tech
Escaping Babylon by Jesse Bernard review
A personal exploration of the sounds that defined a community, from Soul II Soul to Dizzee Rascal
TL;DR
- The book "Escaping Babylon" by Jesse Bernard covers Black British music, starting from 1989, a year of significant global success for artists like Soul II Soul and Sade.
- Bernard structures the book like a mixtape, blending his personal life story with his growth as a musical explorer, DJ, and journalist.
- The narrative highlights the influence of artists such as Mica Paris, Soul II Soul, and Craig David, and explores genres like UK funky, grime, jungle, and drill.
- Special attention is given to 1990s artists like Lynden David Hall and the importance of Trevor Nelson's "The Lick" on MTV Base.
- Bernard draws parallels between Black British artists creating their own performance circuits and the historical Chitlin' Circuit in the US.
- The book touches upon the ongoing challenges faced by Black music events in London, including the legacy of Form 696 and current lyric scanning by police.
- Despite some flaws in argument development due to its style, "Escaping Babylon" is considered an important contribution to the history of Black British music.