Birthright: A Black Roots Music Compendium

A robust and diverse collection of Black roots music in America, this intentionally titled ‘compendium’ of sorts houses an impressive catalogue of Black roots songs, sung by various artists, spanning from recordings made from the civil rights movement to present day. Demonstrating the musical innovations of the African and Caribbean diaspora heard in the myriad different styles of Black roots music, such as the blues of Bessie Jones’ ‘Yonder Come Day’ and the toasting genre pre-dating commercial hip-hop heard in the song ‘Ups on the Farm’, this curation of songs heralds the folkloric and raw storytelling ethos Black music embodies. Featuring newer artists such as Leyla McCalla, alongside iconic greats Mississippi John Hurt, Odetta and Lightnin’ Hopkins, Birthright takes you on a journey, connected by a bridge to the songs that illustrate the pervasive influence of Black roots music on popular culture. This album speaks for itself, an up-close-and-personal history lesson of the richness of Black origin music. Dive in.