We Are the Drum
We Are the Drum
Take 6, the Sounds of Blackness, and the New Black Aesthetic
This chapter explores the artistry of Take 6 and Sounds of Blackness. The first half of the chapter charts the formation of Take 6 and the commercial success of their first two records. It details how the group’s sound permeated every aspect of pop culture, from movies to music videos to hit sitcoms. The second half of the chapter turns attention to the Sounds of Blackness. It recounts how the Minneapolis-based ensemble put the music world on notice with their special blend of gospel, Minneapolis funk, and Afrocentric politics. Exploring Sounds of Blackness and Take 6 at their commercial peak provides us with a sense of how some gospel artists navigated the cultural shifts taking place during the era of the “New Black Aesthetic” and New Jack Swing.
Keywords: Take 6, Sounds of Blackness, Minneapolis funk, the “New Black Aesthetic”, pop culture, Afrocentric politics, video
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