No one knows the stories of the Go-Go music culture from the trenches more than the people who were in the trenches of the Go-Go music culture. Just as no one can tell those stories of the Go-Go music culture from the trenches more the people who lived in the trenches of the Go-Go music. And that’s exactly what will be taking place during Black Music Month 2020 on TV ONE.
“The Beat Don’t Stop” is the title of the 2-hour documentary on Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers’ created music that has served as the soundtrack of the DMV for over the past 4 decades. And on Sunday, June 21, 2020, TV ONE will be broadcasting this premiere on their airwaves.
Per press release
The Beat Don’t Stop pays homage to the unique contribution of Go-Go music to the musical landscape. It features a host of celebrities, artists, music historians, and community leaders including rapper Doug E. Fresh; band members from Junkyard Band, Trouble Funk, E.U., Backyard Band, TOB, TCB and Maiesha and the Hip Huggers; the dance crew Beat Ya Feet Finest; music historians Dr. Natalie Hopkinson and Kato Hammond; music journalists Ericka Blount and Alona Wartofsky; Don’t Mute DC organizer Ron Moten; talent promoter and former MCA Records executive Bo Sampson; music producer Tone P; Radio One Personality Angie Ange; DJ Flexx; hip hop artist DJ Kool; and many others.
Big Brother Konan who hosted the first daily radio show in the country dedicated to Go-Go music, on Radio One station, WOL-AM, also lends his account to this comprehensive look at the social power and influence of this unique art form.
Go-Go music is the indigenous sound of Washington, D.C., which emerged out of underprivileged neighborhoods during the height of the crack cocaine epidemic in the 1980s. It was largely blamed for the rise in crime and violence that paralyzed D.C. The Beat Don’t Stop takes viewers through that history and addresses how the music served as a platform for African Americans to elevate and address issues such as class struggles, gentrification and the music’s impact on black culture.
Chronicling the history and legacy of D.C.’s beloved sound, the doc will celebrate the legacy of Godfather of Go-Go music Chuck Brown, highlight Radio One’s pivotal role in the music gaining a platform and more.
“I always sought to represent the underrepresented. I always gave voice to the voiceless, and Go-Go was very much that,” Cathy Hughes, Chairwoman and Founder, Urban One said in a statement to The Root. “We are proud to be a part of the Go-Go story and grateful to tell the story of the men and women who helped to create and promote this amazing sound.” Hughes also serves as executive producer on the doc.
CHECK OUT THE TRAILERS BELOW:
