UK Blak Symposium

Saturday, 22 January 2022

Image: Dread Beat and Blood, Franco Rossi, 1979

In the 1970s, an underground Black British sound emerged. Brought to Britain by the Windrush generation, it was the sound of reggae and dub, and it filled the clubs and ‘blues’ of West London and Brixton. Just as the phenomenon of ‘hip hop’ had seeped in from across the Atlantic via imports and radio in the early 80s, so the UK began to develop homegrown talent, with its own cross-pollination of sound and culture. Across London and Bristol, UK Black sounds emerged that combined dub with hip hop, emerging house music and nu-soul and gave rise to such well known artists as Soul II Soul, Neneh Cherry, the Cookie Crew, London Posse and Bomb the Bass. 

With techno thrown into the mix, the sound of jungle grew, with artists like LTJ Bukem and Goldie, and Bristol’s own Massive Attack and Tricky rising to prominence. As the decade developed, UK Garage emerged into the mainstream, with So Solid Crew’s distinctive sounds sowing the seeds for the world domination of grime.  

This afternoon’s documentary films and panel will act as a symposium of music, visuals and discussion around underground Black British music of the 80s and 90s. Linton Kwesi Johnston brings radical poetry and dub to an politically-engaged public, while the Def Jam touring show reveals how a hip hop revolution began in London, before jungle ruled the pirate airwaves. Plus a surprise screening – a rarely-screened film from 1989, following an iconic female soul singer and rapper as she prepares her debut album.  The panel includes author Arusa Quershi (Flip The Script), music consultant Lee Fairweather and filmmaker and author Jesse Bernard. There will also be a stall selling books and DVDs.