Funk

Archer Record Pressing, is one of 12 record pressing plants left in the US. It is the plant where most of the classic Detroit Techno vinyl records were pressed.

Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing. Other elements include beatboxing. Since its emergence from the South Bronx, hip hop culture has spread around the world. Hip hop music first emerged with disc jockeys creating rhythmic beats by looping breaks (small portions of songs emphasizing a percussive pattern) on two turntables, more commonly referred to as sampling. This was later accompanied by “rap”, a rhythmic style of chanting or poetry presented in 16 bar measures or time frames, and beatboxing, a vocal technique mainly used to imitate percussive elements of the music and various technical effects of hip-hop DJ’s. An original form of dancing and particular styles of dress arose among fans of this new music. These elements experienced considerable refinement and development over the course of the history of the culture. Hip hop originated, by most accounts, in the late 60s with Clive Campbell, also known as DJ Kool Herc. In fact, Herc is the person that brought the first hip-hop music to the Bronx […]

The Watts Club Mozambique was established in 1969 by Detroiter Cornelius Watts to showcase local talent.

J Dilla aka Jay Dee crafted his style from about 1992 to 1997 in a basement in Detroit. His studio gave birth to a revolutionary approach to hip-hop production.

State of The Union bar was a lounge and live performance venue in North West DC, on the historic “U Street Corridor”.

Learn more about Greene St. Recording Studios and it role in recording the golden years of NY hip hop in the 90’s

The Record Plant, Sausalito was the location of some of the most successful & popular recordings in music history.

Learn about “The Rumble in the Jungle” pre-concert where Celia Cruz sang with the Fania All-Stars in Zaire, Africa.

Wonderland Music was a Detroit institution that helped artists for over 50 years

Afrofuturism’s artistic freedom, social impact and limitless sonic ideas are celebrated through jazz, funk, R&B, Afrobeat, hip-hop, electronic music in this Festival.

Explore King Britt’s Blacktronika Festival at Public Records in Brooklyn NY.

Fela Aníkúlápó Kútì was a Nigerian musician, bandleader, composer, political activist, and Pan-Africanist who popularized Afrobeat. Learn the significance of his home, Kalakuta Republic, in Nigeria.