In honor of Black Music Month 2021, DJ Candlestick of the Houston chopped-and-screwed collective Chopstars has created a special mix. Below, he shares his thoughts on Black music and how its rich legacy comes alive in his work.
“Black music is the ultimate form of free artistic expression. The diversity in Black music ranges from genres like Afro-Caribbean, hip-hop, and jazz to rock ’n’ roll, country, and R&B. This wide spectrum of genres requires performers to display their full musical range when trying to express the complexity of Black music history. Being from Screwston, Texas, with Caribbean parents, musical diversity was promoted in my household and my city. The 'November 18th' song by Drake in my mix shows how the Houston classic 'June 27th' influenced the Toronto rapper’s classic song. Another example is Rebirth Brass Band's rendition of Gerald Levert's 'Casanova,' incorporating traditional New Orleans jazz music to create a new experience.”