-inspired repetition fill out the sound. Considering that, the tracks’ catchy nature makes it all too easy to get lost in Tuac’s voice.

But there’s a message there, too. The days of Gaye, The Four Tops, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes and other classic Motown and soul acts are completely a part of the Tuac’s shtick. At the same time, his collaboration with Price and voice make him different from every other R & B upstart out there today.

Legends the likes of Gaye and Cooke may have passed on, but Tuac has arrived. It may be too early to anoint him as R & B and soul’s new savior, but he’s not a figment of the studio. He doesn’t need to sample or reverb or any other fancy nuance. He can flat-out sing. That, is what soul and R & B is all about. Something that has been lost over the past decade.