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Black British Music and Its Influences

In collaboration with V&A East Museum, this playlist explores Black British music and its global influence, inspired by The Music is Black exhibition.

Created in collaboration with the V&A East Museum, this special playlist soundtracks The Music is Black exhibition, a landmark showcase celebrating 125 years of Black British music and its influence on the UK and beyond.

From early pioneers to modern trailblazers, this handpicked selection of tracks featured in the exhibition reflects the genres, movements and cultural moments that have shaped the sound of a nation. Featuring iconic voices alongside defining underground scenes, the mix captures the depth, innovation and global impact of Black British music.

This is more than a playlist; it’s an immersive journey through the stories, sounds and legacy of Black music in Britain.
Produced by BBC Audio for BBC Radio 1Xtra

9 months left to listen

1 hour, 38 minutes

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Music Played

  • Sade

    The Sweetest Taboo

    • Epic / Sony.

  • Resistance Revival Chorus

    Woke Up this Morning (With my Mind Stayed on Freedom)

    • This Joy.
    • Righteous babe Records.

  • Carroll Thompson

    Hopelessly in Love

    • Hopelessly in Love (40th Anniversary Expanded Edition).
    • BMG Rights Management (UK) Ltd..
    • 10.

  • Osibisa

    Music For Gong Gong

    • Geffen.

  • Shirley Bassey

    Goldfinger

    • Shirley Bassey: The Collection.
    • Parlophone UK.

  • Winifred Atwell

    Let's Have a Party

    • Let's Have a Party.
    • Black Sheep Music.

  • Millie Small

    My Boy Lollipop

    • Universal Music AS.

  • Neneh Cherry

    Buffalo Stance

    • Raw Like Sushi (30th Anniversary Edition / Deluxe).
    • UMC.

  • Tems

    Free Mind

    • Leading Vibes.

  • Soul II Soul

    Fairplay

    • Fair Play.
    • Virgin/10.

  • Stormzy

    Big For Your Boots

    • Stormzy.

  • The Specials

    Ghost Town

    • The Best of the Specials.
    • Chrysalis Records.
    • 16.

  • Joan Armatrading

    Love And Affection

    • Joan Armatrading.
    • A&M.
    • 4.

  • Sugababes

    Overload

    • London.

  • M‐Beat

    Incredible (feat. General Levy)

    • Renk.

  • Goldie

    Inner City Life

    • Inner City Life.
    • ffrr.

  • Benga

    Night (feat. Coki)

  • Lord Kitchener

    My Landlady (feat. Freddy Grant's Caribbean Rhythm)

    • AudioSonic Music.

  • The Bodysnatchers

    Let's Do Rock Steady

    • The Best of 2 Tone.
    • Chrysalis Records.

  • So Solid Crew

    21 Seconds

    • 21 Seconds.
    • Relentless.

  • Wiley

    Eskimo (Interlude)

  • Little Simz

    Gorilla

  • UK Apachi & Shy FX

    Original Nuttah

    • S.R.D..

  • Jamiroquai

    When You Gonna Learn?

    • Emergency on Planet Earth (Remastered).
    • Sony Music UK.
    • 1.

  • Omar

    There's Nothing Like This

    • Talkin Loud.

  • Skunk Anansie

    Intellectualise my Blackness

    • Paranoid & Sunburnt.
    • One Little Independent Records.

  • Bankey Ojo

    Passage of Time A (Koromanti)

    • The Noisy Cottage.

  • Massive Attack

    Unfinished Sympathy

    • Blue Lines.
    • Virgin.

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