Black Music Project

Eddie Palmieri, a trailblazer in Latin music, has died at age 88 The bandleader and pianist was one of the leading Latin musicians of his generation. He won multiple Grammys and was recognized as an NEA Jazz Master.

Grammy-winning bandleader and pianist Eddie Palmieri, whose pounding rhythms forged a new style for Latin music, has died.

Busta Rhymes Honored With Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame: ‘I Feel Complete Today’ Busta Rhymes was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday (Aug. 1). LL COOL J, Big Daddy Kane and Chuck D spoke at the ceremony.

Busta Rhymes received his well-deserved star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame today for a long and legendary career.

This is the correct response when in the presence of Mavis Staples.

A photo of August Wilson's historic home in Pittsburgh, PA.

#AugustWilson, was one of our greatest writers. His works like, The Piano Lesson and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom chronicle the Black experience in the 20th century and music plays a big role. If you want to truly understand America, then you must familiarize yourself with Wilson's work. #Pittsburgh

Black music has always been woke — from call & response work songs, to spirituals that questioned the status quo "Didn’t my Lord deliver Daniel, & why not every man?" Rap has been woke since "The Message" was delivered in 1982. Wu-Tang's RZA delivers a new message we should heed.
#wutang #wokesongs

Mama Mosie Burks, a Mississippi Mass Choir legend, dies at 92 Mama Mosie Burks, a gospel pioneer, has died, according to a Facebook post by her daughter.

“When I Rose This Morning” lead singer Mama Mosie Burks — a lead vocalist of the Mississippi Mass Choir — has died her family says. She was 92. www.wapt.com/article/mama...

LL COOL J drops out of Wawa Welcome America concert because of union strike LL COOL J said that he is not going to perform at Wawa Welcome America on July 4th in light of the AFSCME District Council 33 strike in Philadelphia.

LL Cool J said that he will not perform at Wawa Welcome America in Philadelphia on July 4th because of union strike

“There is absolutely no way I can perform across a picket line”

If only we had a time machine. If anyone can get a hook-up on a flux capacitor, dm us.

Gotcha. Gonna try to see if we can find a flux capacitor on the Dark Web to build a time machine.

If you're referring to 1968, we listed the song's original release date. But yes, this performance was from 2015. RIP to the Queen of Soul.

Ray Parker Jr. put down one of the dirtiest, funkiest guitar parts ever on that record. It's a great B-side that often gets overlooked in Stevie's vast catalogue of greatness.

YouTube video by Stevie Wonder - Topic Maybe Your Baby

Stevie Wonder “Maybe Your Baby” At 12 this song opened up my eyes to the idea that dating in adulthood might be more complicated than the romance Disney stories presented them. Also, the funkiness & warning in the song is and was for 12 year old me amazing yet sobering.
youtu.be/J9bSLd5KzDQ?...

Day 30: Your idea of the perfect song

All month we’ve celebrated different themes, elements, and aspects of Black music.Today is a little more simple: the song you love in and out, top to bottom.

For the *final day* of the #BlackMusicMonthChallenge, share your idea of the perfect song.

YouTube video by PBS NewsHour WATCH: Aretha Franklin sings "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman"

Aretha Franklin's "...Natural Woman" (1968). She sang the song shortly before her death at the Kennedy Center Honors. Aretha was reportedly in a lot of pain, but she came out for one last time to pay tribute to her friend, writer Carole King. A performance so perfect it brought Obama to tears.

YouTube video by Billie Holiday - Topic God Bless the Child (Take 1)

Billie Holiday, "God Bless the Child." - 1942. The lyrics were written by Billie after her mom refused to loan her $ during tough times (after Billie had supported her for years). Billie's vocal is both heartbreaking and resilient. This version's take 1 is so perfect there's no need for another.

YouTube video by TheTemptationsVEVO The Temptations - Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) (Lyric Video)

Perhaps the most perfect song about unrequited love ever put to wax. The Temptations, "Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)" - 1971. Lyrics, melody, harmonies, instrumentation, Eddie Kendrick's lead vocals and groundbreaking production by Whitfield & Strong = perfection.

“The Beautiful Ones” by Prince is my idea of perfection. It’s not quite r&b, not quite soul, and not quite rock. It’s this other thing that only be described as “Prince.” And it builds beautifully from a hushed beginning to a passionate end. It’s my absolute favorite song. #BlackMusicMonthChallenge

YouTube video by Amarudontv Terry Lewis Recounts Meeting Prince At High School

Listen to Terry Lewis (Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis) recount his school days. Of the many great tragedies and attacks on the American public school system since the 80s, we must not forget the underfunding of music & the arts #JimmyJam #TerryLewis #Prince #MinneapolisSound #PublicSchool #blackmusicmonth

Here’s a piece I wrote a while ago that folks have been reading apparently! Apt as I’ve spent the day doing absolutely nothing because I’m too bloody hot to.

Rediscover Public Enemy’s ‘It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back’ (1988) | Tribute Public Enemy’s landmark second LP is one of those rare albums that lives up to all of the superlatives that have been heaped upon it since its release three-and-a-half decades ago.

Public Enemy released ‘It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back’ 37 years ago on June 28, 1988 | Listen to the album + revisit our tribute here: album.ink/PEitanomthub

YouTube video by Truth Hitman Bo Diddley, Little Richard, and Chuck Berry

Little Richard, Bo Diddley, and Chuck Berry talk about the world their music changed and the backlash they faced in their careers. Little Richard's doc is available on Max. #HBOMax #pridemonth #blackmusicmonth 5/5

YouTube video by Magnolia Pictures & Magnet Releasing Little Richard: I Am Everything - Official Trailer | Documentary by Lisa Cortés | Opens April 21

Little Richard may be the most influential figure in #rocknroll because he distilled its essence: gender-bending #blues & a dynamite mixture of #gospel & the profane. His influence on rockers who followed him (gay, straight, and everything in between) is incalculable. #PrideMonth #littlerichard 4/5

YouTube video by thecoolidge Far From Heaven | Original Trailer | Coolidge Corner Theatre

When #rocknroll figures like #littlerichard hit America in the rigid #1950s depicted in the #film Far From Heaven, it was as if a societal bomb had dropped. By watching the two movies back-to-back, you'll better understand the vital role Black music has played in shaping the course of history. 3/5

A side-by-side photo depicting church singers from the 1940s-1950s. On the left is a choir from a White choir from a protestant church c. 1940. And on the right is a Black congregation of worshipers singing at a Baptist church c. 1940s-1950s.

At its essence, Black music is a music of liberation and freedom—even gospel music does this (unlike European-derived religious music, which rarely made room for vocal improvisation). Little Richard grew up in the church, and he brought that soulful euphoria to secular music. #blackmusicmonth 2/5

A photo showing side-by-side movie posters from the 2002 film, Far From Heaven (left), and the 2023 documentary film Little Richard: I Am Everything

Weekend rec: A double-bill. Rent the #movie Far From Heaven and the Little Richard #documentary I Am Everything, and watch them back-to-back. Why? Because Far From Heaven depicts the "straitjacketed" world that Little Richard and rock 'n' roll helped liberate society from. #PrideMonth #Movies 1/5

YouTube video by JayZVEVO JAY-Z - Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)

Suddenly, a lot of folks gained an appreciation for musicals. Putting these two genres together was sheer innovative genius. Jay-Z "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" and "Annie: It's the Hard Knock Life" from the Broadway musical. open.spotify.com/track/2IetGx...

Day 28: A sample that made you love the original

"Reverse crate digging" = my term for finding the original source a sample. The best part when you get to the original song, and now THAT'S your jam.

For Day 28, share a sample that made you love the original (post both songs! Also TAG ME in both songs)

I wrote about Donny. What a voice. What an artist. What an album.

🗣️Darlin’ look both ways before you cross me…

The #1 song in the U.S., 55 years ago today...

Michael 🕊, Tito 🕊

#Jackson5

You ever been minding your business, listening to a song, and have the revelation that the entire song is actually problematic, you just never realized it because it sounds so good?

For Day 27 of the #BlackMusicMonthChallenge, share a song that’s low key trifling or petty.