Linqua Franqa Shares New Single 'Necessity'

Franqa's new album will be released on April 22.

By: Mar. 23, 2022
Enter Your Email to Unlock This Article

Plus, get the best of BroadwayWorld delivered to your inbox, and unlimited access to our editorial content across the globe.




Existing user? Just click login.




Athens, Georgia-based rapper, linguist, activist, parent, and politician Mariah Parker (they/them), who performs as Linqua Franqa, will release new album Bellringer on April 22 via Ernest Jenning Record Co.

Produced by Parker, Reindeer Games and Joel Hatstat, the new album features guests including Jeff Rosenstock, Of Montreal, Kishi Bashi, Dope KNife, Wesdaruler, and Angela Davis, touching on issues like police brutality, social media addiction, mental health, anti-capitalism, labor organizing, among other topics ripped from the headlines.

Previous singles "Wurk" and "Bellringer" (Feat. Jeff Rosenstock) touch on frontline employee labor rights as well as domestic and racial violence. Released today, new single "Necessity" sees Linqua Franqa turning inward. Over bouncing keys, a thundering bass beat and witty lyricism, the song is a reminder listeners, constituents and themself that life can be messy and the pathway to growth is paved with lessons learned from mistakes.

"lingua franca" is a term for a language used to communicate across cultures. Weaving a rich tapestry of hip-hop lyricism and neo-soul hooks, Parker uses music as a tool to communicate - and educate - across cultural boundaries, imbuing every song with a sense of urgency and keen social consciousness. Bellringer is a natural continuation of the work Parker has committed themselves to both as an artist and politician.

Parker is a prominent voice of change and progress in the entertainment community as well as their work as Athens-Clarke County Commissioner. They also co-host popular iHeartRadio Waiting on Reparations podcast (3k+ weekly listeners) with Dope KNife.

Boiled down to a word, Bellringer at its heart is about liberation - and the obstacles that prevent us from achieving it. Parker is a "linqua franqa" for the people.

Listen to the new single here:


Play Broadway Games

The Broadway Match-UpTest and expand your Broadway knowledge with our new game - The Broadway Match-Up! How well do you know your Broadway casting trivia? The Broadway ScramblePlay the Daily Game, explore current shows, and delve into past decades like the 2000s, 80s, and the Golden Age. Challenge your friends and see where you rank!
Tony Awards TriviaHow well do you know your Tony Awards history? Take our never-ending quiz of nominations and winner history and challenge your friends. Broadway World GameCan you beat your friends? Play today’s daily Broadway word game, featuring a new theatrically inspired word or phrase every day!

 



Videos