Great Black Music: Recommended Masterpieces
The great achievement of Black music is not only that it gave birth to genres like jazz, blues, gospel, and soul.
It has also been a wellspring of inspiration for legendary songs in the histories of rock and pop, and it is the most influential force on musical genres since the 20th century—an influence that continues unbroken into the 21st century and beyond.
To explore the roots of this magnificent Black music, this time we’re researching classic tracks mainly from the soul and R&B realm spanning the 1960s to the 1990s.
In the latter half, we also introduce more recent songs, so whether you love the latest hip-hop and R&B or aren’t very familiar with Black music, this is a must-check!
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Great Black Music: Recommended Masterpieces (91–100)
KILLSHOTEminem
This is a song called Kill Shot that Eminem released in 2018.
The person depicted on the cover is the rapper Machine Gun Kelly, and the track is a thorough diss aimed at him.
It started as a kind of feud that Machine Gun Kelly kicked off, and both of them released diss tracks against each other, which eventually escalated to the point of dragging in fans of unrelated bands.
If you’re curious, definitely look it up! It doesn’t seem easy to survive in the American rap industry…
Soul Bossa NovaQuincy Jones
This is a promotional commercial for the PayPay Scratch Lottery, which every SoftBank user is guaranteed to win.
Playing on the scratch theme, Masahiro Nakai appears as “Paytoku” in the role of a DJ, and the Dad humorously chimes in with, “Not that kind of scratch!!” In the latter half of the commercial, the familiar BGM, Quincy Jones’s ‘Soul Bossa Nova,’ plays.
Be My GuestFats Domino
Be My Guest, composed by Fats Domino, John Marascalco, and Tommy Boyce.
This is another great song said to have laid the foundations of rock ’n’ roll.
It remains especially popular in Central America.
Its cheerful melody and upbeat tempo are particularly striking.
Lonely TeardropsJackie Wilson
Composed by Berry Gordy Jr.
and his sisters, ‘Lonely Teardrops’ was released as a single by Jackie Wilson and is said to have laid the foundation for later rock and roll.
It’s a great rock and roll song that also incorporates elements of R&B and soul.
Land of a Thousand DancesWilson Pickett
This is a gem of a dance number left by American soul legend Wilson Pickett.
With a voice that explodes with emotion and a dynamic sound, it vividly conjures the heat and excitement of a party crowd dancing themselves into a frenzy.
Featured on the album “The Exciting Wilson Pickett,” it became a major hit upon its 1966 release, topping the R&B chart and reaching No.
6 on the pop chart.
The heavy groove laid down by the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and the Memphis Horns underpins Pickett’s powerful vocals.
Featured in the film “The Full Monty” and in Samsung Galaxy commercials, it remains a landmark of dance music beloved across generations.
It’s the perfect track for moments when you want to crank up the energy—at parties, on drives, and beyond.