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The Music is Black

A British Story
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Brief Description
Black British music has been the soundtrack to periods of profound political, social, cultural and demographic change. It is the music of identity, indefatigability, resistance, anger, celebration, love, loss; it is the music of possibility and hope. Opening with an exploration of the sound and identity... Read More
Format: Hardback
$7800
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Black British music has been the soundtrack to periods of profound political, social, cultural and demographic change. Epic in scope and personal recollection, The Music is Black bears witness to the resilience, ingenuity and heart of all those who create.

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Black British music has been the soundtrack to periods of profound political, social, cultural and demographic change. It is the music of identity, indefatigability, resistance, anger, celebration, love, loss; it is the music of possibility and hope.

Opening with an exploration of the sound and identity of the African diaspora as shaped by the tumultuous forces of British imperialism and colonialism from the 1400s to 1900, Jacqueline Springer then surveys the black musical landscape in Britain from 1900 to 1970. Two major imports - American rap and Jamaican ragga - are singled out for their vital contributions to the homegrown genres central to the publication: Lovers Rock, Brit Funk, 2 Tone, Jungle, Drum & Bass, Trip Hop and UK Garage and Grime.

Each genre is then considered with an academic framing of its social and political landscape and artist interviews that include Carroll Thompson, Neville Staple, Kenny Wellington, Bluey Maunick, Fabio and Grooverider, Skye Edwards and Ross Godfrey of Morcheeba, Megaman, DJ Target and Slimzee. Epic in scope and personal recollection, The Music is Black bears witness to the resilience, ingenuity and heart of all those who create.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781838510527

Publisher: V & A Publishing

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 19 March 2026

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: V & A Publishing

Illustration: c. 160 Illus

Contributors:

  • Foreword by Dame Shirley Bassey
  • Edited by Jacqueline Springer

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 165.0mm

Height: 230.0mm

Weight: 0g

Pages: 352

Collections

Arts & Culture Non-Fiction Pop Culture: Best-Selling Books

About the Author

Jacqueline Springer is Curator, Africa and Diaspora: Performance at the V&A

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