Being Black: The 80's with Touré

Black music by the decades.  Each season will deconstruct the most popular Black music of the decade, including what was happening in Black America at each moment in time. Using stylized sound design, each episode of this audio docuseries focuses on a single song that defined a decade and changed the world. This music series explores cultural, political, and creative change one decade at a time. The first season will explore the Black music of the 80s and the sociopolitical roots of that music. Each episode looks at a single song from the era and what was happening socially in the moment that led to that song. We tell the story of each decade through music. In subsequent seasons we can apply this approach to other decades, especially the 1960s and 1970s and 1990s. Our host and lead writer Touré interviews  experts, cultural commentators, academics, political thinkers, who will leave you feeling like you learned more about the music of the period.

All episodes premiering June 1, 2023

Episode 1

Tracy Chapman x Affirmative Action


December 9, 2023 - 29:29

Episode 2

De La Soul x Crack


December 9, 2023 - 29:52

Episode 3

NWA x Selling Crack


December 9, 2023 - 30:20

Episode 4

Public Enemy x Mass Incarceration


December 9, 2023 - 26:07

Episode 5

Stevie Wonder x MLK


December 9, 2023 - 40:23

Episode 6

Diana Ross x Gay Liberation


December 9, 2023 - 40:49

Episode 7

Donna Summer x Women’s Liberation


December 9, 2023 - 27:12

Episode 8

Bob Marley x Black Determination


December 9, 2023 - 17:02

Episode 9

Ice Cube x Dopeman: The Good, The Bad, & The Crazy


December 9, 2023 - 32:08