Following are additional albums released in March 2021 across multiple genres—some will be reviewed in future issues of Black Grooves.
Continue readingTag Archives: Rap and Hip-Hop
December 2020 – January 2021 Black Music Releases of Note
Following are additional albums released December 2020 and January 2021 across multiple genres—some will be reviewed in future issues of Black Grooves.
Continue readingNovember 2020 Black Music Releases of Note
Following are additional albums released November 2020 across multiple genres—some will be reviewed in future issues of Black Grooves.
Continue readingRoots And Tings – All of This
Title: All of This
Artist: Roots And Tings
Label: Truth’s Sound
Formats: Digital, Limited ed. 45s
Release date: August 21, 2020
Combining elements of dancehall, reggae, soul and hip-hop in a subversive genre that they call Revolutionary Culture Music, Roots And Tings is a new project of Lateef the Truth Speaker (Blackalicious, Lytrix, Quannum), acclaimed DJ-producer Jah Yzer, and multi-talented musician Winstrong. Speaking about their new project, Winstrong describes Roots and Tings as “a community of curious souls with a generous goal to engage with each other through the stories told.”
Continue readingOctober 2020 Black Music Releases of Note
Following are additional albums released October 2020 across multiple genres—some will be reviewed in future issues of Black Grooves.
Continue readingPublic Enemy – What You Gonna Do When the Grid Goes Down
Title: What You Gonna Do When the Grid Goes Down
Artist: Public Enemy
Label: Def Jam
Formats: CD, LP, Digital
Release date: September 25, 2020
Public Enemy is back! In yet another pre-election release by socially conscious hip hop icons, What You Gonna Do When the Grid Goes Down is an explosive album of politically charged tracks from Chuck D, Flavor Flav and DJ Lord. With collabs from the likes of George Clinton, Ice T, Cypress Hill and Run-DMC, there’s plenty of nostalgia to arouse the interest of golden age hip hop fans, as well as tracks addressing contemporary issues, ranging from the Trump presidency and internet dependency to the killing of Breonna Taylor. Yet despite addressing weighty social-political topics, the infectious beats and off-the-charts production give the album a celebratory quality, with tracks maintaining a high energy level from beginning to end.
Continue readingFree Radicals – White Power Outage Volume 1
Title: White Power Outage Volume 1
Artist: Free Radicals
Label: RWE
Format: Digital
Release Date: September 15, 2020
One of the most diverse musical collectives in the country, Free Radicals includes over 50 musicians that range from 4-year-old attendees of Peace Camp Houston to 92-year-old vibraphone player Harry Sheppard. These musicians bring together their varied backgrounds and talents on White Power Outage Volume 1, a revolutionary album that demands an end to white supremacy in the arts, culture, and politics.
Continue readingSeptember 2020 Black Music Releases of Note
Following are additional albums released September 2020 across multiple genres—some will be reviewed in future issues of Black Grooves.
Continue readingSummer 2020 Black Music Releases of Note
Following are additional albums released during June, July and August 2020 across multiple genres—some will be reviewed in future issues of Black Grooves.
Continue readingDamu the Fudgemunk, Archie Shepp & Raw Poetic – Ocean Bridges
Title: Ocean Bridges
Artist: Damu the Fudgemunk, Archie Shepp & Raw Poetic
Label: Redefinition
Formats: Digital (via Bandcamp), LP (tba)
Release date: May 22, 2020
One of the most intriguing projects of the year, Ocean Bridges is a collaboration between Washington, DC hip hop artists/producers Damu the Fudgemunk (aka Earl Davis) and MC Raw Poetic (aka Jason Moore), and Moore’s uncle, the illustrious jazz elder Archie Shepp. The album’s title signifies “a re-establishing of the connection between young and old in their general community.” As Moore explains: “I began writing down the parts in my head that could tell a story, a Black American story, that would expand across the ages, a story from my grandfather to my uncle, from my mother to me. We bridged the gaps of time, culture and struggle and made an album I always dreamt of—Ocean Bridges.” Entirely improvised, the eleven tracks also bridge genres, creatively blending live music and spoken word, jazz and hip hop in a manner that maintains the spontaneity of their vision.
Continue readingMay 2020 Black Music Releases of Note
Following are additional albums released during May 2020 across multiple genres—some will be reviewed in future issues of Black Grooves.
Continue readingApril 2020 Black Music Releases of Note
Following are additional albums released during April 2020 across multiple genres—some will be reviewed in future issues of Black Grooves.
Continue readingMarch 2020 Black Music Releases of Note
Following are additional albums released during March 2020 across multiple genres—some will be reviewed in future issues of Black Grooves.
Continue readingFebruary 2020 Black Music Releases of Note
Following are additional albums released during February 2020 across multiple genres—some will be reviewed in future issues of Black Grooves.
Continue readingJanuary 2020 Black Music Releases of Note
Following are additional albums released during January 2020 across multiple genres—some will be reviewed in future issues of Black Grooves.
Continue readingVarious Artists – 16 Bars (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Title: 16 Bars (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Artist: Various
Label: Lightyear Ent.
Formats: CD, LP, Digital
Release date: November 8, 2019
Two time Grammy award winner and hip hop artist Speech Thomas and his band Arrested Development have spent the past few decades touring the world, seeking out opportunities to address social and racial justice issues. Since the release of their triple platinum debut album, 3 Years, 5 Month & 2 Days in the Life of (1993), they have created many different projects and facilitated opportunities for various communities. The documentary 16 Bars, currently screening on the film festival circuit, is the fruition of one of the most ground breaking projects they have released yet. The film follows the journey of Thomas and his band members as they work with inmates at the Richmond City Jail to produce written and recorded narratives about the complex issues of the criminal justice system, including the social and economic effects it has on the families these men were taken away from. In the words of Speech Thomas, “these men are behind bars… but their voices have to be heard.” Continue reading
December 2019 Black Music Releases of Note
Following are additional albums released during December 2019 across multiple genres—some will be reviewed in future issues of Black Grooves. Continue reading
November 2019 Black Music Releases of Note
Following are additional albums released during November 2019 across multiple genres—some will be reviewed in future issues of Black Grooves. Continue reading
October 2019 Black Music Releases of Note
Following are additional albums released during October 2019 across multiple genres—some will be reviewed in future issues of Black Grooves. Continue reading