Since it’s Black Music Appreciation Month, it’s only right that I talk about it. It’s been a minute since I’ve talked about music on my blog so I’m pretty excited! Now does this mean that I don’t listen to non-black music? Of course not! I love many different types of music but that’s not the focus in this blog.
Anywho… not only is it Pride Month, but it’s BLACK Music Month! It’s the time where we get to reflect on black music and our culture. For some, we take a trip down memory lane. According to Billboard.com, former President Jimmy Carter first inducted this month as Black Music Month on June 7, 1979. Apparently, he did not sign a presidential proclamation making it official. Former President Barack Obama later renamed the national observance as African-American Music Appreciation Month. (Click here for more information.)
Now Let’s Talk About my Range: What Have I Been Exposed To?
Well, I listened to different types of music growing up. My parents didn’t want to expose me and my siblings to things I didn’t need to listen to as a kid in the 90s. As a result, I was only limited to watching a few channels, like Nickelodeon and Disney Channel. My mom was a choir director, so she listened to many different types of Gospel music. It was anywhere between a sprinkle of James Cleveland to state mass choirs like Chicago, Mississippi, and Georgia… to Donald Lawrence, Hezekiah Walker, and Kirk Franklin… a pinch of Ricky Dillard and a sprinkle of Fred Hammond… and then there were her favorites: J Moss, John P. Kee, Walter Hawkins… I could keep going but I’ll stop here. My mom also listened to 92.1 FM growing up because that’s the only station she understood. That played music from the 1970s to some current R&B music, so that was right up her alley. Man, do she love her some Charlie Wilson and Jill Scott! My dad and papa, I think, were responsible for exposing me to songs from the mid-1900s. My dad sticks to music that he knows, such as Earth, Wind & Fire. My papa exposed me to The Temptations. Man, did he want me and my siblings to watch The Temptations movie every day LOL! We’re now at a point where we can recite that entire movie and annoy everyone. Yep, that’s how it was growing up with music: care-free and being a curious kid.
I was exposed to more music when I went to school or if I was at a friend’s house, especially in middle and high school. I got to watch BET around then I think – Usher, Ashanti, Destiny’s Child, B5, Trey Songz, Mario, B2K, Lil’ Wayne, Day26, Danity Kane, Chris Brown, the entire era of music from Atlanta (Crime Mob, 3 6 Mafia, D4L, Ludacris, Soulja Boy, Ciara, T.I., Bone Crusher, etc.). I remember wanting to make sure that I was home to catch 106 & Park. (Did you ever do that?) Besides Cita’s World and Rap City… does anyone else remember when BET used to just play music videos in the morning? Honey, I used to wake up good and early to see if I can catch my favorite music video! I was also exposed to music from being in the marching band, such as music from Mint Condition. Gospel music never stopped playing in my mom’s car. Mom was still a choir director and by then I liked listening to Kierra Sheard and Kirk Franklin.
I think my childhood and adolescent days developed my love for music. But it wasn’t until I took an African American Music appreciation class in college, with Dr. Brenda Ellis, that I began to deepen my love for music. She exposed me and my classmates to music from when my ancestors were enslaved to Spirituals to the reasoning behind Race Music to soul music from The Civil Rights Movement to the disco era…to the gangsta rap era… and any eras in between. She also explained why each song and era had a purpose. Additionally, I think because I was in a college choir (In His Presence Gospel Choir) that exposed me to more Gospel Artists, like Jonathan McReynolds, Youthful Praise, and The Walls Group. I grew a love for hip hop music from the 80s and 90s, like music from A Tribe Called Quest, Biggie, Tupac, and NWA. I learned about J. Cole’s “Friday Night Lights” mixtape and Kendrick Lamar in college.
There’s so much music and so many more artists to mention, but this blog will begin to look like a 20-page thesis if I took more time LOL! Just know that my range is big and it’s hard to begin in one spot.
What do I Like/Love Now?
As of now, my current black favorite artists are Musiq Soulchild, Jake & Papa, J. Cole, Jonathan McReynolds, and Kierra Sheard. At this point, I love looking for those artists that aren’t too popular nowadays, like Lucky Daye, We Are KING, Jake & Papa, and Resound. I also began to grow a love for African and Caribbean music – any song from the Bob Marley lineage, Burna Boy, Tiwa Savage. I love reading on black music histories, such as Motown and Stax Records. I also love supporting artists from my city, like Stevin Crane, Tommy McGuffey & True Worship, Chris Betts, and Valaree Draine.
Why do I Love Black Music?
The Black Lives Matter Movement reminded me of how much I love black music and my people. Black music is so COLORFUL! Almost every song has a meaning, whether deep or didn’t scratch the surface. Black music is the epitome of soul. It makes you feel good when you’re upset, gives you motivation, gives you confidence, and sometimes makes you want to fight somebody even when you can’t fight LOL. Most of our songs are heavy and some have substance.
Many people chastise today’s music due to the lack of substance, but I think people aren’t looking in the right places. I’ll also argue that each generation of music had shallow songs… and the generation before always had an issue with it. For example, we as Millennials may have issues with music from Generation Z… but Generation X had an issue with our music too… and then the Baby Boomers had an issue with Generation X music. It’s a continuous cycle! Every generation will complain that the music of the present isn’t like what it used to be, but I don’t think it’s supposed to be like the music of your generation. Time moves and so should music. All music is a part of black music history.
I think I’ll stop here. I hope you enjoy the rest of Black Music Month! Remember that Black Lives Matter and so does our music. What have you been exposed to? Take time to appreciate it and think about when you began to love music.
Take Care!
~Live Laugh Love~
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