So as of late I have had many discussions about black dance music being hijacked. Yes it has been stolen away from us and in many cases we are to blame. Soulful underground American dance music is no longer visible in Black and Latino communities.
With the exception of a few radio stations nation wide it is no longer on the radio. Yes you can argue that no one engages radio the way we did twenty years ago. However, the point is it’s not there present for people to find. Likewise, I don’t see my generation or the generation before me handing this music to the youth. How is this culture supposed to live on if we are not showing the next generation what has been built. Also don’t get mad when they do find it and start to do it their way when no one has showed them how it has been done.
Dance music is starving for more brothas and sistahs to embrace this culture. We need more venue owners. There is a need for more brown vinyl and digital distributors. We need more people of color to throw parties. Certainly there needs to be more brown people writing for reputable dance music publications. If you’re upset that this culture has been hijacked get up and do something about it. Write a blog, start a digital label, throw a party, start a sound company. Let’s start empowering ourselves in this game again.
I am for certain people reading this probably are saying this cat is a fool. My rebuttal would be we already are on the outside looking in. Our culture in many cases is hardly recognizable. Do we care to have it totally usurped? Have you ever been upset because you have felt discriminated against by a venue owner? Do you feel left out as you know you play very well but are constantly overlooked for bookings? We all have, and the only way to combat against it is to empower ourselves so we are not reliant on others.
It takes small steps and sacrifice to actually get to where I am speaking of. I myself as have others for example spent many Saturday nights at home raising and saving capital to accomplish starting a label or to be able to host events. Hopefully in the next few years I will own a venue in which will be utilized for art, recording, performance, and most importantly a community center and safe space for artists, derelicts, and the disenfranchised. The only way my vision will be realized is to accomplish this goal.
Respect to minority entrepreneurs in the underground community. Zernell with his Grimy label and clothing line. Mark Duncan in Detroit who is a sound tech and is a model in professionalism. Kai Alce who’s famed NDATL label stands as a testimony for all aspiring people of color looking for inspiration to dedicate themselves to their craft. The sky is the limit if you focus. These are just a few that are laying the foundation for us to take the next step.
In closing, none of this is easy and in most cases people would say this is ideal thinking. I however will reply rather than allowing ourselves to get down get out there and accomplish your goals and visions. Hopefully writing this will inspire a few others to do the same. If we allow others to write our narrative for us we are nothing more than slaves in this game. In return we allow ourselves to be only useful for others to pick our brain for knowledge and study our soul. Without hesitation I say when they have used us up they will have nothing else to do with us. So empower yourself and make the game yours.