“A Black Lady Sketch Show” is a comedy series on HBO. The show depicts realistic moments in hyperbolic ways that are likely to resonate with professional women – – especially black women. The series’ second season is announced with a song called “Fine Azz” by rapper Kamillion. The song is the soundtrack for confident women – – who know who they are and how they are perceived by others.
About Kamillion
Thanks to Kamillion’s catchy tune, “Fine Azz,” women who are not necessarily fans of rap, but who are fans of “A Black Lady Sketch Show” have taken to the Internet, namely YouTube and Google, to try to learn more about the song and artist who makes the edgy show pop.
Kamillion (sometimes stylized as KaMillion) was born Alja Kamillion. The performer reportedly has six siblings. She was born in Jacksonville, Florida in 1989. Kamillion’s foray into the entertainment world came when she started writing songs that were eventually recorded by such household names as Rhianna, Jordin Sparks and Trey Songz.
What listeners will notice about Kamillion’s music, especially “Fine Azz” which can be found on her album “Toxic,” is that Kamillion does not shy away from her topics. She is not coy. None of which means that the work is all profanity-laden; yes, there are explicit lyrics, but mostly there is a sense of self that allows women to see themselves for who they are and love it. In “Fine Azz” the narrator refers to herself. When women rap along with Kamillion, they too, are allowed to see how attractive they are.
Detractors will say that no one can give you self-esteem, and using profanity will not achieve anything for the user. However, in an age in which black women are still being said to look “masculine” (see all criticism of Michelle Obama and the Williams sisters), in an age when black children are having their dreadlocks cut off by school sports officials and coaches (not isolated incidents), yes, a song in which black women are heralded as “fine” is necessary. Not only necessary, but fun. Anyone who watches the video for the song and the opening to “A Black Lady Sketch Show” who is prone to dancing, will find a reason to get up when “Fine Azz” comes on.
“A Black Lady Sketch Show”: now streaming on HBOMax
Now in its second season, “A Black Lady Sketch Show” is meeting the needs of an audience who enjoys humorous content, but perhaps have not always seen themselves portrayed in a way that even approached realistic.
For some viewers, “A Black Lady Sketch Show” will be the first time that attractive black women have been funny, goofy, and awkward on television. The show’s leads do not take themselves too seriously and have no problem donning fake braids and beards to portray men. It should be noted that there are some men on the show, but they are not leads.
In the course of two seasons, “A Black Lady Sketch Show” has made fun of family reunions, social critics (who are not quite Ph.D’s) who end up insulting people needlessly, church dinners, and black women who pump up everyone around them – – even the fire alarm, and so forth. There is also the running theme of the Apocalypse, which is funnier than it sounds.
“A Black Lady Sketch Show” offers respite from comedy that is either directed at black women or that ignores them completely. In the world of “A Black Lady Comedy Show” a professional black woman can see her struggles made into comedy gold by people who look like her. That is another thing: representation of a broad range of skin tones helps to make the show realistic. As people of all races who are familiar with black American skin tones can attest, there is a diversity of skin tones among black Americans. Maybe the concept seems simple, but representation goes a long way.
With the combination of a danceable theme song, and comedy sketches that look like real-life (and speculated life after the end of the world) “A Black Lady Sketch Show” embodies an underrepresented demographic with sophistication. Even the theme song sounds like music the show’s target audience would turn up in their vehicles, hearing themselves in every line.
