N'DIGO STUDIO | Move On Up : Chicago Soul Music And Black Cultural Power

Description

In this episode your host Hermene Hartman speaks with Author Aaron Cohen and music Artist Terisa Griffin. We discuss Aaron’s new book ‘Move On Up: Chicago Soul Music and Black Cultural Power’, a comprehensive historical review of the music history in Chicago and the underlying socio-political-cultural environment in which the music was produced. Aaron Cohen is a Professor of Humanities and a Music Journalist and Terisa Griffin is great Singer and active member of the modern Chicago music scene.

We discuss how the music of Chicago was intertwined with the politics of the city as the 60s and 70s progressed. We talk about the progression of music from the 60s to today. We highlight the unique sounds and influence that Chicago-based artists like Curtis Mayfield and the musicians of Motown have had on the broader music community. We examine how that trend continues today through such artists as Kanye West and Chance The Rapper.

Terisa explains how the music of Chicago has influenced her own artistic expression. She speaks of the great arrangements by Curtis Mayfield, the rap lyrics of Malik Yusef, and how these and many other great Chicago-based musicians have inspired her musical career.

We explore how different cities across the United States had and have their own sound and how Chicago musicians had to create their own identities in order to stand out. We explore the messages ingrained in lyrics by artists such as Curtis Mayfield, and how the expression of black culture is evident in the music.

We discuss what Rhymefest meant when he said that Chicago music lives in the future. Aaron explains that Rhymefest was inspired by the great Chicago musicians of the past, who always seemed to create new musical sounds that would go on to influence the rest of the music industry.

N'DIGO STUDIO, making talk real again!

Guests

Author Aaron Cohen