Blog Archives - keepdabeat.com

19 de April de 2025

Blog

Soul II Soul: Pioneers of the British Soul Movement

In the vibrant tapestry of 1980s Britain, a unique sound emerged from the heart of London’s multicultural landscape. Soul II Soul, founded by Jazzie B and Daddae Harvey, began as a sound system in North London, embodying the DIY ethos of the era.

Read article

12 de April de 2025

Blog

Steel Pulse’s Handsworth Revolution: The Sound of Rebellion and Resilience

In 1978, reggae was already a global force, but in the UK, it had a different pulse—one shaped by the struggles and resilience of the Caribbean diaspora. Handsworth Revolution, the debut album by Birmingham’s Steel Pulse, captured this energy like no other British reggae album before it.

Read article

5 de April de 2025

Blog

Rob: Space Afro Funk’s Ghanian Genius

Rob ‘Roy’ Raindorf, born on May 13, 1949, in Accra, Ghana, emerged as one of West Africa’s most enigmatic musical figures during the 1970s. His formative years were marked by a deep admiration for American soul and funk legends such as Otis Redding, James Brown, Wilson Pickett, and Ray Charles.

Read article

22 de March de 2025

Blog

The Apollo Theatre: The Beating Heart of Black Music in America

If there’s one venue that stands as the undisputed home of Black music in America, it’s Harlem’s Apollo Theater. Located on 125th Street in New York City, the Apollo has been more than just a stage—it’s been a proving ground, a launchpad, and a sacred space where legends were made.

Read article

16 de March de 2025

Blog

The Staple Singers – Be Altitude: Respect Yourself (1972) – Album Review

Few albums embody the intersection of soul, gospel, and activism quite like Be Altitude: Respect Yourself. Released in 1972 on the legendary Stax Records, this album arrived at a pivotal moment in Black American history. The civil rights movement had entered a new phase—Dr. King was gone...

Read article

7 de March de 2025

Blog

STAX Records: The Soul’s Heartbeat of Memphis

Stax Records, one of the most influential soul labels in music history, was born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1957. Originally founded as Satellite Records by siblings Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton, the label would soon redefine the sound of Southern soul.

Read article

21 de February de 2025

Blog

Tosca – Suzuki : Vienna’s Downtempo Awakening & The Birth of Tosca

By the late 1990s, Vienna had become a quiet but potent epicentre of downtempo, trip-hop, and electronic jazz fusion. While Berlin and London were pumping out relentless techno and breakbeats, Vienna carved out a different sonic path—one steeped in lounge aesthetics, dub influences, and deep, cinematic textures

Read article

9 de February de 2025

Blog

Bob Marley & The Wailers – Babylon By Bus: A Live Testament of Rebellion and Redemption

By the time Babylon By Bus hit the shelves in 1978, Bob Marley & The Wailers were already global icons, carrying reggae from the streets of Kingston to the farthest corners of the earth. This live album, recorded during their Kaya tour, captures the sheer electricity of their performances, particularly in Paris and other stops across Europe.

Read article

2 de February de 2025

Blog

Tony Allen: The Afrobeat’s Architect

Before Tony Allen became the rhythmic backbone of Afrobeat, he was a self-taught drummer navigating the vibrant Lagos music scene of the 1950s and early 1960s. Born in 1940 in Lagos, Nigeria, Allen grew up surrounded by a diverse sonic landscape, where traditional Yoruba music coexisted with jazz, highlife, and early forms of Western pop.

Read article

26 de January de 2025

Blog

The Wrecking Crew: The Unsung Heroes of the LA Sound

It was the 1960s, and Los Angeles was buzzing with the sound of a music revolution. The city wasn’t just home to The Beach Boys, The Byrds, or Phil Spector’s “Wall of Sound” among others; it was also the epicentre of a behind-the-scenes phenomenon shaping the soundtrack of an entire generation.

Read article