Beyond Black History Month

If you are a regular listener of this podcast, you have probably realized that we haven't dropped a new episode for a few weeks. That is because the team behind Beyond Black History Month is moving on. The good news: If you haven't listened to every episode - you can binge now! Thank you so much for supporting our work. To hear what's next, connect with me on social media. Connect with host Femi Redwood on Twitter here Connect with Femi on TikTok here

In the final episode on the birth of hip-hop, we look at the songs and events from the 80's that continue to impact hip-hop today. We also explore how early award shows refused to acknowledge hip-hop music and the protest that followed.    Guests:  Big Tigger Darryl McDaniels Ed Lover Grand Wizzard Theodore Rahiem Rich Nice  The Last Poets Credits:  Jill Webb, Producer Dempsey Pillot, Producer Anddy Egan-Thorpe, Audio Engineer Femi Redwood, Host and Executive Producer

The Sugarhill Gang was the first hip-hop group to record a song and the first hip-hop group or artist to make it onto the Billboard charts. That's why their 1979 single "Rapper's Delight" remains one of the most influential hip-hop songs today. This week, we bring the full and candid conversation with group member Master Gee.  Guests:  Master Gee Credits:  Jill Webb, Producer Dempsey Pillot, Producer Anddy Egan-Thorpe, Audio Engineer Femi Redwood, Host and Executive Producer

We continue our story on the birth of hip-hop. In this episode we look at the graffiti and b-boy and b-girl culture We also explore the 1979 song “Rapper’s Delight” by The Sugar Hill Gang, which was the first recorded hip-hop song. We dig into how the group formed, the song’s lasting impact, and the controversy behind some of its lyrics.    Guests:  Darryl McDaniels Grand Wizzard Theodore Master Gee Rich Nice  Credits:  Jill Webb, Producer Dempsey Pillot, Producer Anddy Egan-Thorpe, Audio Engineer Femi Redwood, Host and Executive Producer

2023 is the 50th anniversary of hip hop. All year, we are dropping episodes in a special series that digs into one of the most popular forms of music. We’re kicking off the season with a look at the birth of hip hop. In this episode, we look at the connection between protest poetry and hip-hop, DJ Kool Herc’s iconic 1973 party, and all the external forces that contributed to hip-hop's growth like the fires that consumed parts of the South Bronx in the 70s.  Guests:  Darryl McDaniels Ed Lover Grand Wizzard Theodore Rich Nice  The Last Poets Credits:  Noa Caines, Researcher John Davis, Researcher Jill Webb, Producer Dempsey Pillot, Producer Anddy Egan-Thorpe, Audio Engineer Femi Redwood, Host and Executive Producer

We are kicking off season two by digging into the recent study that linked hair relaxers to ovarian cancer. Turns out, relaxers aren't the only hair products that could be harmful. In this episode, we speak with beauty influencer and venture capitalist Blake Newby and  sociologist and natural hair care expert Dr. Taura Taylor. We explore the reasons some people get relaxers despite knowing the dangers, while also looking at the history of perms and the policing of Black hair.  Credits:  Dempsey Pillot, studio producer Jill Webb, producer Anddy Egan-Thorpe, audio engineer Femi Redwood, host and executive producer

Beyond Black History Month is returning on January 24th. 

Host Femi Redwood and the Beyond Black History Month team are going on a holiday break! We are working on amazing episodes and will be back in January. Until then - there are lots of past shows you can listen to. In this episode, we recap what you may have missed this season. Go back and take a listen. See you in 2023!

Since Elon Musk acquired Twitter, Black social media users have seen an increase of racist and hateful trolling. This has caused some notable Black users to leave the platform. But what happens if there is a mass exodus? In this episode, we dig into why Black Twitter is so important to the culture and connections of Black folks. We speak with scholar Henry Louis Gates to learn how the digital spaces today are rooted in the ways enslaved folks communicated. We also speak with professor and researcher Deen Freelon to learn what happens to Black creativity when those networks are threatened. 

The comic book and fantasy space may seem very different from hip-hop culture, but according to Run DMC’s Daryl McDaniels, the two are very similar. In this episode, we speak with both Daryl and Hilton George, the founder of Blerdcon. While Daryl explores the similarities between the two mediums, Hilton walks us through the challenges surrounding inclusivity in the comics culture.  Guests:  Darryl DMC McDaniels Hilton George Credits:  Dempsey Pillot, field and studio producer Jill Webb, producer Anddy Egan-Thorpe, audio engineer Femi Redwood, host and executive producer