Five-time GRAMMY®-winning soul powerhouse Lalah Hathaway is taking listeners back to where her Chicago story began with her new single, “47th Street.” Out now via Hathaway Entertainment/SRG-ILS/Virgin, the deeply personal release is more than a song about a street—it’s a musical journey through family, history, migration and the memories that helped shape Hathaway’s identity.
Inspired by the Chicago neighborhood where her father’s family lived, “47th Street” captures the energy of a city that became home for generations of Black families. The track opens with Grammy-winning poet J. Ivy, whose spoken-word narration traces the journey of Black families moving north from the South in search of opportunity and a place to build new roots.
From there, Hathaway turns those memories into soulful storytelling, reflecting on her father and grandfather Hosea while acknowledging how much the neighborhood—and the city itself—has changed.
There’s nostalgia throughout the record, but “47th Street” isn’t simply looking backward. Hathaway captures the complicated feeling of watching familiar places evolve while knowing their imprint can never truly disappear.
With her signature rich vocals at the center, Hathaway transforms a Chicago street into a living piece of her family history.
“47th Street” is available now. Add the song to your vibe playlist and take the journey home with Lalah Hathaway.
*Cover photo credit: Lyndon French