Have you ever been jamming to your favorite hip hop or R&B track and suddenly wondered, “Wait, where have I heard that melody before?” Black music enthusiast, Marcus White, is here to answer that question with his Black Music Month series–a history lesson spun at 33 RPM.
With a turntable at his center stage and a passion for music, Marcus dives deep. He spins Sylvia Striplin’s soulful ballad, “You Can’t Turn Me Away,” before seamlessly transitioning to Junior M.A.F.I.A.’s hard-hitting “Get Money,” sharing the unmistakable sample that binds them.
Marcus shared with I LoveUs, “Anyone who knows me knows my deep love and appreciation for Black music. I’ve been curating sample playlists on my streaming apps for years. Once I started expanding my vinyl collection, I actively sought out the original versions of highly sampled songs.” He attributes the rapid expansion of his collection—which includes more than 150 records—to the reintroduction and first-time production of albums in celebration of hip hop’s 50th anniversary. He detailed, “In February, I made a list of all the samples I wanted to use, compared old versus new, took inventory of the LPs I had and needed, and slowly started recording the necessary clips.”
Marcus’ series isn’t just about showing off his impressive vinyl collection (though, it is pretty cool). It celebrates the expanse of music that the foundation of hip hop and R&B is built upon. It’s about understanding the legacy of those who came before and appreciating the creativity it takes to reimagine their artistry. “I’ve enjoyed celebrating Black music on social media with like-minded people, and I plan to continue doing so.”
Check out the series below!
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