Black Music Project

Booker T & the MGs performing their smash hit "Green Onions" —the Northern European audience is transfixed. #RIPSteveCropper #Stax youtu.be/HfDMbFiX15A?...

Steve Cropper, guitarist and member of Stax Records' Booker T and the M.G.'s, dies Steve Cropper, who co-wrote classics including "(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay" and "In the Midnight Hour" during his years playing guitar at the legendary Stax Records in Memphis, has died. He was 84.

Steve Cropper, who co-wrote classics including "(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay" and "In the Midnight Hour" during his years playing guitar at the legendary Stax Records in Memphis, has died. He was 84. n.pr/48zf0gD

Jimmy Cliff, Jamaican reggae singer, actor and cultural icon, dies aged 81 Star of The Harder They Come had hits including You Can Get It If You Really Want and I Can See Clearly Now

RIP to reggae icon, Jimmy Cliff. #jimmycliff #reggae www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...

Along with being a master musician, Jellybean was a great storyteller and ambassador for the Minneapolis Sound. I was lucky to briefly know him. #RIPJellybean

A photo of Minneapolis Sound multi talented musician, Prince recruit, and member of The Time, Jellybean Johnson with Black Music Project founder, Christopher Fuller.

Jellybean Johnson was a multi talented musician and critical architect of the Minneapolis Sound. We were blessed to know him and give our condolences to his wife and family. The Minneapolis Sound has lost one of its greatest champions. #RIPjellybeanjohnson #minneapolissound #Prince #TheTime

YouTube video by Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Hudson & More Pay Tribute to Sly Stone | Rock Hall 2025 Induction

A collection of all-stars led by Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Hudson, Questlove, and other greats paid tribute to the legendary Sly Stone at this year's Rock Roll Hall of Fame jam. #SlyStone

youtu.be/gakFq11BfR4?...

Dr. Marcyliena H. Morgan, Founder Of The Hip Hop Archive And Research Institute, Dies At 75 Marcyliena H. Morgan, founding director of Harvard's Hip Hop Archive & Research Institute, died on Sept. 28.

We want to send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Dr. Marcyliena Morgan. Dr. Morgan founded the world's 1st archive dedicated to the serious study of hip-hop culture www.blackenterprise.com/dr-marcylien...

We lost a true genius today. The body may be at its eternal rest (sleep well), but the music will last forever. RIP D'Angelo.

D'Angelo Dead at 51 Grammy-winning R&B soul singer D'Angelo is dead from pancreatic cancer ... TMZ has learned.

D'Angelo has died after a battle with pancreatic cancer, his former manager says. He was 51

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