As we look at celebrating diversity, we know that music is a wonderful way to highlight the history and creativity of different cultures. For this month’s playlist, we are featuring the soulful sounds of R&B and the classic rhymes of Hip Hop. You can tune in below.
February is Black History month, and one thing that truly captures Black culture is music. The history of Black expression can often be found in art–many great writers and poets were originally African slaves (or their direct descendants), the Harlem Renaissance brought an influx of artwork of all kinds, and the Civil Rights Movement birthed a new genre of music through Motown. While R&B and Hip Hop have many roots, and the sounds of this music can be found in other genres as well, what sets these two genres apart notably is the honesty and ownership that many Black artists are able to express. Whether it’s female empowerment, the struggles of racial discrimination, love and relationships, or just a song that celebrates rhythm and dance, each artist who has contributed to this playlist has left their mark on people of all races and cultures, and we can learn a lot about Black culture by listening to their voices. Not to mention, it’s hard not to want to dance or sing along when one of these songs comes on the radio. I’d like to note that sometimes there is language used in these songs that may be perceived a certain way by different audiences. Specifically, with Hip Hop, harsher language may be used to express the reality of the message in the song. We’ve done our best to provide ‘clean’ versions of these songs, but it’s important to understand that the purpose of explicit language is often to emphasize the rawness of the message the artist is sharing. Additionally, many artists are using the vernacular of the culture they grew up around–it is not meant to be offensive, rather, the artist is portraying more vulnerability by speaking in his or her real voice. We hope you find this playlist both educational and fun to listen to! We had a ball putting together some of our favorite classics and plan to jam in the lobby, on Zoom, and in our cars. Get into the vibes with us! -Written by Aubrey Lawrence Office Manager, Sunburst School of Music