Deeper research, primary sources, and expanded analysis on Black American music history — delivered straight to your inbox.
From the Newsletter
Recent editions. Every piece starts free — paid subscribers read the whole thing.
The R&B Roots of Rock, Pop & Hip Hop — Expanded Part IIAugust 26, 2026How segregation, migration, the Black church, nightlife, radio, and postwar optimism created the environment for a new American soundRead on SubstackPaid subscribersTaylor Graves: The Musician Behind the Sound of the FutureAugust 18, 2026From Dr. Dre and Battlecat to Thundercat, Flying Lotus, and Mac Miller, Taylor Graves’ musical journey connects generations of the Los Angeles sound.Read on SubstackBefore Kool Herc: The Black American Pioneers Hip Hop History ErasedAugust 12, 2026Today, August 11, is widely celebrated as the birthday of hip hop—the day Kool Herc supposedly created the culture at a Bronx party in 1973.Read on SubstackBeyond “The R&B Roots of Rock, Pop & Hip Hop” — Part I: What Makes R&B a Parent Genre?August 7, 2026A deeper look at the musical framework, cultural flexibility, and emotional language that allowed Rhythm & Blues to become the foundation for generations of music that…Read on SubstackThe Songs That Raised Me: Gladys Knight, Smokey Robinson, and a Night at the Hollywood BowlJuly 26, 2026A Hollywood Bowl night with Gladys Knight and Smokey Robinson became a personal reflection on Motown, love, family, and the songs that never leave us.Read on SubstackRhythm & Blues: The Parent Genre of Modern Music (Part I)July 12, 2026Part I: The Genre That Built the Modern WorldRead on Substack